Rogue River courier. (Grants Pass, Or.) 1886-1927, 1904-12-15

Well, the months went by TIL Do
cember, and tho Saturday before
Christmas | went to tho bank and
drew out my small deposits. / had
kept two accOunts-the cigar fund and
the table fund, called them. Tho
cigar fund was Just s20.40 and my ia
BILE fund was s21.32. Could l believe
my own eyesl 1t fairly made me dizzy.
over $50 to spend for Chrlstmasl This
was what had been dreaming about
ever since last Februaryl
My feet scarcely touched the pave
ment on the way home. | sang all the
while was getting supper Would
John never comet At last heard his
step. How his feet dragged What
could be the matterl
"Do you know next Monday Ia
ChristmasT asked John gioomlly.
81 dor replied In 40 jubllant n
voice that he turned and looked at me-
Susie, wish we're rich"
"Why, John, aren't we comfortable,
and isn't It better to enjoy what we
have than to mourn over what we
have notT
John still looked gloomily into the
Crate, Brown stopped me tonight TO
show me n Christmas present he has
bought for his wife, beautiful gold
watch. He has beon saving up money
for It for yenr. susle, you deserve a
Christmas present II anybody does. but
see how much have to buy ono with"
and ho bitterly tossed his scnnt purse
Into my lap mot quite s1.50,'
"But, John" and | laughed in his
face. couldn't hold back any longer
threw myself into his arms and
showed him both my hands full OF
money. This John, is whnt you did
not smoke, and this IL what We did
not eat We are rich, joint We don't
owe q cent We have months ent
and coal paid for IN advance, and we
have the whole OF s50.72 to spend for
Christmas"
John looked Mt the money. then al
me. He couldn't spenk for minute
then no said, "Susle, you're a brickF
don't believe thero was ever hap
pier couple walked the streets Of Chi
cago than John and I were that even
Ing when We went out to buy our
Christmas presents. Nor was ther,
ever n merrier Christmas in one room
than there was IN ours. How far 1T
tie money VIII 20 when one spends 4
| carcfullyl We were surprised nt the
things II bought. There were som,
books for John that hc had been wish
Ing for-he Ind taken to studying I
little evenings of lnte-and there was {
| little rocking chair for me 10 sit in Al
my sewing. and there were a now dresi
and a pair Of gloves FOR me and a Ne
Of silver teaspoons, and there were nj
oycrcoat Tor John ana pair OF slip
pers and big easy chair, md ther,
was n fine big chicken for the Christ
mas dinner with celery and everything
20 go with Il. and few candies ant
nuts 10 make II seem Ike a holiday
And after everything was bought tina
we had been needing we still had Ss.51
left.
After our Christmas dinner was owe
and we sat before the CRATE close "a
gother John said 10 me:
Susie, bow did you save 70 mucl
out Of the $3.50 a week for the table
You always had enough and just N
right thing bellows you could max
feast out OF nothing"
ut Is all due TO little management
and economy, John" said.
II think for the coming year woull
better give you - a week. 80 you ca
save still more
THAT will make t25 more saved"
laughed. Then asked, John. ar
you sorry you gave up smoking Las
winterf"
John drew me close 10 him az he ar
swered, Susie. you have made thi
Christmas worth thousand time
more TO mo than years smoking"
NOT I, John. couldn't have don
II II you hadn't quit smoking"
"And couldn't have guilt smoking
> hadn't had you"