The Washington times., 1901-12-22
BY MARY E. WILKINS.

You can't have more than 80 cents.
for you opened your bank last Fourth
OF July, the mother answered.
Can / have what is in it?"
Yes. II you want to- she replied,
grudgingly. You ought to use the
money, however, to buy shoes, but you
can have it,"
Generals face cleared. "All right"
he said. guess ] can do something"
His second sister. Addie. pulled his
sleeve when his mothers back was
turned. What be you goin' to do?"
she whispered.
You jest wait an see." replied her
brother mysteriously.
You goin' to get presents for all of
us?''
Il reckon So
For Tommy Jones, and Lottie. and
Maria Dodd, and Willy Lapham,
and
Guess So"
WHAT"
You Jest watt
General was as important and Sc
cretive during the three weeks before
Christmas as any commander before
strategic move upon the enemy. His
brothers and sisters watched. but
they could discover nothing. General
was known to make several visits 10
the store. but they could find out moth
ing that he purchased except paper
and string. They found rolls OF nice
white paper. and brown paper. and
various colored balls OF cord in his
little hair trunk. which had belonged
TO his grandfather, aud in which he
kept his treasures. ITS TO tie up the
presents" they said to one another.
and their expectations grew.
Gradually II became noised about
the school that General Newman was
goin' to give splendid presents to a
lot OF children, and his popularity was
on the increase. He had so much
Difference that his head might have
been turned IL he had not been pret-
ty stanch. honest little boy.
General worked hard helping the
teacher. and what was more, he made
the others work-not boy dared
shirk when Generals eyes were upon
him. Even the teacher began to mar
vel at his power over his mates. II
declare ! believe that boy can make
the others mind better than l can"
she said to Mrs Sargent, with whom
she boarded.
Hes an awful smart boy" agreed
Mrs. Sargent.
On Christmas eve the students and
their big brothers and sisters and
their parents assembled in the school
house Even Mrs. Abby Newman was
there in her old best black silk. The
children had been so happy about 1t
all that she had 1ot the heart to stay
away. Then, too, she had much pride
in her eldest son. and curiosity as to
what he was going to do. She was
conscious of a great faith In him.
Hes an awful smart boy" she told
herself.
Indeed. that evening sitting at
his desk In the evergreen-trimmed
school-room, the General looked
handsomer and smarter than ever.
His fair hair ourled aggresively on
top. his blue eyes were brilliant, there
was not a shade Of doubt or anxiety
in his face. He looked confident OF
all that Christmas or life might
bring him Mrs Newman felt herself
fairly glowing with pride as she gazed
at him.
The beautiful lighted tree stood on
the platform, and young man named
Abner Whittemore-he was said TO ad
mire the teacher-was dressed in a
buffalo coat, to personate Santa Claus.
and distribute The presents.
Inc names OF the Newman chlluTen
were called over and oyer-Miss Ruth
Newman. Miss Ssllie d. Newman, Mas
ter Henry Perkins Newman, Miss Ad-
die Newman. Master Eugene Newman,
Names also of large number of the
scholars who were particular friends
of theirs were frequently repeated.
They all marched away from the tree
with 1ubilant faces. However, the
faces changed when they came to ex-
anime their treasures more closely.
They were very neat little packages
tied up in fresh papers with bright
colored cords. They locked like boxes
of various shapes and sizes. The stu
dents who had these boxes regarded
them with expressions Of mingled
wonder and dismay Not one was un-
tied Gradually the news Of something
which was written. or rather printed. !