The Indianapolis journal., 1893-12-10
WITH PICK AND SHOVEL.

Although Mrs. Marvel had been married
more than two years, and prided herself
upon being very sedate little matron. she
looked forward TO Christmas with childish
delight and hung up her stocking with
something OF the same puectiiiousness with
which she observed the religious services
incident TO the season.
As the third Christmas after her mar
riage drew near. she was, If possible, more
eager in her preparations and anticipations
than ever before. There was in the first
place a very wonderful baby. now nearly
a year old. to be thought Of; and various
small gifts-all OF a distinctly boyish char
acter. and anticipating his intelligent use
OF them by at least ysar-had to be pro-
vided. Then she had with much labor
and a paper pattern-constructed a re-
markable dressing gown for Mr.. Marvel
a garment which, by the way, he had
reason to be thankful was intended TO be
worn only within the sanctuary of his
home. And lastly, down in the bottom of
her happy little heart, she felt sure that
Dave" (Mr. MarveIs Christian name was
DAVID would give her watch. For this
had been for him especially prosperous
year. His salary had been raised. and he
had had nice little windfall of five hun
dropped more than one hint that made her
sure that this was to be a red letter
Christmas. Accordingly, when it came.
and she drew her stocking into bed after
her old childish custom, to examine its
contents. she avoided hitting it against
the bedstead. fearing to injure the precious
watch that her imagination saw so clearly
In the toe. She heard the crackle of paper
as she lifted ito protect the watch"
she thought, but no--the foot hung limp
and empty, while above the ankle the
stocking was quite fiat and stiff, as if
holding a piece of pasteboard, and at the
very top IL was distended with a box of
candy. This last was quite a matter of
course. and was laid to one side while she
continued her investigation
Only a long yellow envelope, She took
II out slowly, and Dave, who was watching
her. saw her face fall-though she tried
not to let it. She did not know how many
times she had, in imagination, felt that lit
tie square box in the toe of her Christmas
stocking, until she failed at last to find it
there She was thoroughly disappointed,
but trying to look interested and excited,
for she knew Dave was watching her, she
opened the great envelope. Her face grew
more bewildered.
What is IL, dear?" she said, turning
helpleSSly to him, after opening "A big paper
filed with lot of talk she couldn't under
stand, and with. portentous looking SEAL
and signatures at the bottom, which for a
second choked her., with the half-formed
fear that it was his will-"What is it
dear?"
Not very pretty Christmas present
it, said big. good,natured Dave. Never
susan.) II think you will like it when /
tell you about it."
Upon which he proceeded to explain that
NJ. Marvel, and her heirs and assigns for
ever pretty lot lying just outside the
Like it?'' 1 should think she did, She
was the happiest. proudest little woman in
seven counties; and for the next few
quite a nice little thing out Of her frequent
pngrimages TO look at her property, and
sion. Her landi her very own! She felt as
II the car conductor. and all the people in
the car, must somehow instinctiely realize
ner new Importance. What a motive Dave
and she had now for economy! And how
careful and saving they would be. Per-
maps before many years tiny could have
often ran in this channel, and 1t became
her faYorite amusement TO draw plan after
fahTd pian for the house that was to be; her
taDle and bureau drawers were full of
them She even went far in this domes-
tic castle building that she sometimes saw
the belongings Of her present home be-
slowed in the home that was to be as
clearly with her minds eyes as she had
seen the watch In the toe of her stocking
on the memorable Christmas morning. But
am jumping ahead of my story-or rather
Of the special event that furnished the mo-
Late in the spring after the Christmas of
which we have been speaking, Mr.. Marvel
%aS Serye9 1bd fb & Wes sE cS ySsaton b kent He had
four years, with but two days "Off" and
was beginning to feel worn as the warm
gladly accepted. and with his blankets and
fishing tackle he went off twenty miles
IN
he said to his wife when he kissed her
goodbye; Among other parting directions
which the o><ce boy would bring to her on
his way home each evening. and if any
ton. TO answer herself, or get advice from
the store.
The first parting from her husband. al
though for SO short time. took all Mrs
Queenies fortitude and the matter of
opening the letters filled her with awe.
The entire twenty-one years of her life
had been spent IN the town where she then
lived. with the exception of a visit in her
childhood TO a grandmother. since dead;
and TO write or receive letter was to her
a marked event; and the idea of handling
more than one at once seemed a serious
business. so she addressed herself to 1t
there were five envelopes; a letter from Mr.
Marvefs father, another from friend a
tailor's circular, q business letter, and
q plumbers bill. The latter troubled her
for she knew that her husband made it a
matter OF special pride never to contract
.
the work rendered it impracticable to pay
on the spot, and IL contracted to pay i'm
mediately upon presentation. and still this
bill seemed nightmarishly out of pro-
portion TO the work done that she did not
dare to pay it without consulting him as
To Its fairness. She finally decided to let il
wait his return. but she was such nerv-
Gus little body that she felt as if the sheriff
was on her track all night after IT,
How nice il must be-" she thought. as
she went TO bed, "to be a man. and always
know whether things are right, and what
you ought to do about them" never con-
sidering that her big husband would have
been quite much at his wits end If con-
suited as to the proper amount of butter
10 De used In the nice cookies he had taken
with him.
The next day passed smoothly; she
not sued by the plumber, and evening
Drought the letters afgain-three this time
an advertisement. another business letter
and-yes-a letter to her What could il
De! and who could IL be from? Not from
her husoGnd; he was away from postoffices
and J.. wasn't his hand-it couldn't be
from lady. for IL was in a coarse yellow
envelope. And so she went on, turning and
wondering. after the much-laughed-at fash
lon or women unaccustomed to receive let
ters. for minute and a half, before she
opened II and drew out the inclosure 1t
was a slip or paper about the size of a
bank bill. and read follows: