The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-12-24
Mrs. whittler's Strategy.
Tom Mason in Town Topics.

Don't you think, dear, that 1t would be
nice to spend our Christmas in Florida p
Mr.. and Mrs Whittier were sitting in
their coy back parlor. As she spoke Mrs
Whittier turned to her husband with an
anxious look of interrogation.
"Never," exclaimed Whittier. "Why,
we couldn't afford it. What an idea! l
couldn't dream of such thing. Florida!
should say notr'
81 merely mentioned the matter, SAID
Mrs. Whittier, seeing her error. sit Is
of no special consequence. -
At the same time she eyed sadly pack
age of time tables and steamboat circulars
that for the past week she had been sur
reptitiously collecting. To go to FLORIDA
had been the dream of months And now
it was ruthlessly shattered.
Still, Mrs. Whittier did not despair.
''Well, if we don't do that, she said
at last, eve must have nice Christmas
dinner mustn't we?'
The thought of dinner brought Whit
tier to himself instantly.
sYou betr' he said, rubbing his hands.
"We'll have the best the country can af-
ford
II sometimes wish,' said Mrs. Whit
tier, after moment, ''that we had
houseful of children. 1t seems pity to
! sit down to Christmas dinner all alone. y
well, why should we?' said Whittier.
Can we ask some one il? p
Mrs. Whittier looked off into space with
her eyebrows closely knit, as if the problem
we're too great for her to master on the in
slant. At last she said slowly:
Chow would it do for you to ask Aunt
Jane? She's getting along in years, and
it may be our last chance to pay her any
attention.
Whittier thought moment.
II guess you re right, he said at last
II was looking forward to Christmas din
ner by ourselves. Still, Aunt Jane is
good old soul, and | guess we d better ask
her. But there Cousin Emily, | suppose
she'll have to come, too.
eyes, " responded Mrs. Whittier. "We
shall, of course, have to ask Emily. We
couldn't ask one without the other.
There was pause. Finally Whittier
spoke again.
Il suppose, he said, ''if we ask Aunt
Jane and Emily, that Uncle Henry and
Georgiana will feel it. .
II had thought of that, replied Mrs.
Whittier. They We both been kind TO
us, and it would never do to offend them.
Then, of course, the children
''Of course the children, interposed
Whittier; they II have to come with their
parents WE'LL well have to do it, that $
all. | guess we can stand it for once.
There was another pause. Mrs. Whit
tier at last looked meekly up.
'There' another thing, dear, she said,
THAT has occurred to me.
What that
"Well. you know there's my Aunt
Sally. Aunt Sally is -, sensitive. If she
hears that your side of the family is com
ing, she Il feel it.
Whittier sighed But the justice of the
argument appealed to him.
YES" he said at last ~ suppose
that 50. It's nothing more than fair, II
my people come, that yours should, too
But YOU have Cousin Rufus, and an
Uncle William, haven't you?
1t was Mrs Whittier s turn to sigh.
ssMore than that, she said "Don
YOU remember Aunt and Uncle Rubyton
and their children p
Whittier got up nervously and paced the
floor.
GOOD heavensr' he exclaimed at last.
"What are we going to do? It's awful
to dwell upon We simply have got to ask
them all. Why, it will cost mint to en-
terrain all this crowd.
He grew more excited.
'It's fearful thing" he said, ''to
have relatives. We're in for it, l guess.
We can't lop any of EN- off. Well!' he
cried, turning to Mrs. Whittier, 'have you
nothing to suggest? You got us into it.
Can't you get us out ?
Mrs. Whittier waited moment before
she replied.
"We might go to Florida she sale
finally
Whittier slapped his hands on his knee
Just the thing!' he cried. ''Why
did't you say so before?'