Orleans County monitor. [volume] (Barton, Vt.) 1872-1953, 1903-12-14
CHRISTMAS BUYING.

"Good sleddin' now, Sue-t three
inches of snow fell last night. Let's
90 down to Barton and do our Christ
mas shopping this very day; cause If
we keep putin it off, it'll be Hobson's
choice with US at every store In
town.
A twinkle frightened the eye of
Mrs. Hiram Hedgerow Hardcash as |
she cast a sidelong glance at her bet
ter (or other half to see whether he |
was in earnest. She was inclined |
to humor all of Hiram's notions of |
benevoIence as he was not often taken |
that way; therefore she readily an
sWered:
81 can be ready to go with you,
Hiram, Just as soon as you can get
hitched up"
So Hiram went and hitched Dobbin
into the old pung, and he and susan
were soon gliding at the old mares
best holiday gait over the beautiful
snow to the village, their hearts at
tuned to the good cheer of the season.
Mrs. Hardcash was not yet quite
sure of how flush her husband was 30
she meekly asked: swell, Hiram,
what are we going to buy for the
children"
"We'n go the rounds, Sue. We
ought to be able to find something
among all that long list of articles ad-
vertised in the MONITOR last week.
I haint got a Philadelphia mint back
of me, Sue; but the Lord has pros
pered Us middlin' we'll this year, and
I believe in letting out a link at
Christmas il at no other time during
the whole year.
Snow, wen just do things up in
style o-day and begin by putting up
| old Dobbin at Martins livery stable
| instead of bitchin' her under the
church shed. Then we'd better go
and register at Hotel Barton cause
we'll need the whole day to do the
town.
Susan didn't object to the arrange
ment after Hiram satisfied her that
they would visit the upper end OF the
village before the day was over and
call at the new Crystal Lake Hotel.
AS they were walking over to the
business section Susan had to hang on
to Hiram to keep him perpendicular
on the slippery sidewalk, an d
wouldn't trust him to go alone till he
had promised to go into Webster's
and take out an accident policy in
the Travellers. While he was doing
that she stepped into Q. A. Barrows'
store and arranged to exchange a
basket of her sound hen fruit for
groceries, and at the same time looked
over the dry goods, footwear, etc.
While she was on the grocery hunt
she went over to N. M. Scott's and
stocked up with some of his fine
brands of coffee. Thence over to E
B Robinson's for fruit. AS she coun-
termarched to the west side of Main
street she met Hiram coming out OF
j. F. Batchelder's carrying a very
large smile, as he had just been
suited to fine winter suit of clothes
"Say, Sue, while Pm lookin' sc
pleasant let's step up to WalcotTs
studio and have our pictures taker
latter I've been over TO Girard, the
tailor, and had the creases goosee
out of my pants)."
. H.C. Pierce's drug store was the
next attraction. Having his picture
taken had Slapped his strength 81
: much that he had to sit right dowl
t with Sue and sip cup of that prime
, hot soda; after which they We're ii
b, the proper frame of mind to select
7 generous assortment of toys, books
9 etc., for the grandchildren.
= Now, Hiram struck a bee line TO
Geo. H. Davis emporium. The shar
: wind sweeping in from Pierce
= meadow emphasized to him the nee
. of a good fur coat, and out of George
. mammoth assortment he ought to b
able TO make a selection. Susa
3 couldn't 60 by Miss l.. @. Colburne'
J millinery store without making a
a interior inspection, and with he
u comedy face framed in one of tn
% latest creations in headgear, th
vanity of youth returned wit
sufficient force to make her part " it
few shekel.s While in he store tn
strains of the latest composition
piano music reminded her of what 4
ia R Cowles had told her the other da
\ when he called at the farmhouse o
ii one of his regular visitations throug
y. the county, that it would be far bette
J. for her to discard the old organ an
Ia install one of his pianos for he
" granddaughters to learn to play upol
W IA they met again in front of Ge'
Or @. Lang's jewelry store, he locke
D. down affecLionately at his helpme,
D. and said, "Say, Sue, member tt
10 first ring ever gave you? They sa
Of he carries better ones than he used
le in those days; let's go in and prov
- it." Leaving her there to have ht
ne eyes tested for spectacles he wei
ly across to Fred Hi dreth's to leave b
a. watch for repairs and select some ri
Is verware for Susan to dress her tab
OF with on company days.
nj Farmer Hardcash thought it wou
tighten the white woman's burden
he bought a new range, so into FL.
Sewers he went and made wi
>. selection; and for the pots and KEITH
and various utensils to go with it
~. left an order at A E. Clark's.
~ Retracing his steps he found b
- wife staring into @. P. Jennes
window az though charmed Such /,