The Brandon news. (Brandon, Miss.) 1892-1961, 1904-12-22
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TWN OS you Link, GEAR, lnaL IL
~ would be nice to spend our Christ
- mas in Florida?"
Mr.. and Mrs. Whittier were sitting
in their coy back parlor. AS she
spoke Mrs. Whittier turned to her hys-
band with an anxious look of inteTro-
| gaticn.
Never" exclaimed Whittier. "Why
we couldn't afford It. What an idea.
couldn't dream Of such thing. Flor
ida! / should say mott"
II merely mentioned the matter"
said Mrs. Whittier, seeing her error.
| 1T is Of no special consequence"
AT the same time she eyed sadly .
package of time tables and steamboat
circulars that for the past week she
had been .surreptitiously collecting. To
go to Florida had been the dream OF
months. And now 1t was ruthless.y
shattered
| Still, Mrs. Whittier did not despair.
| Well if we don't Go that" she said
at last, 1--WE must have a nice Christ
mas dinner, mustn't WEI"
The thought Of dinner brought Whit
| tier to himself instantly
| You bet!" he said, rubbing his hands.
We'll have the best the country can
aacrd''
| Il sometimes WISH" said Mrs. Whit
tier, after a moment, that we had a
houseful Of children. 1t seems a pity
to sit down to Christmas dinner all
alone
| well, why should wee" 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:
How would it 90 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 a moment.
| Il guess you're right" lie said at last.
Il was looking forward to a Christ
mas dinner by ourselves. Still. Aunt
| Jane is good old soul, and l guess
| we'd better ask her, But there's Cousin
| Emily, | 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.
81 suppose" he said, "if we ask Aunt
Jane and Emily, that Uncle Henry and
| Georgiana will feel it."
Il had thought Of that" replied Mrs
Whittier They've both been kind tc
is, and it would never do to offend
| them. Then, Of course, the children"
"Of course the children" interpcsed
Whittier; they'll have to come witt
their parents. Well, we'll have to &c
It. that's all. I guess we can stand it
for once"
| There was another pause. Mrs. Whit
Ter 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
Yes he said at last. Il suppose
that's so. It's nothing more than fair
| If my people come. that yours should
| too. But you have Cousin Rufus, and
an Uncle William. haven't your"
r. MOS M~C Uy+;4tlcr,c +,,r,
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!" he exclaimed at las.
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 3
mint to entertain all this crowd"
He grew more excited
Its q fearful thing" he said. s'to
have relatives. We're in for it, guess.
We can't lop any Of EN- off. Welii"
he cried, turning to Mrs Whittier, "haYs
you nothing to suggest? You got US
into it. Can't you get us out?"
Mrs. Whittier waited moment before
| she replied
I'VE might go to Florida" she said
finally.
Whittier slapped his hands on hin
knee.
"Just the thing!" he cried. "Why
didn't you say so before ?"-Town Top
les.
Origin Of the Christmas Tree.