Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1904-12-23
M rs@Whittler's3
M ~StrategIEtN>G
l,NBy TO NJ NJ A S S o N (,
NJ ONT you think, dear, that it
~ would be nice to spend our Christ
. mas in Florida?"

ETN ONT you think, dear, that it
| ~ would be nice to spend our Christ
- mas in Florida?"
Mr. and Mrs. Whittier were sitting
in their cozy back parlor. AS she
spoke Mrs. Whittier turned to her hus-
band with an anxious look of interro-
cation.
Never" exclaimed Whittier. "Why.
we couldn't afford it, What an idea!
couldn't dream of such thing Flor
ida! l should say mott"
81 merely mentioned the matter"
said Mrs. Whittier seeing her error.
at is of no special consequence"
At the same time she eyed sadly a
package of time tables and steamboat
circulars that for the past week she
had been surrepttiously 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, 1--WE must have a nice Christ
mas dinner, mustn't we?"
The thought of dinner brought Whit
tier to himself instantly.
you bet!" he said. rubbing his hands.
Well have the best the country can
afford"
Il sometimes wish" said Mrs Whit
tier, after a moment that we had
houseful of children It 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 if
the problem were too great for her to
master on the instant At last she said
slowly:
Glow 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.
81 guess you're right" he said at last
81 was looking forward to a Christ
mas dinner by ourselves Still. Aunt
Jane is good old soul, ard I guess
we'd better ask her. But there's Cousin
Emily, l suppose she'll have to come.
too"
yes" responded Mrs. Whittier. eve
shall OF course. have TO ask Emily. We
couldn't ask one without the other"
There was pause. Finally Whittier
spoke again.
'T suppose" he said. eff we ask Aunt
Jane and Emily, that Uncle Henry and
Georgiana will feel it,"
81 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" interposed
Whittier; they'll have to come with
their parents. Well, We'll have to do
1t, that's all. I guess we can stand it
for once"
There was another pause. Mrs. Whit
.ler at last looked meekly up.
There's another thing, dear" she
said, that had occurred to me-"
whats that?"
well you know there's my Aunt
Sally. Aunt Sally is so sensitive. II
she hears that your side of the family
is coming, she'll feel it."
Whittier sighed. But the justice Of
the argument appealed to him.
IS, ne Sdlu dl last suppose
that's so. It's nothing more than fair,
If my people come. that yours should.
too. But you have a Cousin Rufus, and
an Uncle William, haven't you?"
II was Mrs Whittler'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 heavensi" he 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
mint to entertain all this crowd"
He grew more excited.
ITS fearful thing" he said, 40
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.
Eve 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
ipS