The diamond drill. (Crystal Falls, Iron County, Mich.) 1887-1996, 1898-12-24

now. And as 70 the sleigh-ride, pro-
pose, wife, to go and get sleigh and
take you down TO the village 20 see Il we
can't buy new'stove for the Kitchen"
"And the pump" said Mrs. Jones.
''can we have that fixed. too?"
Certainly we can. I'll devote the
day TO things. Now Robbie, be ready
in half an hour and papa will be here
with sleigh and BELLS"
Half an hour later saw Mr.. Jones
and his wife and Robbie wrapped in
furs and dashing through the snow
as gayly as his good neighbor had done
In the morning. The stove was found
in the only little hardware store in the
village, and the check that Mr.. Jones
gave the carevorn-looldng man who
kept the store caused Frightening
of his countenance TO degree that
attracted the attention OF both Mr.. and
Mrs. Jones. How easy after all to
spread happinessl What simple acts
will procrre and dispense that which
money aione can never buy. And since
his thoughts had been turned in that
direction, Mr.. Jones thought ii would
be good thing TO buy a snow shovel
and give poor old Hans n job of clean
Ing the walks, thus enabling him 10 put
special Christmas dollar in his poor
old pockets. And so by noon the new
stove was set up, and Bridget sur
passed herself in the lunch she pre-
pared by its help. Such delicate flaky
biscuits, such deity broiled ham and
such perfectly baked potatoes had
never been seen under the regime of
che old stove. And as Mr.. and Mrs.
Jones fingered over the cheerful table,
Mrs. Jones said:
oh, what n burden Is lifted from
my heart. Day after tomorrow Is
Christmas, and this morning looked
forward to ii not only with no pleasure,
but with dread. What a transforms
ton, dear, has your being at home to-
day and your loving thoughtfulness
wrought in every surrounding Of our
home. We were cold and inconveni-
enced and cross; now we are warm,
rich in conveniences and comfort, and
happy. That was n beautiful snow
storm, but its best beauty for us was
keeping you home a day. ! feel now
as IL | wanted to get up a 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 few days before that they
ought TO share their Christmas with
friends, but he had checked the inn
pulse with the thought that with the
babies and Bridget's incompetence II
ras no use TO try; IL wouldn't pay.
hlt with the new spirit and atmos-
pierre that had begun to develop in his
hone his heart went out in generous
feengs towards others; so true is II
thai happy homes are the seed-beds Of
ldnhess for the world
Here Is your cousin John with his
wife md two children, and my cousin
VIII With his little ones. Both Of them
are struggling along with small sal
aries ah l suppose the last thing they
would think of would be an invitation
from usto dinner. Shall we invite
them? so, will go to the city this
afternoonif there is train. and invite
them and ny in a special stock of good
things for he occasion"
AS 1t proed, there was train about
three o'cloce and the man who went
to the city q IL, bound on his errand
OF kindness, vas an entirely different
man from TN petulant, moody, dis
| gruntled one Who had missed IL in the
morning. AndAhe final outcome OF the
whole matter Vas the happiest and
best Christmas hat the Jones family
had ever known. Helen f. Starrett, In
Chicago Interior.A