The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1902-12-17
MRS. SMITHS PLAN.
How to Have a Merry Christmas
Holiday.

Holiday.
well. I never did," proclaimed Mira
Smith on the Gath of December. Nc
BODY does a thing 10 help me and the
way things go does beat everything 7
feel as if 1 should fly. I'm so nervous.
When this is over I'll go to bed. That
what All do"
Mrs. Smith made the same remark
every Gath of December, and the family
should have been used to it. but the or
servation never failed to cast a gloom.
1t worked like a charm, that system of
hers. 1t began on the Esd On that day
she said. loud and clear, so that all the
members OF the family might perceive
and mentally note her self-saorifice-
I'm tired to death There's just one
thing Pm thankful for and that's that
Christmas only comes once year.
The next day she varied the wOrc>.
but the motif as musicians say, was the
same.
Il ache all over I can't keep this up
I feel that I shall drop before long.
The family always looked apprehen-
sive. Mrs Smith never did drop. but
then she might at any moment They
all regretted having carelessly told. i'll
moment Of holiday enthusiasm, what
they wanted for Christmas presents
Indeed. an atmosphere OF cfiminauty
lowered over the tree. The pleasure had
been purchased. you might say. with
mothers life blood. This is at any tim
a depI essing thought. 1t played havoc
with the holiday spirit of the Smith
family
The Smiths we're an average family
Mr.. Smith worked pretty hard. and he
liked holiday as well the next mei.
The boys and girls were all at school.
and they talked Christmas for the en-
tire month of December. About tao
time when the shopkeepePs began to set
in barrels Of Christmas green the hol-
day spirit began to stir vigorously in tic
soul Of each young Smith They made
out lists of things they wanted. They
We're long lists. but the writer's did Mt
70. far~ N ~,rr
the kind. they would have told you. Whu
wanted tie earth. with a fence around
It; and 1t wasn't very hard TO please
them.
Mrs. Smith was an average mother;
perhaps little more conscientious than
a good many. She wanted the best for
her children. and she worked hard TO
give it to them. She worked hard any
way. with only one servant to help her:
but the children were not little any
more. and she might have kept more
time for herself il she had tried hard.
She never tried a { Christmas time. She
worked herself into 4 frenzy that not
even by poetic license could be called
fine The children wanted things, and
the children should have them. John
and his wife. and James and Ellen and
Cousin Maria came to dinner every
Christmas and they We're to have the
best of dinners There was nothing in
hospita BILE about Ms Smith. and In
housekeeping matters she thanked
heaven that she was Rot as many other
women. shiftlesS and happy -so-lucky.
SO every Christmas she went vig0r-
ously TO work. and. in her enthusiastic
desire to keep the letter Of Christmas.
the holiday had its spirit crushed out of
all recognition She never suspected for
an instant what She was dOins Could
woman keep Christmas better than
by giving her children everything they
wanted and by serving dinner to her
relatives which should prove both her
regard for their tastes and her ability
as a hcusekeeper? 1t never entered Mrs.
Smiths head that any woman could do
better. OF that holiday fun and good Wils
were preferable 10 elaborate prepara-
ton.
When Christmas morning dawna1 she
was all unstrurg-" She said, DO be
quiet" 10 the smallest Smith when ne
made a noise over the present she -
worked so hard TO procure for him. La
ter, when he blew the trumpet she hl1
secured after searching all the stores
for Just the Kind he wanted. she said
he would drive her to her grave vet.
While Ethel was dressing for DIM er
in the charming white frock her mother
had made with all the care and pains
love could tal-e. Mrs Smith went in
and nagged her about being careful not
TO spOt IT. John. Ellen and the rest
were erected with q feeble smile w
they finally arrived and the hostess v.ss
20 aired thu her interest i'm TIE -irts
they had brought was perfunctOrv TO
the verge OF insult AT dinner Gerry
time the young ncoole laughed. Mrs
Smith screwed W her eyes in pain ard
murmured to Johns Sood-natureds wife
that il went right through her head.
The guests did not stay to tea. They