Middletown transcript., 1894-12-08

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jHKM sheet in series
] - ! typed they were,
all running much like this:
'DEAR -:
Enclosed find a trihe in remem-
brance of the day, with good wishes
for all.
"Affectionately,
..... "JoHN MARCH,"
''It's kind Of nuisance" went on
Mr.. March, as he gazed at five checks
which lay on his desk with the letters,
each one dashed off and left to dry
while the others were written. 81
don't know" a grumble coming Into
his tone, "really don't,-why 1 should
keep it up year after year. There are
some things which might be considered
outgrown as time goes on, and this is
one.af<hem.p
Still Mr.. March had feeling that it
would not be discontinued, this every
Christmas offering of a small sum of
money to each one of his kindred; it
was too rirmly based on old association.
With the passage of the years he had
grown apart from them; his interests
and theirs had become widely separated
and yet he could not we'll have per-
suaded himself to sever this almos. only
link which bound him to the members
of his own family.
1t had begun soon after he had left
home and come up to the great city in
search of the fortune which had finally
crowned his efforts. He had done we'll
from the first; and, even now, he gazed
upon the five checks, he recalled with
slight warmth at his heart the first ii me
he had sent home gifts of money. They
had been smaller then; dollar each to
three cousins, ive dollars each to his
brother and sister. What a stir they
had made in the family! John could
easily reasily realize the feeling of opu-
lence which i: spread under his home
roof and that of his uncle living near.
Later he ad enlarged the gift. Brothtr r,
sister, and cousins had married and set
up homes of theirsown. None of them
had, like himself, ,prospered abundant'y
and when first John March had written
out three checks for ten dollars and
two fol- twenty-five, he still knew the
rejoicing they would carry into families
in which money was scarce.
He had rejoiced in doing it, all the
more that little effort and self-denial
had been necessary accompaniments OF
the gifts. That was many years ago.
Time and circumstances had built up
walls between him and his relatives,
and the old heartiness of good will
was wanting.
at is really time 1 was letting it
CO." A thought crossed him of how
good the bit of money still came to its
its recipients. "But Pm under no
obligation to keep it up. | have made
my money-they had the same chance.
Their lives are what they have made
them; Just as mine is what l have made
it. They expect help from me, and
thew have no right tO.o
He fretfully recalled the time when
it had been represented to him that un-
less the brother who still held the old
homestead had lift of few hun dred
dollars the place would pass out of his
hands. 1t had been given, and that
was the end of any trouble from
David. With his sister it had been
worse. she had made an unfortunate
marriage, and then been widowed.
Meek and mild in her disposition, she
had never directly applied to him ex-
cept when in extremity, but was given
to keeping her burdens and struggles
before him in way which he some
times found exasperating.
Cousin Tom had been scrapegrace,
always in trouble, always looking for
someone to help him out and set him
going again on the basis of many prom
ises of better doing. Cousin Harvey
was the possessor of large family and
small everything else. 1t was not SO
very lohg since Mr.. March had helped
him out West, finishing his assistance
with the suggestion that in future it
would be agreeable that he should keep
his difficulties to himself. Cousin Ma
tilda had sickly family; wall from
her on the subject of pressing doctors
bills was frequently heard.
"No." resumed Mr.. March, as he
folded one Of The checks, people have
no right to inflict their misfortunes or
someone else just because he has a.
cbieved success where they have failed
That you, Mixer"
..It,s mesilf. sur, Ready to shut uI
when you say the wurrud."
.sI,Il take the key myself. Pm moi
quite done yet, but you needn't wait. ;
Mike, however, showed no hurry te
leave but busted himself about the
room. with occasional glances at Mr.
s.That,l do, Nike" at length sal
the gentleman, somewhat annoyed by
tho rattle of shovel and tongs, which
seemed to show unusual excitement
in Mike. He came slowly towards Mr.
March. an undersized little figure Of al
oldisb man with painful limp.
nIf might be thrubblin' ye jist {
"Go on, Mike. No more lawsuits
hey?" tn;m 1t,s tho FINN,
man ye are, sur" Mike shook hi
head bis whole insignificant face
hsaminp with delight. "It's only tina
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