The Manchester journal. [volume] (Manchester, Vt.) 1861-current, 1905-12-14
the REAL CHRISTMAS.

i 3
THE REAL CHRISTMAS.
: DO you hear this, papas Carl and tt
say thev spent every cent Of their none
when they were downtown yesterday, an
they've just remembered that they didn
buy thing for the cousins 1t Blooming
ton. And now to-morsow In Christina
and those Bloomington presents ought
have gone on this mornings mall
Doctor Harmon laid down the newspape
be had been scanning, and looked acros
the table at bis elder daughter, who va
presiding over the silver cofee-urn wit
sirlish dignity. The light from the windov
behind her shone through the hufi Of fai
hair about her face, aud the doctor though
with pang how she WAS growing to lool
like the mother whose place she had beeI
trying to al for four losg years.
Then the anxious expression on the youni
face brought him back to what she hat
been saying, and be turned to the boys a.
most sternly.
What kind OF performance 10 that for
pair oftwelve.y .year-old boysf be demanded
You're getting large enough now 90 thai
you ought to be q help to Ruth In these
matters, instead Of making her take oil the
responsibility for you. Don't you know II
1.-THE twins" ~ they are collectively
called In the family, made no answer. Carl
did sbrug his shoulders little . give q
nervous laugh, but Ted kept bis eyes Oh
hm plate and applied himself strictly to biz
breakfast.
Very we'll, continued the doctor, with
gro y log displeasure, II you're so indiffer-
ent, you may take the consequences. The
Bloomington cousins may 20 without theii
presents.
Oh, but papa, We cant do that! Ruth
protested. You know Aunt Mary always
mas them send Carl and Ted such lovely
things.
There 1t is--the give and take idea hei
father replied. It's spoiling Christmas th'
world over! No, Ruth, I've spent all th'
money shall on this years Christmas
and four times ~ much - l could afford,
too.
But, papa, dear, please don't be unreal
enable, persisted Ruth. We simply can't
leave the Bloomington cousins out, and
there's one other thing that troubling me.
too LIS about Mrs. Halliday. You know
she sent me that beautiful necklace las
year. 1t seems a. II must do something
for her. and yesterday saw Just what 10
like to give her.
Yes, put 10 Ted, suddenly coming to lift
a. chance to tease presented itself, and
Gray Halliday Is coming home from col.
lege tonight, and he'd appreciate Ruthi
giving bis mother nice present, wouldn't
be, Ruthi SAY, sis, you don't expect fel-
low that's been of At college whole quar-.
ter to take any interest in . high school
girl, do yous
Theodore, apologize to your sister, 10.
stantlyi commanded Doctor Harmon, sen
sitiye to the flush Of modification that
spread over Ruth's face.
Oh, I didn't mean thing, Ruth! Hon. |
est Ted responded, quickly, with loos
Of love ct his sister that went to her heart
know 1t, dear; iti oil right, she whis-
pered, ~ they rose from the table, and just
It that moment there came . ring at the
followed by an unusual commo.
Ion 10 the front hall, An expressman bad
come puffipg In with q huge, mysterious
burden Of some sort. and the whole family
nocsed out to zee what 1t could be.
while Ted and Carl stripped of the
wrappinss and disclosed a spacious leather
armchair, the doctor was reading the card
attached to one Of its arms.
Merry Chvistmss to Doctor Harmon.
With love and appreciation from the Mer.
tons.
Az he read. q look OF dissatisfaction
spread over the doctors face.
Now there's an example Of 1T! be ex-
claimed to Ruth. Thst's the result Of my
sending Robby Merton few flowers three
years ago. First they came back at ~
With silver, 20 last year We thought we bad
to give then somethipg-wbat vas 1t, a.
cuf-slass pitcteri And now look At that
chsiri What an going to dor
II Vas . isugbable picture the Hrmons
made at that moment. There stood the
beautiful chair with its messsge Of ''love
md tstprsciatlon, and there stood the
shole family, fairly sco~libg .. IL. Even
ssht-year.oid Mar, who had been silently
aklpg 10 oil the Christmas worry, was
,ocksrIng her face with the frown Of a.
AZ xIou. little old woman.
ws-ell, pap, veu.ured Rutb, after =
moment. I saw q me perfectly beautiful
spocns yesterday. OF course one OF them
souldn't be so'is q ~hsre near ~ much
- this, bat We might ee'--
CT, GET npssied Doctor Harmon, Al
post m,,s,i,, ss be tossed the card Of
Ch,is,uss greeting Into the chair, ard be-
xsu TO ttras his feet Into bis overshoea. |
No. d.ushrer, rm through. IN get moth
lrs They csn coms aud take their chair |
1 wa, II they want lie exact value. Look
Il tha, chair. asd with one last vindietivs