Oxford eagle. (Oxford, Lafayette Co., Miss.) 1876-current, 1898-12-22

checks grew pink and her EYES brigh,
under the genial looks and rouduc, OF
Mr.. Jones.
Its good thing for a mar 70 stay
AZ HON. once iu awhile. said Mr.. Jones.
and find out the things that need his
attention declare. wife. don, know
how Bridge; has gotten along with
that stove a; al. And poor old Hans:
b was not strong enough 10 move
that furnace CRATE. But it's all right
row. And as to the sleigh-ride. pro
pose. wife. TO 20 aud get a sleigh and
take you down TO the village to see IL We
can; buy a new stove for the Kitchen
Ard the pump" said Mrs. Jones.
"can we have that fixed. too?-
Certainly We can. III devote the
day 20 things. Now Robbie. be ready
in half an hour and papa will be here
with a sleigh and bells
Half an hour later saw MIR. Jones
and his wife and Robbie wrapped in
iur> and dashing through the snow
as gayly as his good neighoor had done
in the morning. The stove was found
- 80 10y Ahhsst tNtfC III the
village. and the check that Mr.. Jones
gave the communicating man who
kept the store caused Frightening
of his countenance to n degree thar
attracted the attention of both Mr.. and
Mrs. Jones. How easy after all to
spread happiness. What simple acts
will procure and dispense that which
rfnrsa
his thoughts had been turned in that
direction. Mr.. Jones thought it would
hs gOol thing TO buy q snow shove!
and give poor old Hans u Job OF clean
i..g the walks. thus enabling him TO pa,
special Christmas dollar in his poor
old pockets. And 50 by room the rev
s.ove was set up. and Bridge; sur
PASSED herself in the lunch she pre-
pared by its help. Such delicate fiakv
biscuits. such deftly broile,i ham and
such perfectly baked potatoes had
never been seen under the regime Of
the old stove And as Mr.. and Mrs
Jones fingered over the cheerful table
Mrs. Jones said:
oh. what a burden is lifted from
my heart Day after tomorrow /.
Christmas, and this morning | looked
forward TO it not only with no pleasure.
but with dread. What a transforrna-
ton. dear. has your being at home to-
day and your loving thoughtfulness
wrought in every surrounding OF our
home. We were cold and ineouveni-
enced and cross: now we are warm.
rich in conveniences and comfort. and
happy That was a beautiful snow
storm. hut its best beauty for us was
keeping you home day. | feel now
rs If wanted 10 get up q splendid
Christmas dinner and share il and our
happiness with some one else who is
less fortunate than We are
Mr.. Jones smiled. He, too. had
thought a few days before that they
ought to share their Christmas with
friends, but he had checked the i'm
pulse with the thought that with the
babies and BTidget's incompetence IL
was no use TO try; il wouldn't nav.
But with the new spirit and atmos-
Phere that had begun TO develop in his
home his heart went out in generous
feelings towards others: so true is /,
that happy homes are the seed-beds of
kindness for the world.
There is your cousin John with his
wife and two children. and my cousin
VIII with his little ones. Both Of them
are struggling along with small SAL
aries and ! suppose the last thing they
would think of would he an invitation
from us TO dinner. Shall we invi,.
them? II so. will go TO the city this
afternoon If there is train. and invite
them and lay in a special stock of good
things for the OCCASION
As it proved. there was a train about
three o'clock: and the man who wen,
TO the city on il. bound on his GRAND
of kindness, was an entirely different
man from the petulant. moody. dis
gruntled one who had missed il in the
morning. And the final outcome of the
whole matter was the happiest and
best Christmas that the Jones family
had ever known.-Helen z. Starrett. in
Chicago Interior.