Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1895-12-19

the news % his failure to get his money
from Mr.. Potter. When she reached
home she found only the two older chill
dren still awake, and them she COM
soled cheerfully, telling them that
though they could not have much for
Christmas, yet they must be kind and
cheerful and not add to dear papa's
troubles by fretting. Her own spirit
was reflected in theirs; kind and af-
fectionate feelings were inspired by her
cheerful words and talk; and although
before they went to bed they hung up
their stockings By the fire, in case aEy
good luck should come, yet their little
hearts were bravely preparing for dis
appointment.
It was nearly an hour before Mrs.
Browning heard her husbands foot
steps on the walk. She hurried to the
door, and, as he entered, she looked
lovingly and sympathizingly in his face.
Ills feelings also had evidently been
moved by reflections of a gentle and
tender kind, for as soon as he closed
the door and noticed the kind look on
his wife's face he held out his arms
toward her. She threw hers lovingly
around his neck and pressed her cheek
to his.
''Never mind if we do have hard times
and bad luck, john" she said; 1--WE have
each other and the children, and we will
be happy in spite of ALL"
'.My dear, good wife" said John, hold
ing her close to his heart, "if I could
only give you what you deserve you
should have every comfort and pleasure
in life"
And then in few moments they sat
down and compared notes. Mary tod
her ill-success with Col. Randall. John
had got no money except the one dollar
from Mrs. Jones, the little milliner, but
the new grocer wanted to pay for the
making of the seat for his wagon in
trade, and they could get two chickens
and a few groceries there. The dollar
would get small Christmas gift apiece
for the children, and SO they would make
the best of it.
''Weil, let us go out and buy the things
for Christmas" said Mrs. Browning,
and a few moments later, closely
bundled up from the cold, John Brown-
ing and his wife walked cheerfully and
lovingly along the village street. They
got two plump chickens and enough
material to make a substantial dinner
at the new grocer's. Then they went to
a store where there was a good five-cent
counter, and had much amusement and
pleasure in selecting a lot of little
articles suitable for putting in the chill
dren's stockings, not forgetting pound
of stick candy. Coming home they
busted themselves for awhile in wrap
ping each article in separate piece Of
paper and in deciding which should go
into the different little stockings, not
forgetting to put in two or three sticks
OF candy, all wrapped in separate pa
pers.
Very early Christmas morning Mr..
Browning got up and put on a good
fire, so that the room might be warm
when the little folks should discover
their stockings, which they did in the
carly dawn. 1t was a joyful surprise to
the children, who were just as happy
as though the gifts had been costly. AS
fer Mr.. Browning and his wife, the
blessed alchemy of love had transformed
their disappointment into affectionate
sympathy for each others trials and
disappointments,a and they listened with
happy hearts to the gay chatter of their
children, saying to themselves and to
each other: I'VE are having good
Christmas, after ALL" What was lack
ing in material good was made up in
kindness and love, and earnest effort to
make the best of things, and to cause
their children to have happy day. And
when, at dinner, they sat down to par
take of the two nicely-browned, stuffed
chickens, instead of the expected Christ
mas turkey, their happiness and enjoy
ment might well have been envied by
the two inconsiderate employers whose
injustice and disregard of the honest
claims of those whose labor they had
enjoyed. came so near spelling the
Brownings' Christmas.-Mrs. Helen z.
Starrett, in Chicago Interior.