Macon beacon. [volume] (Macon, Miss.) 1859-1995, 1901-12-21
M GENNlSTERS
&4CHRISThAS!.&
.(MQyS\M& NMMN&MNM.


Uehnlstef and a merry Christmas"
Mr.. Gennister turned slowly toward
his new clerk-a fair, sunny-faced
young fellow-with a cold and stony
stare. 81 do not expect to have
pleasant journey" he said. "And l
do not believe in Christmas"
Young Mortimer the new clerk,
looked blankly at his employer and
said no more When the door closed
behind Mr. Gennistcr's departing fig
ure, Tom, the office boy, laughed.
"Say, Mr.. Mortimer, when you've been
with him as long as have, you won't
be wishing him a pleasant journey
or a merry Christmas, either!"
TN wish him both" young Morti-
mer said, sturdily. "And I hope he'll
have a merry Christmas, in spite of
himself"
Mr., Gcnnister's journey from the
city to the suburbs of that small New
England town was no more pleasant
than he had foreseen. 1t was a long
and tiresome journey, followed by
cold drive through the darkness, for
it was nearly eight o'clock before he
reached the lonely old-fashioned
house which once had been his home.
For some reason, Mr. Gennfster had
never cared to part with this house,
which through the entire year was
left in charge of an old servant, who
kept it always ready for his immedi-
ate return, though every year he
went back to it for shorter periods
and at longer intervals. But he had
chosen to come to it now on the night
before Christmas, to get away from
the annoyance of the holiday fuss
and the air Of general festivitv which
he disliked so much, and which for
some days would pervade the entire
city. 1t was nuisance, a foolishness,
an interruption to business, and he
would have none of it! And the soon
er that Young Mortimer learned his
opinions about such things, the bet
ter!
As Mr.. Gennister approached his old |
home he noted with satisfaction the
flare on the window panes, which told |
of blazing log fire in his particular
den. But his satisfaction was marred
when he was greeted in the hallway
by his old servant, all cloaked and
bonnetted and with a fearful face.
"How are We, Mr.. Gennister. it's well !
ye are loollin', sir. But to think of
yer hayin' come home just when me
duty is calm me two ways l don't
know what yen say to me- sir,-but
me daughter over to Westley has been
took i'll suddintly an Lem has drove
over to fetch me, an is waitin' at the
back door this minute, sir-so must
be goin' at once. I've set out yer sup
per, sir, an yer breakfast, too-all
but the coffee-if yen just be good
enough to make that for yerself? |
An me niece, Ellen, will be over in
the mornin', sir, for I've sent her a
postcard in the mall an she'll take
care of We an the house, sir, till l re-
turn"
every well, then, CO." said Mr.. Cen
mister. "I'll get along. Well, what
else is the matter, Jane?" as he saw
the fearful woman was not yet ready
to depart.
I'm very sorry, sir, but there's the |
bye! wouldn't a had it happen for |
a good deal, for We don't like childer,
/ know. But yer telegraph was de-
layed, an didn't know We was comm
till-with all / had to-do to git ready |
for ye, sir, it was too late to git the |
bye home. An ye'd never knowed |
that he was here, sir, if | hadn't been |
called so student away. An 1 can't |
take him along wild me, sir, for over
to Westley all the childers is dow
with the measles"
"Who and what is hep" Mr.. Gennis-
ter demanded, sternly,
"Me son Johns littlest bye, sir, go
in on four year old-an' come over
afore | knowed ye was comm home.
to spind Christmas day wild his
granny. An, poor little soul, I've
been that hurried an upset that I've
niyer a thing to put in his stockin'-
which he'll break his heart over in
the mornin' whin he wakes up an
finds it impty!"
stop rambling and tell me what
you expect me to do" Mr.. Gennister
said, grimly.
"Nothin' in the world, sir, for he's
abed an asleep, till in the mornin'
he wakes an finds stockin' Imply an
his granny gone! Then he may ery a
hit but not for long. He can dress
hisself-he's smart little bye-an'