The Washington times., 1901-12-22

on the tops OF the packages spread
around. Have You seen those funny
presents General Newman has been
giving?D everybody asked of every
body else. This was printed on the
packages very pla 'nly:
Don't You open this till next
Fourth of July. l. you do. look out.
'E. NEWMAN"
Mrs. Abby Newman stood apart,
talking TO the minister's wife and the
teacher. and knew nothing about the
warning notes until little Sallie came
crying to her with her unopened pres
ent and begged that she wouldn't let
Genie scold her II she took the string
OIL.
Then Mrs. Newman examined the
package and the inscription with
amaZement "Thcy'fe ali Just like
that" sobDed Sallie. land they can't
open them till the Fourth of July, he
says"
I'm going to see what all this fool
ishness meansi" declared Mrs. Abby
Newman.
When the General looked up and
saw his mothers face his heart sank.
The other boys, looking on, saw him
quail before the small. weaTy-looking
all this mean" she demanded. The
room was quite still. The crowd about
them became noiselessly Augmented.
everybody came tlptocing up. The
children stood gaping with eyes of
innocent wonder and curiosity.
'Eugenei said Mrs. Newmal
The boy choked and gasped
Eugene, tell me this minute what
Is in those packages!''
The general hung his head: his can
did forehead was red to the roots of
his curly hair. Then suddenly he
faced his me ther, and them all, with
his honest. confident look. He had
done nothing to be ashamed OF.
What is in them?" asked his
mother.
''Nothin' but wood, ;" replied General
Newman
'Wood?" echoed the others.
Yes; it's ncthin' but wood in all of
'em," proclaimed General. clearly.
Eugene Newman!" gasped his
mother. Her fact was blazing with
modification. Was this her wonder
full, smart boy? She realized how de-
sirable IL would be to sink through the
floor away from all these curious eyes.
Then suddenly the boy came to the
rescue.
There's sometlin' on the wood"
he admitted. with reluctance. vet as
one who must clear his honor from
imputatlon.
'What?' cried his mother. eagerly.
MY note" replied General, and he
held his head high.
Your note.' his mother gasped,
feebly.
Yes, ma am
His mother made clutch at one OF
the packages, which little boy near
her held. and tore OFF the wrapping,
and there was a nice little block OF
wood. and t'-ereon printed. after the
form in the arithmetic:
For value received ! promise TO
pay TO Willy Lapham or order, six
months and ten days from date. one
good top. EUGENE NEWMAN
Then Mrs John Sargent caught her
Lottie's package, and opened IL and
there was the same thing. only in that
Eugene Newman promised to pay Lot
tie Sargent one doll with light hair.
and others were opened and they were
the same with difference. Poor Eu-
gene in all of them had given. for lack
OF presents, his promissory note.
I'D like to know where you ex-
pected to get the money! his mother
enquired, sharply.
Uncle Eugene said he was going to
make me present OF ten dollars the
Fourth when I was fourteen years
old. and I'm goin' to give every one Of
EN-. he replied. sturdily.
Then q faint cheer went UP, and
some of the women wiped their eyes.
Mrs. Abby Newman began to feel
that perhaps she had no need to be
ashamed of her hoy after all.
General Newman had so many pres
ents on the Sunday school tree the
next evening that he was nearly over
come. He could not believe his eyes
when he saw the iackknives. the tops.
the sled. and the books. Every one of
the friends to whom he had presented
his promissory note had been fur
nished with a present to hang on the
tree for him, but he never dreamed
why.
Copyright, 1901, by Authors syndioa;e.)