Perth Amboy evening news., 1904-12-24

/ L HI
Ibl would be nice to spend our Christi
49, mas in Fioridag"
Mr.. and Mrs. Whittier were sitting
in their cozy back parlor. AS she
spoke Mrs. whittier turned to her nus
band with an anxious look Of interro-
cation.
"Never," exclaimed whittier. Why.
we couldn't afford it. What an ideal
I couldn't dream of such a thing. Flor
ida! should say not!"
II merely mentioned the matter"
said Mrs. Whittier, seeing her error.
ut is of no special consequence"
At the same time she eyed sadly q
package of time tables and steamboat
circulars that for the past week she
had been surreptitionsly 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 saiG
at last, 1--WE must have a nice Christ
mas dinner, mustn't we?"
The thought of a dinner brought Whit
tier to himself instantly.
"You bet!" he said. rubbing his hands
Well have the best the country can
AFFORD"
a 81 sometimes wish said Mrs. VIII
tier, after a moment, that we had Il
houseful of children. 1t seems a pity
TO sit down to a Christmas dinner all
alone"
"Well, why should WEI" said Whit
tier. Cant We ask some one in?"
Mrs. Whittier looked off into space
with her eyebrows closely knit, as il
the problem were too great for her to
master on the instant. At last she said
slowly:
How would 1t 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"
Wi:.ttler thought q moment. ss =
II guess you're right" he said at last.
II was looking forward to a Christ
mas dinner by ourselves. Still. Aunt
Jane is a good old soul, and guess
we'd better ask her. utthere's Cousin
Emily, I suppose she'll have to come,
too"
Yes" responded Mrs. Whittier. 1--WE
shall. OF course, have TO ask Emily. We
couldn't ask one without the other"
There was a pause. Finally whittier
spoke again.
II suppose" he said, IN we ask Aunt
Jane and Emily. that Uncle Henry and
Georgiana will feel it," f
Il had thought OF that" replied Mrs.
Whittier. They've both been kind to
us, and it would never do to offend
them. Then, OF course. the children
"Of course the children" interposeG
whittier; they'll have to come with
their parents. Well, we'll have to do
it, that's all. guess we can stand il
for once"
There was another pause. Mrs. Whit
tier at last looked meekly up.
There's another thing, dear" she
said, that had occurred to me-"
What's that?"
We'll, you know there's my Aunt
Sally. Aunt Sally is so sensitive. If
she hears that your side of the family
Is coming, she'll feel it."
Whittier sighed. But the justice Of
tEt dABuhicAt dppCdlcu " ulH,
Yes" he said at last. ~ suppose
that's so. It's nothing more than fair.
II my people come, that yours should,
too. But you have a Cousin Rufus, and
ali Uncle William, haven't your"
1t was Mrs. Whlttler,s turn to sigh.
More than that" she said. Don't
you remember Aunt and Uncle Ruby
ton and their children?"
Whittier got up %nervously and paced
the floor.
Good heavens" ne exclaimed at last.
What are We going to do? It's aw-
full to dwell upon. We simply have got
: to ask them all. Why, it will cost a
mint to entertain al; this crowd"
He grew more excited.
IT'S a fearful thing he said. ito
have relatives. We're in for Il, I guess.
We can't Top any of EN- of. Welt"
he cried. turning 10 Mrs. Whittier, have
you nothing to suggest? You got us
into it. Can't you get us out?"
Mrs. Whittier waited a moment before
she replied.
we might go to Florida, she said
finally.
Whittier slapped his hands on his
knee.
Just the thing!" he cried. why
didn't you say SO before ?"-Town Top
les.
Origin OF the Christmas Tree.
The Christmas tree is supposed to
rave originated in Germany, but such
il not h case. In reality the Christ
mas tree is from Egypt, and dates
from q perio; long a%nteeedent to the