The Montgomery advertiser., 1903-12-13
Present
BY Fl. E. REALE.

It was Christmas day. and instead of being at home I was obliged to ride through sleet and snow.
 About l2 o'clock I rode up to farm house and asked the farmer IT he could give me something to eat.
 'sY' bet" he replied. "Y' kin have the best in the house, and no pay"
 He stood in the doorway, and at his side was a little boy about four years old, on whose curly locks his hand rested affectionateiy. Within I could see a young woman setting a table. while be- fore a fireplace sad young man. All seemed naturally interested in me. stranger. but the little boys eyes were full of childish wonder. I alighted, my horse was put up and l dined with the family. After dinner I lighted a cigar, offered the men a smoke and said to the farmer:
 "Now want you to tell me what makes you so happy to-day"
 ''Well. stranger. they say a man that's suddenly got somepin' fust rate wants to talk about 1t, so here goes" He took the little boy in his lap and began:
 ''When my ole woman dled-SAry's mother there-Sary was bout fourteen year old She was a likely little sal and stepped right into her mothers place in takin' keer of the house, and every year
 
 year ago, when she was bout eighteen. that galoot over there"-the young man referred to as the galoot grinned-"come a-sparkin' of her. What was to become of men if he married her he didn't seem to consarp himself. I didn't keer to give her up without a fight, and give him fair warnin that If he come nosin' round the farm I'd empty the load tn q tt shotgun hangin' agin the wall up haA hn ko away: but, Lord. what's the use keep in a feller from a gal when the gall they're all slick as greased cats-ktn go to the feIier? Sary lit out one day and lef' her old dad in the lurch. Didn't y. sary?"
 ''Yes. pop"
 ''She jined Ben there, and they was married. They didn't dare come prowl in' round here. but they sent a letter lm- answer, so they jist never tuk no more notice of me. That's bout 1t. ain't 1t. eary?''
 ''Y' struck it fist right, pop"
 ''Y' knowed I'd riddle y if I got sight If y. didn't y. Ben?"
 The young man grinned again, but made no reply.
 '1 passed the ornariest i've years" con- e1nued the farmer. T ever spent in my A1L0s AOuGSOLuSg Ben anu 0aTy JlSI Iet me alone and didn't show up nowhere. Ths fIlst three years I spent cussin' em, but the fourth year I thought If they'd como back I'd forgive 'em. The fifth year I went a-huntin' fur em, but didn't get no track of 'em.
 '~The wust times had was the holi- days. When Christmas come along. I allus went to town. Meetin' the crowds was better 'en sittin' here all alone, but the crowds was bad enough, fur every body was a-buyin' somethin' far some- body and minded me that I didn't have nobody to buy anything fur. allus got to thinkin' of the days when Sary was c little gal and we hung up her stockin', and 1t bulged on Christmas mornin', and how them black eyes of her'n danced when we drawed the things out. maxim b'lieve they'd got stuck, sos to take aNm out slow.
 Last night was the fifth Christmas eve I'd spent alone. and it didn't seem 6 if II could git through 1t. I was a-sit- tin here before the fire a-lookin' over the backlog, picturin' in my mind the faces of them as had gone a-hopin' I'd fine a 1me on 'em before another Christ mas, Nvhen there was a rap at the door. I give y my word, stranger, 1t was the f,lst raAO on that door any Christmas sence Sary lit out. Seemed es I some on 0m Mas a-COIuIn Ddck SuFe. II couldn't hs Sary's mother, fur she'd gone to where they don't come back from. It might be Sary. I jumps up. up. prayin' that it was Sary, and went to the door. TA1ere stood a bent ole man with a long white beard. If he'd been fat. I'd thought he might be Santa Claus. A box wa s a-settin' by him. He looked at me anal axed was I Jud1ins Brough. and I said that was my name.
 CT got Christmas box fur y',' he said
 "'Who from?' I axed.
 "T was forbid to tell. and was for bid to leave it unless y promise not to open it before g o'clock.
 'Waal,' I says. "I haint had no Christmas gift fur five year, but I reck- on I kin wait, specially since it's only few minutes
 "Y' must be keerful of it, he said, aettin 1t down sofly. and when y open the box take the nails out easy like. SOS not to inJure what's inside. It's perish able
 I'm not likely to harm the first present I've got since my darter went away. D. y think it's from her?"
 Tn only a-bringin' 1t to y'.' he says. Have y got a darter?'
 "T had onct. Then it struck me that