Evening star., 1898-11-19

to this house, and you wouldfnot have been
in an office" ".
Its a jolly house, I think; and when the
Christmas cards are stuck up the decora-
tions will be complete. / wonder if the ad-
vance ones will come by this post? Well
see who remembers us
That's the bell: and see, six, seven. l
declare, ten to begin with! Here's one in a
rare, old-fashioned hand III take off the
| envelope and you will see the name. Why,
| it's letter, and long screed, and a :"
| check"
Have some of those thieves paid their
account? You are crying mater. Is it
about father? May l see the letter. or is it
| prvate?'
No, it's about you, too, SON wish you
would read it aloud; I'm not quite
| able
'LIVERPOOL, December "a, 1S9-
| Dear Madam-Along with many others
in Liverpool, experienced feeling of keen
| regret that in the inscrutable actings of
Providence your respected husband, DIR.
| Laycock, was, as it appears, prematurey
| removed from his work and family.
/ 1T must be a sincere consolation for his
widow to know that man could have
| rendered more arduous and salutary service
| to his fellows, many of whom he relieved
| in pain, not a few of whom he was in
| strumental in restoring to their families
| from the portals of death. Without curl
| ously inquirng into the affairs of private
| life, many persons were persuaded that Dr.
Laycock in the custom of attending
| persons Of limited means as an act of char
| ity, whereby he did much good won much
| affection, and doubtless has laid I'D for
| himself great riches in the world to come
| if we are to believe the good book
| Il have not, however, sent you this letter
| merely to express my sympathy, shared
| Wiln so many who have the privilege de-
J MED to me, of your personal friendship or
| to express the admiration felt by all for the
| eminent departed. My object is different
| and must be its own excuse Unless have
been iDcorrectIv
| ty seemed eXcellent-the noble life of DR.
| Laycock hindered him from making that
| complete provision for his family which he
| would have desired, and other men in less
unselfiSh walks of life could have accom-
| plished. This disa bility, | am given to IN
| derstand, has seriously affected the career
| of your son, whom every one describes as
| promising lad, so that he has been re-
| moved from a public school, and has been
! obliged to abandon the hope of entering on
| the study of medicine.
IF my information be correct IT was his
| fathers wish that your son should follow
! in his steps, and it is incumbent on those
| who IGNORED DIR. Laycock for his exannle
| Of humanity to see that his cherished wish
| be fulfilled. win you, therefore, in the
light of the explanation l have made at
| some length, accept the draft / have the
| honor to send-Value f1,OO0Land use the
| proceeds in affQrai4g to your son a com
| plete medical edscatlon at home and
abroad? The houaht that the just desire
|
and that certain burden will be lifted
| from his widows life, will be more than
| Sufhcient recompense to one who will 40
| long as he may be spared follow your SON =
| career with sincerS interest. Believe me
my dear madam, your obliged and grateful
| servant, ~ ZACCyHFJTS
Hold it up against the light, mater: IT'S
| the prettiest Christmas card we'i ever see
| You ought to be laughing and not CRYING,
| But l feel lHtle-iust tiny wee bit wa
| terry myself
He might as well have told us his name
! but suppose he was afraid of a row. Zac-
| cheus? Why, that's the man gave the
! Fairgrounds He r6ust have a pile. and he
| knows how toSuseSt; he's no Dodson von
bet At any Ehte,snhough we don't know
| him, we can saH ca bless him, mater"
Amen" said Mrss Laycock. II hope the
| ".
| How do / know that there is Something
i wrong, Bert? Because we've been married
! five years last month. and ! can read your
| face like a book, or rather great deal
| better than most books, for I'm not clever
| in following deep books, but I'm quite sura
| about your face.
| No, don't imagine, for You NAV ho ab,e
to hide what you feel on the Flags. but
you let out the secret at home, and that ia
| one reason why l love you; because Won are
not cunning and secretive. Now, tell me
is cotton down. and have you lost?
"Oh. yes, Bert, 1 know your princinle
that a man ought to bear the burden out
! there are exceptions You have acted IN
| to your principle splendidly You have
[ never said a word all those years aJthonpb
know you've had anxious times, and