Brookings weekly register. (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1898-1903, 1898-12-29

you and will need you tomorrow. Ihate
the custom Of gift giving, and I never
indulge in it. You have been with me
long enough to know my disposition in
this particular. You need not greet me
in the morning with Merry Christmas.
do not wish one. have not for years,
and never will. have not had one for
25 years, and never expect one. Christ
mas is to me worse than an ordinary
day. The law makes it a holiday, and
hate holidays. They are wastes. 1t is a
day lost. There is plenty of coal in the
scuttle, and I shall not need anything.
Good night, Madison.
"It is not Madison. It is I, an old
friend, who calls without ceremony"
John Frostberg sprang from his chair.
Confronting him was a man taller than
he and older, with long, white hair and
full beard, white as his hair. His eyes
sparkled like diamonds. They looked
more like stars than eyes. His face was
full and round, and the expression in
telligent and benignant Without in
vitation he drew off his greatcoat and
laid it on the table; then motioned to
John Frostberg to resume his seat, but
the latter stood staring at his guest in a
vain endeavor to recognize him. He
had seen the face somewhere, but when
and where he could not remember. He
held out his hand to the stranger, say
ing:
"Your face is familiar, but am un-
able to recall the circumstances under
which | met you.
The stranger took the extended hand,
replying:
"For the present say you have seen
me in your dreams yes, in your
dreams. When have talked with you,
perhaps you will recognize me-"
Drawing chair near to the scarlet
plush one in which he had reseated John
Frostberg, he asked, "What is that in
your hand?"
Nothing. A toy" replied John
Frostberg, closing his fingers tightly
over the miniature.
"Ah, present for some child; make
some little one's heart glad, eh?"
mo, never give presents. do not
huoW any CullureH.
"Do not give presents? And do not
know any children? Not even at Christ
mas time? True enough. / should have
known better than to have suggested
such thought. I have known you a
long while, John Frostberg-since your
earliest childhood. For 25 years you
have not given present to any one.
Before that you were impulsively and
at times foolishly kind At Christmas
time you were always generous beyond
your means. You taxed friends and ex-
hausted resources to enable you to pro-
cure gifts for her. "
At the word cher" John Frostberg at.
tempted to rise, but the guest threw his
arm in front of him.
"Sit still, John Frostberg,- I said
her. fair haired, blue eyed girl
who was your fathers ward. Sit still.
Don't be rude. am an old friend and
your guest, and you must listen to me-
l have had many talks with you hereto
fore, and l beg that you give me a pa
tient hearing"
"Who are you?" asked John Frost
| berg in determined tone
Don't be inquisitive. By and by
you will know me. For 25 years you
have given me but little consideration.
| You have been petulant and rude at
| times. This has arisen from the fact
that you have been too busy with your
self-doing For yourself, living for your
self, thinking of yourself, wrapping
yourself up in yourself. Selfishness,
John Frostberg, is the meanest and
smallest of vices. 1t dedicates You to
greed and avarice. 1t hardens your
heart, dulls your sensibilities, stiles
your emotions, dries up your affections.
crushes your better impulses and cor.
rodes your entire being. 1t steals from
you, lies to you, leaves you in poverty
and waste and units you for either hope
or love. 1t has not entirely bereft you
of the latter. That toy, John Frostberg.
is the evidence that it has not yet rob.
bed you of the power to love-"
John Frostberg clasped his hand
tighter and covered it with the other
~ was with you when you received
it from 'her' hand, witnessed you kiss
it, but not so passionately as you did 9
few minutes ago. 1t has grown dearel
to You as the years pass. Tonight's ex.
hibition has had many rehearsals.
have seen them all. Do you know me
now, John Frostberg?"
John Frostberg raised his hand and
shaded his eyes as he gazed into the
strangers face.
"Cannot say that ! do. Your features
are very familiar-very familiar.
must have met you. But where?"
Say in your dreams, John Frost
berg; say in your dreams"
I'm my dreams-yes, in my dreams. =
he dreamily murmured-