Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1895-12-21

and butcher, and consequently enjo,
Christmas that much better. Sh
thought of her husband working ava,
so cheerfully in the cold, his heart full
of the thought of what his wage
would procure for his family, and he
heart blessed him as n good, kind hus
band, and life seemed very sweet an,
bright to her. Mr.. Browning cam
home ut moor even moro full of goo,
cheer and hope than when he wen
away in the morning. Mr.. po:te.
seemed to be a man IL whom none,
was Of small consequence. lie wus hav
ing a wonderfully nice Jumper" mad,
forhis children, and had given ordersfo o
Mr.. Browning to go right ahead ant
build the wood-shed. The children al
%rejoiced again over the good news O
work, and eXulted in the thought o.
generous gifts and a turkey for Christ
mas.
During the week both the grocer anG
butcher called around to see about thcii
bills. and were both assured by Mrs
browning that they would receive some
money on Saturday night, inasmuch as
Mr.. Browning had been so fortunate us
to have steady work all week.
Christmas day came on Sunday, and
it would be necessary to get all the
gifts and the good things for the Christ.
mas dinner on Saturday. The day was
very cold, and John Browning found it
was going to push him hard to get the
wood-shed done by evening. AS he
wished to have n little time in which to
enjoy spending his hard-earned money,
paying what he owed, and in the happy
employment of going with his wife TO
buy Christmas gifts for the children,
he employed n fellow-workman to as
sist him on Saturday. At noon he made
out his bill to MIR. Potter, and carefully
placed it in his pocket, feeling that it
was as good as so much medley. About
five o clock tie last nail was driven.
his tools were gathered up and Mr..
browning wenta around to the front part
Of Mr.. Potter's house to see his employer
and get his pay. just as he raised his
hand to ring the bell, Mr.. Potter came
out, followed by his wife and children,
all heavily wrapped up, ana evidently
just starting on a journey. A large
sleigh stood Mt the front gate loaded
with trunks and ~valises.
Il have finished the wood, she'd" said
Mr.. Browning, land called TO ask you to
look at it and to present you my BILL"
"All right, all right, Mr.. Browning,
but we are just starting to the city to
spend the holidays, and | cannot pay
your bill till l return, which will be in
two or three weeks"
but my family are needing and de-
pending on this money" said Mr..
with a sinking heart, "and
would be very inconvenient to wait.
Could you not"
mo use at all in insisting, my dear
fellow" said Mr.. Potter, in IL tone half
gay, half insulting. Il need all the
money l have, and more too, now that
am taking my wife and children to
spend the holidays in the city,"
Anger and disappointment flushed
John Browning's face crimson as he
"Mr. Potter, / depended on your
prompt payment of this bill or l would
not have"
II have no time to parley," said Mr..
P~otter-"here, wife and children, jump
N, or we shall be too late for the train.
| tell you | can't pay you now" With
this he sprang into the sleigh himself, |
md giving an impatient order to the
the sleigh rapidly carried them
out OF sight to catch the train already
whistling in the distance.
How suddenly was the bright sky of
he Browning family darkened by this
'iece of thoughtless, cruel injustice!
MIR. Browning stood for a few moments
~rresolute, while feelings of anger, hui
initiation and disappointment strug-
3led Ill his heart. The fellow work.
men whom he had employed also waited
his small pittance, and when Mr..
browning informed him of the state of
affairs, with an expression of profanity
threw down the tools he held in his
hands and walked away. But to break
news to his family was the hardest
81 all. How could he blast their hopes