Fort Worth gazette. [volume] (Fort Worth, Tex.) 1891-1898, 1895-01-06
ermnaE INsnrAnAnLrs.y
Mrs. French Sheldon Tells n story
About Three Loving Friends.


on the fascinating "Rlyer OF Pleasure;" incl
dent. a broken link concerning three friends,
a man, woman. a dog-otherwlse known
as the husband, his wife and their friend
Collie dog, yclept Jacques
The brooding sun lurked ready to give
splendor to the memorable day. behind the
yelling mists Of Yule-ilde, MIs,s so cold and
icy, frost enemellng the Ivy. which con-
cealed from foundation to chimney top the
gray stone wails OF the quaint home--;he
happy home-planted as 1t was on the Dor
der Of an old fashioned tangled garden.
hedged in OIL three sides by ivy priyet, lau-
rinstlne and holly. with Its shady paths lead
ing down to the river bank,
To-day lcloles pended like crystal bell
tongues from the funeral boughs OF Cedars
Of Lebanon. brought hl,her so long agone
by the Crusaders. and now aud anon clapped
together. unlllng like fairy bells heard
vaguely in a dream. as the breath Of
vagrant breeze stole over and stirred them
with lis jubilation because 1t was Christmas
Day.
Hosts OF rose trees, protected from win
ter's death touch by oyercoats OF straw. APP
peared not unlike Jayanese senaucls. Then
stretching from branch to branch were eph-
emerll haments-aye. even set like peaked
tents. over the velyety lawn. the very hab-
itants Of Elm nondescrlpts. the dainty prod
ucts OF SPIDERS looms. pearlod over with
translucent rhine to lead winters beauty
10 the scene.
Suddenly eager footsteps were heard with
out the garden wall; the bell, jerked most
uncermonlously. pealed lmpatlently forth a
rude demand upon tie courtesy OF those
within A dog barked A door opened. a
great hearted. poetical man, In response 10
the rude summons, emerged from the warm
henrthstone, made CHEEKY By the blazing.
swapping logs heaped upon the fire Irons In
the wide mOuihed fireplace. Close upon
the masters heels came the proud mistress
OF his homo and heart, and beside the
twain pranced their Collie, Jacques-thc
Three lnseparables.
The man, also the woman. surmlsed tho
nature OF the csll-one annually made upon
their willing bounty-and the dog barkel
loudly, Disappearing protest against the
Intrusion. The kind master held Jacques
by his collar. uttering a gentle admonitiOn
to the four-i0oted dlssenter AZ he shot the
bolt back and the gate few open, revealing
crowd OF village ragamuhins, awaiting the
gltts they were conh.Dnt. from past eNpe-
rience, would surely be thelrs. IN noisy
unison they yelled with unabaJod Zest:
Happy Chrlatmaa! Long lifo 10 you. sir.
and the missus, sr!-and-and to the dog,
too. sirl' They Involuntary halted before
including Jacques in their good wishes. ss
he was generally feared by every chlld in
the village for his faithful maintenance OF
his rights as the guardian OF the premises.
THANKS. little folk, the same to vnn
and yours-come indoors and make merry"
said the matter aad tho little lady juyously
followed suit by adding:
Yes little ones, you are welcome. To
day you dine with us. and we have a
Christmas tree for you. Come. make haste
out OF the cold. jacques will not touch
you II you do not touch him."
A scramble. and noisy. patterinE feet as
tho youngsters bolted indoors. Glowing
each other for first place until all were
within and the door closed
Soon without ceremony, the table, ggoan-
ing undor the weight OF the prepared feast.
was surrounded by the uncumoly guests,
Eager eyes betrayed the latent gluttony Of
the poorly fed youngsters. who were 10 eat
to their hearts content OF the roast tur-
key and barbecue. and Of the great big.
smoking plum pudding, and have all the
Hwepts and pastry ihcy wanted, besides
some to take home TO their parents
What shouts Of laughter and overriding
demands for moro this and that filled tho
gracious homeland shocked thc trained
servants. who deemed It quito disgusting
that all the dirty riff-raff Of tho village
should he entertained by the master and
mssus, tool Good job n Jacques would nip
a bakers dozen OF tho varmintB"
However, the master and missus OF tho
hospltabla home willingly played servi-
tors to their ill-condtioned guests without
tlnge OF condescenslon. rather eXpo-
rlencing a real Joy as they witnessed tho
delight they we're instrumental In causing.
All woro 80 happy. ana the gleo hocame
contagious, for even Jacques forgot 10
bark as he sprapg about and fetched and
carried for his mistress the little baskets
provided for each guest to carry home with
him or her.
Presently the meal was at an end. the
presents distributed and the games tagged.
So the master. with his philosophical turn
OF mind, began to question the little cur
mudgeons on various topics. To a bright
little cripple who stumped about on four
legs he quorlod;
John. what and who would you rather
be than what you are and yoursefY
without an lnstant's hesitation tho lad
spoke out impetuously. You. sir"
"Why me, John2"
"weil. sir, you are rich and happy. and
not lame"
"Ah. my little fellow. there arc worse
things than tc be poor and unfortunate
and lame. In the end. my boy, we all have
a common fate-rich or poor, we all must
die. So have a brave heart. my little man.
for you are richer in years than am !. for
you are so much youngerp
John, With his poverty, his misfortune,
his iameness. was more TO be onvied than
bis master, happier far than the mlssus-aye,
even not so lorlorn as Jacques. for tho
very next Christians. In loving remem-
brance John. with the other village chill.
dren. placed holly upon tho grave OF the
former rich, happy, well formed master.
snatched suddenly from his useful life.
The link between The Three Inseparables
was broken.
MAY FRENCH SHELDON.
He Challenged the PIT.