The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1902-02-11
THE OLD ELM ON THE COLBY LAWN.

THE OLD ELM ON THE GoLDBY LAWN.
cisely as she purposed. The truth is
that Mrs. Boxley was possessed of the
artistic sense-a remarkable quality
born with people and discovered sooner
or later by chance.
Possessing the artistic sense, she
could not have been expected to map
out plan and follow it rigidly Mrs.
Boxley made pictures with her camera
which attracted attention glimpses
here and there into picturesque cor
ners of the town, artistic little dabs at
inartistic dwellings. happy groupings
of unsuspecting people, beautiful pre-
sentiments of single objects-like the
old elm on the Colby lawn that had
been snubbed for fifty years before. 1t
was not altogether intentional on her
part to produce artistic effects; she
simply saw things from the artistic
point of view; there was no special
strain upon her eyes.
Thus it came to pass that her friends
bent, most Of them, on the object of
getting something at price far below
Tic Ilfl Attn ttoACQ Pl dloC uPOll nCA
and limited with mealy mouths at the
qualification they would experience
were she to run over some day and
just take a snap at their houses or
their babies or this, that and the other;
which hints she understood perfectly
and proceeded to turn to practical ac-
count. She gathered from the CAB
bling of these friends that what each
of them most desired was photograph
to send to some one at Christmas time;
a photograph, or a collection of pho
tOgraphs If the price were not too high,
which would give Maud or Minnie or
Marion an idea of the lovely village in
which they lived.
Then it was that Mrs. Boxley, per-
ceiving the demand, set herself to work
upon the task of supplying it. Her
idea was to cater to all the hints at
one fell swoop. And the result was
the famous "Blue Book" a collection
OF twenty photographs in blue print,
mounted upon excellent paper, bound
In fancy blue covers and tied with blue
satin ribbon. These books she sold,
actually sold. at SIPS for each copy.
The call for them was such that she
was unable to prepare gifts for her
own absent friends. She worked like
toy steam engine (Mr. Boxley's some
what satirical simile) to the very day
before Christmas, and then she cast up
accounts.
She had hoped. even in her most
sanguine moments, to make no more
than $50 from the venture-the price
she had paid so guiltily for her camera
But the figures showed-and she gasp
ed bit when the columns were added
that precisely sixty-nine books had
been disposed of and that she had sud-
denly become possessed of the stu
pendous sum of $S2.25, of which $40
was profit. Her conscience passed at
that moment into the calmest and most
delightful slumber. She kissed the
baby rapturously, and, Mr.. Boxley ar
irving home at that instant, she kissed
him also and scattered tears of Joy
adown his shirt front.
Dear mew exclaimed Mr.. Boxley,
returning the endearment perfunctori-
ly. what has happened"
Mrs. Boxley had INDUCED in no such
demonstrations for number of weeks,
having been too fully engrossed with
other matters; consequently Mr.. Box
ley had fallen into the habit of expect
ing nothing of the sort. He returned
the kiss in half hearted, chilling way,
because he felt that it was not COM
patible with his dignity to conduct
himself like boy who has come, after
a period of undeserved punishment, In
to favor again.
'What has happenedY he repeated.
"Eighty-two dollars and twenty-h
centsv' replied his wife, withdrawing
her arms from about his neck. He
looked at her with an admiration he
could not repress, and took from his
pocket letter.
at is from Tom Elliott" he said In
explanation. dropping into chair and
drawing her to his side. HE is COM
ing back to spend the holidays, and he
says he Is so happy that he cannot de-
scribe it. You see, dear, some one sent
him one of your books, and it seems to
have dispelled the gloom that has been
upon him since he left here. He is
quite himself again, he says, the same
man that he was before before-well,
you know how Madge treated him. 1t
was
Eyes, know" Mrs. Boxley sighed.
"They were both to blame; but l do
think, dear. that your sister was more
at fault than Tom After the quarrel
when he had left her, telling her that
If she wished him to come to her again
she should place bouquet of roses in
the landscape window-Madge might
have saved herself and him much sor-
row. 1t all rested with her then But
shs would not give u. and the roses