Atlanta semi-weekly journal. (Atlanta, Ga.) 1898-1920, 1901-12-26

In a Prairie Hamlet, far from the
madding Department Store, where ar
rogant Wealth did not faunt itself be-
fore the Humble, and where the Peo-
pie were so Primitive that they did not
know how to get Money except by
Working for it, they were making
large Preparations to tear Things wide
open at Christmas.
All through the abbreviated Commu-
nifty the Women Folks were feverishly
popping Corn, and cracking Hickory
Nuts on a Flat-Iron and making
homemade Candy. The Unmarried
Kind were secretively working on Yarn
Mittens.
There was to be Tree at the Church
and preceding the Distribution Of Pres
ents there was to be a Show, alias
Methodist Vaudeville, which consists
of Pieces, Responsive Readings and the
best that the Choir can do. The Drug
gist in this Village had laid in what he
called an Elegant Assortment Of Holt
day Goods. He had all of VIII Garlic
ton't Poems and a Counter covered
with fragile Toys that smelled of the
Paint, also an attractive Line of Per-
fumeries and some Toilet Sets. One of
these Toilet Sets was the Prize Exhib-
IL of his Stock. The Comb and Brushes
were of Celluloid. the Amber and
White being scrambled in a very eff
fective Manner. The Druggist was will
ing to give a Guarantee that the Bris-
ties were Real. This Toilet Set reposed
in a puckered Nest of Yellow Satin.
The Box was of Blue Plush with a neat
Clasp and on the Lid was the Follow
ing, in Silver Letters: Merry XMAS"
Every Girl in Town came into the
Drug Store and leaned on the Show
Case and gazed longingly at the Work
OF Art. 1t was evident that the local
Beau who loosened up for $3.50 and
gave that Toilet Set to his regular Sun
day Night Dulciana would win in a
Canter. But there was general Doubt
as to whether any one would be so
Reckless as to fork over, $780, just
for Foolishness. All who went into the
Drug Store and Stood vfn Solemn ST.
lence admiring the Blue Plush, the
Yellow Satin and the cleaning Cellu-
loid, conceded that the Outfit was Pur-
ty, but they allowed it was too Fine
for Actual Use. 1t was supposed that
the Box alone would come to s.. Some
said the Letters on the Lid were gen.
uine Silver. Others contended that they
were merely Plated.
In every Household the Toilet Set
was fruitful Topic. The general Yer
dict appeared TO De InaIi IN ali prOOd-
bility, the Druggist would either have
to knock off something on the Price or
else be Stuck. There had been one or
two Offers of s. for the Piece de Re
sistance. but the Druggist claimed that
he had paid more than that for it,
Wholesale.
Three Days before Christmas there
appeared on the Yellow Satin a Card
marked Sold" The News spread like
Wild-Fire that some one had blown
himself to the Limit. There was but
one Question agitating the whole VII
lage for the next two Days. who
will get the Toilet Set for Christmas?"
Speculation ran rife, and every Girl
who kept Company was hoping against
Hope, even though her cold Judgment
told her that, in all likelihood, her Fell
low had not seen $3.50 in six long
Months.
The Druggist had been pledged to
Secrecy, and 1t became evident that the
Populace would have to wait until
Christmas to have its Curiosity ap-
peased. So it waited with lot Of I'm
patience.
The Village Wag, whose name was
Amos, had been one of Several who