The sun. [volume] (Morris, Stevens County, Minn.) 1882-1895, 1893-12-21
Il was going over to Uncle Toms
house to show his folks what q beau

Il was going over to Uncle Toms
house to show his folks what beau
tiful present I've got.''
Laura Peterbyr' said Mrs. Peterby,
fixing her eagle glance on the unfortu-
nate girl, who hung her head and cow
cred before the impending storm, ARE
you going to sneak out of the house
with that beautiful dollar and quarter
umbrella, and expose it to the ele-
mentST"
But mamma, it's raining"
"Of course it's raining. Is that the
kind Of weather to which you would
expose a costly new umbrella that
has been given you as a token of es-
TEEN aid affection? Is that the kind of
loving daughter you are? If l hadn't
seen it with my own eyes l wouldn't
nave believed you capable Of such base
ingratitllde. Shame on you! You are
no longer a child of mine. Put that
new umbrella back in the corner. Why
do you seek to mar the happiness of
the joyous and solemn anniversary by
such diabOlism?''
Jim Pcterby, one of the younger
sons, had been thrown into a spasm
of delight at having captured a valua-
bic notebook and pencil, but he was
somewhat depressed when his mother
explained that the new notebook would
make very appropriate present for
one OF his cousins, whose birthday
would occur at an early day. She took
the book from the boy and locked it I'D
i'll a bureau drawer
is there any relative Of yours going
to have a birthday pretty soon?" asked
Judge Peterby.
Why do you ask?' she snorted in
reply.
20, nothing; except if this smokers
set belongs to me and it is not to be
used as birthday present for any out
slider, I'll make it useful and he
knocked the ashes off the end of his
cigar into the receptacle intended for
the ashes.
A wild shrek of despair, a wall of
suppressed agony, startled the people
passing on the street.
That's to go on the mantel-piece.
You Shan't ruin it with the ashes from
your cigar while l am in this house and
in my usual health. The ashes will
discolor the gliding Do you think that
l have got nothing to do every day of
my Aife except to clean up after your
Judge Peterby s.ibsided with calm.
ness At last h. ventured to suggest
that the wine and cake be utilized in
dispelling the gloom that was becoming
dense and impenetrable every minute.
Am 1 matrou Of a private insane
asylulnE she asked, cor the head of
a family of reasonable human beings?
DO you really want 10 gorge yourself
with the cake and guzzle The wine
that is dedicated to New Years call
ers2 Tommy, that pair OF shoes is for
Sunday when the weather is fine. Take
them off. I say"
Il don't SCI why we celebrate Christ
mas at all, If tho presents are" said
Judge PetcrbY.
He paused. She was gazing ut him.
Did you say we haven't had a splcll
did Christmas? she asked.
mo; but
Didn't you want smokers set,
and hasn't Frank been worrying me
to death for Millions Paradise Lost,
and hasn't Laura been wishing for an
umbrella, and haven't you all got what
you want? and yet you are kicking.
A poor woman can MOL and toi' and
work herself into her grave, and all
the thanks she gets is sneers and
growls. You are always doing some
thing on Christmas to mar my happi-
ness, and I sometimes wish it never
came"
Then the whole party relapsed into
silent joy.-TeXas Siftings.