The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1902-12-31
THE ALTERNATE OF CHRISTMAS

We'll. old man." said the portly fellow.
| sitting down in the car how did you
! enjoy Christmas
Enjoy? 1 didn't enjoy it at all. Had
| head all day-a buster-and couldn l
| explain it,
What was the matter?''
oh, 1 just got too much of the yule-
| tide spirit the day before 1 thought the
| proper thing was to lead up 10 it,. ard
81 / schooled myself over few high
: jumps, had a regular steepie chase be-
fore got through and woke up Christ
mas morning. stale
Nothing in that smiled the other.
| I've tried it. and no more for me, Tell
ycu, Jones, I've got this thing ali figured
| cut. The only way TO enjoy Christmas
! right is 10 do it in the Christian spirit,
ard
/ -Oh. well, you're married
| Il know. but l wasn't born married,
| and
| We'll. you might as well have been,
| You never did know what it was 20 cut
| loose, and, by the way, how do you feel
| this morning.
| .Oh. I've got a headache, too. You
see. the kids had tin horns. drums and
| all kinds of diabolicaI noise-makers. and
that sort of thing always did do me
| up"
'.Oh, then just beat you TO it. Were
| 10th on the bum. EN-? Only you got
| there in a Christian-like spirit. and l got
| there in 'frumenti' spirit It's all in
| the spelling"
\ man and his wife came into the car
| and sat down. She glowered and he look
&c at his shoes.
do you remember the man who sold
| to your" she asked. sharply.
''Ye-es. That is, 1 think I'd know him.
I believe he was bald-headed-"
You're sure of the store?'
"Oh, yes. l don't see how l lost the
| ticket, but-well, / didn't want you to
know what il cost. Come TO think of IL,
] tore the ticket up
James, you make me SO mad, Here
I've been wearing my old shoes for three
months trying to save up enough to buy
| q decent pair, and you so and spend two
weeks salary for coat. i haven't had
new hat since Easter year ago. What
would / look like with a $50 coat on and
| holes in my shoes? What could you be
| thinking about?''
We'll, I just wanted to get you some
thing decent he murmured. You
won't buy anything for yourself. and
oh, I guess they'll exchange it.
But she looked out of the window in
a dreary. disconsolate way and tapped
her threadbare shoe against the floor.
The man sighed and looked foolish, and
his wife pitied herself.
Papa" said the little girl, smuggling
up 20 the calm, gray-eyed man who sat
next her. will you take me to some nice
big store? 1 want to buy Christmas
gift
But Christmas is over. Catherine he
said. taking her tiny. gloved hand in his
own
"Oh 1 know, but that doesn't matter.
Besides. mamma wants meat least, she
said maybe I'd want to-give you a pres
ent. papa"
so that was letter from your mother
you got yesterday"
Yes, such a lovely letter. sir
And how is she. Catherine?" vacantly.
and looking out of the window.
|, 'Oh, she's well, She's with the Gadfy
Company, she says, and her name is on
the program. She sent me $40. and said
r-aybe | had some one to buy Christmas
gifts for
And now you want to buy one for
rae? Did she-did your mother-er-nen-
ton me. Catherine?''
No, sir. but she must have meant you
She said buy something for the one you
love best
And am l that one. daughter" he
asked. his voice low and his eyes visit
fully solemn.
Yes, you and mamma. 1t wouldn't do
own money, you know, so I'm going to
buy you a present with il.
But you'd better not. Catherine, II
don't care for present. You see, I'm
too OLD for that and besides-
"Besides-what?" she looked furtively
into his face.
THE present that / want. Catherine
cannot be bought 1t is the only thing /
want-the only thing l ever wanted-and
1 cannot have it,"
What is it, papa?"
Never mind that. girl. Come. this is
our station"
And as he led her out of the train he
said to himself:
Il had it once and did not know it. 1t
was given me and it was taken away.
Well Billy. how did it come off?''
How did what-oh. YOU mean Christ
mas? All right. l guess-Same as ever.
It's rather a nuisance. I think
Didn't You get any gifts?'
"A bushel."
What are you kicking about them"
I'm not kicking-I just don't like
Christmas, that's all. Every dod- gasted
fool in my place of business wants to
give me something. had a scheme all
bottled up to send my mother-in-law
packing. but she landed on me Christmas
morning with a muffier, a pair of yarn
slippers. a pocket Bible and a box of
cigars-and nov I can't lose her. I've
got to call her mamma. and let her run
the shop till she's tired
Sure you've got to show your graft
tide. Billy
Gratitude be bowed. That's just IT.
I had my foreman slated for canning
but up he hobs with a presentation speech
signed by gang OF the most incomr etent
lazy hands in the factory. and hands me
4 silk umbrella. Now I can't fire him
It'd look cheap-ungrateful. as YOU say
You don't look at it right. Billy. Those
poor fellows wanted 10 show their graft
tude, they
"Oh. rats era tierdee What was it old
D,sraeli said? Gratitude is a lively sense
OF favors yet to corie'-somethins like
that Most Christmas gifts are imperti-
nent; that what l think
Didn't you give any,
oh yes just few. We always give
our star customers something.
Bidding for more trade. Ell. Billy?'
"Oh. no. It's just sign that we appre-
c.ate-that is
You have a lively sense OF favors yet
20 Gomez"
But Billy grabbed his walking stick
and got of the car-John Il. Raftcry.
Big Head Sometimes.
1Fr0m Puck
Mrs. Eorr-1-fse deacon : such 4 good