Perth Amboy evening news., 1904-12-24
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kChristmaS Mite
BY MADELINE BRIDCESN

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XIV KS. PLANNITOUTE Chought
Iv fully)-Dear, l have determined
l~- to make a new departure thi'
Christmas. / feel that the spirit O
Christmas lies, not in the giving o
expensive tri1es to those who have thu
comforts andAluxuries of life, but in re
membering those who suffer deprivation
OF the very needs of existence.
Mr.. Plannitoute-That is very swee'
Of you, dearest, I'm sure.
Mrs. Plannitoute-Yes. have prom
ised to donate the hundred dollars you
always give me for Christmas gifts tc
Mrs. Van Spreddem's Christmas tree fol
poor children.
Mr.. Plannitoute-I could not wish
the money put to better use. If more
Of this sort OF giving were common.
Christmas would be-
Mrs. Plannitoute-Yes, wouldn't I'll
( shall just tell everyone my intention
and people will understand
Mr.. Plannitoute (warmly)-They will
10 more. They will value your kind
aess of heart, beyond any gift you could
bestow on them, individually. Your
thought is noble. /
Mrs. Plsnnitoute-Thank you, dear,
so much. OF course, our own children,
and Toms children, and Emma's little
ones. we can't blackball them. It would
be cruel! And there are three or four
Of my very Oldest friends. l could
scarcely say to them that they must not
expect to be remembered. +
Mr.. Plannitoute-N-no. +
Mrs. Plannitoute-And, now, am
just recalling that l told Sister Lou |
I would get her a new wrap for Christ
mas. The dear girl quite locks forward
to ii.
Mr.. Plannitoutc-Oh-h-hi /
Mrs. Plannitoute-And there's DR..
Offenkahl! Dear, when we reflect what
that nan did for darling BERTHE, graft
tude simply commands was looking
at a glorious set of Shakespeare yester-
day-as he is such a lover Of Shakes
peare a gift of that sort might pay, in
part, the debt that money can never
pay.
Mr.. Observation-Disclosures! His bill
was the sort that money could pay.
Mrs. Plannitoute (musingly)-
There's nothing else imperative. except
some recognition to Mrs. Skribelchecke.
Her wedding gift to Lillian was mag
nificent! have ordered a silver chafng
dish for her-the new model, that has
that funny contrivance for
Mr.. Plannitoute-But, Louise, you
said you had taken a new departure this
Christmas!
Mrs. Plannitoute-I have; never be-
fore did l even think of giving my
Christmas allowance to the poor and
needy ones!
Mr.. Plannitoute-Yes. but you also
declared you would not, therefore, make
presents to your friends.
Mrs. Plannitoute (reproachfully)-
Arthur, | am surprised at you, Because
a person wishes to be charitable to some
persons. is that any reason for beins
brutal to others? 1t would be simply
brutal to neglect any of these duties l
have mentioned.
Mr.. Plannitoute-You have promised
your hundred dollars to Mrs. Van Spred-
dem. and 1t would take almost another
hundred to buy the things you have
enumerated.
Mrs. Plannitoute (brightly)--Just
about. | think.
Mr.. Plannitoute-You expect me to
present you with that much more
money?
Mrs. Plannitoute-Why, you always
give me a hundred dollars for Christ
mas.
Mr.. Plannitoute-Yes-but you have
given that money to the poor.
Mrs. Plannitoute--I have. You said
! was noble for doing so.
Mr.. Plannitoute-Then, the upshot Is
that you expect me to give you another
hundred to spend in gifts?
Mrs. Plannitoute with gentle digni-
ty)-I expect nothing. But, If you share
the Christmas feeling you so admire in
me. you will rejoice in doing so-eyen
as | rejoice in helping .he needy with
poor little mite.-Br1oklyn Life.