The Minneapolis journal., 1904-12-24
Il CHRISTMAS BOX FROM THE
CORNERS. .-...
BY LER McRAE.

''Therel That finishes the whole list, except Cousin
Nell and Rob- What on earth can we get themi Ism It
puzzle for poor body to know what to buy for rich
body at Christmas'' exclaimed Frances Merritt drawing
long, anxious BREATH and vcios biting the end Of her
pencil Her brother Tom turned to the window abruptly
'It is not that, exactly, for they aren't dreadfuy
rich and rent poor; but what country folks
buy that town folks wantf don't believe there's
single thing in that onehorse store that Nell and Rob
would thank us for. like to give things that people
really want.''
$50 do T. echoed Frances.
Silently and dsconsolately they both looked down
the road at the crossroads store the
windows Of which sent back foon stare at them tho
rays Of the setting struggled thru the clouds.
Living in the country is all right in summer time,
but now-ughl We are ten long miles from Chrstmasi
l feel like the old eoored who said Il lib whar
nowhar empties into muffin; 80 and Tom laughed in
alf-hearted sort of way.
|@But we must give them something,'' persisted
''They treat nicely whenever go the city;
aren't bit stuck up And when they down here
OH didn't we have jolly time last summer Do you
member the day Nell tried ride the cafs We ought
to give her Bossy, she loved him so.''
Say France, believe you We struck it! - cried
Tom. 'Town children like what country children have
and like the store presents better because can't
them here wonder if we can It gather up stuff here at
home that they would like better than all the tin toys in
the store!''
''Give her the calfs" asked Frances
"No, but there's that cunning bantam hen and
ter that they could keep in their back yard answered
Tom in all soberness.
how Nell wished she had herd of bantams and flock
of calvess Maybe could send up fancy basket full
Of eggs cause they'r thrtyve cents dozen in town.
and packed at that.''
rom shook his head IA basket full of nuts would
be more Chrstmasy and Rob says they pay five cents
pint, and half of them wormy tell you I'll bring
up sack full from the cellar and crack lot and you
make some Of those jolly nut cakes. -
And III make nut candies, too! The kind don u
have to cook for when try the boiled kind either
out chunks of slate know Let's fix the nuts
right off''
That night the family sat around the lamp Mr..
Merit and Tom cracking nuts and sorting tho
go the fancy basket which Frances
bows Of red ribbon When it done and filed it
a most wholesome, generous-looking gift
Early the next morning, with their mothers help,
they began enthusiastically the cake and candy making
Tom tied big white apron, and, fourishng egg
tie them severely!' But Frances lifted pan
puffy little cakes from the oven he added in very diff
ferent voice. "Jolly but those look good'
"Do you think they will like them?'' Frances asked
modestly:
'sLike themg All covered over with my frosting!
WE'LL guess Say sis, this is the sort of things for
to give instead Of trying to send just what they send
Grocery food and bakery stuff as good as homemade
mother says we may pick out two jars of fruit
and you choose peach picklesdo Tomb begged Frances
Such time they had! There the crate to
make the momentous choosing of the whites bantams
from the whole flock of white the catching of the
and best of ALL the packing of that wonderful box which
had to suddenly from cracker box to the big
gest the had in stock 1t had to include
than peck of winter pears, peck of fine apples
whole cheese several jars of fruit box of cakes box
of candies (Which were being either tsoup or
"chunks of sate, and the beautiful basket of nuts.
"It's good thing freight agent gets hold of
tha laughed Mr. Merit, he and the hired lifted
it gently into the spring wagon Frances tied cards with
Christmas greetings around the necks of the Chickens
while Tom put supply of food into the crate that would
have lasted for several tenme rides. AS the wagon
started the little rooster erowed loud he could
his thin tenor voice. =.
'sHear that He's growing cause he IS going
TO be town folks after th cried Tom and the family
turned back to the house to get off the stupid bought
stuff " called the gifts intended for friends
few days later, this letter, written in Nell IS large
vertical penmanship thru the crossroads posoffce
s'Dear France and Tom-Your George is the
est-looking Santa that to house,
and he brought the jollies box got Rob get
ting grown and greedy guess for he good things
eat beat any old pack Of toys but honest TRUTH
liked your things better than any got. You ought