Alma record. (Alma, Mich.) 1878-1928, 1897-12-24

very much except themselves; bat then
they minded a good deal. which made up
for IT,
However. when the arrangement had
lasted for a whole fortnight fully ten days
beyond the usual period their friends be.
came concerned: and as il drew near Christ
mas day the patcr was quite angry.
Those two young fools might just as well
make it up now az 20 moping about all
through Christmas time and spelling every
one clsc'S fun lac grumbled. And the dean
little mater spoke of them with "a SorroWtul
shake OF the head. Could not the patcr give
Tom hint that Agglc was trcttng; Per
haps 1t ho were to drop ina one evening To see
the children. now baby was growing so;
But patcr thought that. as Aggle was ma
ter's sister, and ten year, younger according
to the urjmpcachablc testimony of the
family Bible. it was rather "a matter for
sistcrly advice 80 neither iuterycucd and
the tenth cor was it the eleventh; parting
for forever had lasted three weeks ou
Christmas eve. At this point all the family
agreed that something must bc done.
If YOU don't speak to Aggic shall have
to speak 10 her myself. said putcr. firmly.
as he pa, on the Santa Claus coat with the
big pockets 10 sally forth in the morning.
"No. no. my dear. ! really can t ask poor old
Tom to eat humhlepc. don't consider
that hc was TO blame at all. lie was ptac-
tically bound To go and play Tor his club
that afternoon. and She could have gone 90
the show Just as well i'm the evening. W omen
never will understand that men "Oh.
pater!' eXpoStulatcd the mater, softly, "cX-
Cept You, my dear, alWal, excepting Nou.
But YOU are unique Then mater laughed
and lac kissed her. oh but / hope You
won't. John" She said. coaNngN. Poor
old Ag has been crying her eyes ont all the
time: bat she's too proud to make overturc~.
though she owns she was partly To- blame.
Ii YOU could bring HIM round. now. to pay
the compliments OF the season To me. or Co.
see the children" Il mph!' said patcr.
rather shortly, Il shall lose my train ID
stop any longer: and ought To have caught
the one before, really. Mater dIdn
bother him any further She saw a twinkle
ia his eye; and she had been married 10 ham
for nine years. and knew his ways. YOU see.
But. presumably. he remembered when
Tom lwhosc chief he wasJ looked into his
private room about lunch time 90 pay his
respects. ~ ou're coming round tomorrow
afternoon. of course, old man: said patcr
in his most everyday tone. l|ut Tom looked
very glum and shoot, hi, head "Nonsensc!'
calculated pater WathIuly. You were the
friend OF the family before Miss Aggic came
to live with us, the little MINK. You'd never
desert the youngsters ON Christmas day?
Molly and Dot are always asking about
Uncle Tom, and I'm sure the boy will re-.
member You. He's growing a fine big chap
now. and walks all over the place; he fell
downstairs twice last week" NO no. old
man. replied Tom miserably. u cant
come; ! really can't I've got a lot of things
to send round for the kids bless their little
hearts! and ! thought YOU wouldn't mind If
/ sent something for the mater: YOU We al
ways been awfully kind to me. both OF you
I've bought little present for Ag to have
it ready in case shc-we- perhaps we
shan't ever-but-. ~ this point the view