Evening journal., 1899-01-04
TRlp on A CHRISTMAS CIR.

TO SLEEP.
"TRIP OF A CiHRlS1NiAS GIFT.
EX-Deputy Recorder OF Deeds Edwin
"A. Read, who is in Denver, Colorado.
for the benefit of his health, has writ
ten TO the Wayfarer a personal letter.
from which he takes the liberty of us
ing the following extracts, feeling sure
that they will intcrest Mr. Reads host
Of friends in New Castle county. ana
that he WIN not regard such use as a
breach Cf confidence:
MY wife and child are still in Phil
adelphfa. Some kind Wilmington
friend. wishing to RENE mber the baby
purchased a very pretty gift and mail
ed II to Lltt.e Miss Read Care Branch
III. Giles, Denver, Colorado. MI
Giles sent it to me and I
sent it to Philadelphia. SO the pack
age. intended for one but tweney-seven
miles away, took a trip OF over 1000
miles to reach the owner. There was
nothing about the package that would
eniighten me relative to the sender
the card enclosed merely reading For
Little Miss Read, from a Wilmington
Santa Claus
have had a very serious setback
lately. I have been confined 10 my
bed and room for three weeks. suffer
ing from an epidemic that is going the
rounds in Denver. / have lost eleven
pounds and now am very feeble. but
think am slowly improving. Kindly
remember me to all friends"
-
HAWKINS AND FNLORGCUITURF.
Conductor Thomas Hawkins. one of
the Oldest conductors on the Della
ware railroad, is a man known per-
sonally or by reputation from one end
OF the P, w. & b. system 10 the
other, is a practical joker OF merit and
haii-fellow-wea-met. The Wayfaref
has known him personally for many
years, and never saw him when he
was not in for piece OF fun.
AT one OF the small stations on the
Delaware division the wife Of the sta
ton agent has passion for flowers
and potted plants. Her collection lis
an excellent one. and she takes pride
IN exhibiting il to her friends and
acquaintances. On several occasions
she invited Conductor Hawkins in 10
feast his eyes on the collection. and AZ
last he went.
'Admirablel" he exclaimed. "and
what a collection Of cacti you have. Biif
I notice that you haven't a rat-eactus.
MY wife has a large one. up in VIII
mtngton. and the next time / come
down I'll bring you a cueting.'
On. thank you'll" said the station
agents delighted Wife
Hawkins boarded HE train and pro
ceeded on his way
When he reached Wilmington he
purchased a fair-sized fiower-pof. sen
trap. caught a large rat and planted
it in the Dot. packing the earth eolid,y
about and over II and leaving about
two inches of the tain sticking ND
above the surfa6e. Then he wrapped
paper around II and took it down 10
the p, w. & B. station when he Went
10 take his train out next time.
ARRIVED at the small station in Ques-
tion he jumped from the train, carry
ing the pouted plant tenderly in his
arms remembering his promise, she
was waiting for him.
Il have brought YOU the rat-cac4i,s nhs
said, removing the paper and handing
IL over to her keeping. "I's a li+tie
"tlted now, but If ycu'li set IL in the
sun and water Il every day it'M grow
and blcCkom. and give more fragrance
than all your other flowers combined. "
Accept my thanks and also extend
them to Mrs Hawkins. who. I know
felv the sacrifice when she cut her rat
cactus Tor my pleasure" said the sta
ton agents wife.
Don't mention it," said Condncior
Hawkins Wen do ANYTHING for
anybody We like. Goodbye"
He swung himself to the platform Of
the car and smiled his adieu.
In about week he noticed a chance
in her demeanor towards him. Il had
grown perceptib.y ccoler-in fact. al
most frigid. He greeted her the same as
of yore but she resented all advances
Her husband. too. did not manifest the
same pleasure in handing out train or
ders to the blue-coated lover and pro-
moter OF unusual Horticulture.
II guess that rat-cactus must have
Dstssomed." he murmured to himself
Dur he said nothing to them. AS a mat
Ter OF discussion that subject was mu-
tualiy avoided. However. the WAY.
tarer knows that there Is a vacant
epot on the flower stand in the resi-
dental part Of that railroad station.