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

glance si the ,inanimaie offender. be but
tonsd his gtestcost round hin and started
for ths door.
But. papa, yoa cant mean u Rsth per-
sisted. We must do something About II,
and for the Bloomington oousins, too.
NY. dear. ssid the doctor,s more gently,
bu, with sbsolutc decision. mean what J
ssy. This thing hss 10 stop somewhere.
and II may - well stop here.
There vas no appeal from this, Ruth
knew, but she Was far from agreeing with
II, and the doctor had no sooner started for
his Office tbsp she made Carl and Ted bring
out their purchases OF the dav before.
WHY, you've bought three or four pre-
sents apiece for each other she comment
ed, after . secret session with each OF
them,
Course. replied Ted. Everybody doe,
that nowadays. One present Isn't any
thing!
Well, It will have to be this time, declsr.
cd Ruth. Wen just do up soms Of these
things and send them to Bloomington y
fast ~ we can.
The boys demurred o. nsst, but the end
Of Il was that they helped tie up the
Bloomington package, and trudged on to
the express office. Then Ruth dropped into
chair and ran over her Christmss list.
There Was her Sunday. school clsss, pro.
vided for and checked on; the presents for
the family we're resdy-she had sat up |
half the night before to attend to that; all |
the gifts that had to be sent any distance
had been safely started. But there were /
provisions to be ordered. and all the house
to be made tidy, for the one maid In the
Harmon kitchen was fsr from being equal
to all the duties Of the house, and ther
Vas lace tie half.Hnished, which Ruth
planned to give to one Of her girl friends.
Her head ached with WEAKNESS, and be.
sides al the rest, there was sore spot Of
disappointment about that present for Mrs.
Halliday, With . long face she began
counting up her Christmas expenses once
more.
o dear! walled Nan, just then. Papai
about right, anyway. l think Christmas
10 the hardest time.
Don't interrupt me now, Nan, murmur-
ID Ruth, In the midst OF . column Of fg-
ures.
IT'S, though! persisted Nan, talking
away to herself, ~ she struggled to tie up
= trumpery teapot which she had bought to
present to her nine-vear-old chum. Berths
Frazer won't like 1t bit because haven't
got something for her, but don't see how {
could help 1t. Thirty people TO buy thing,
for, and only three dollars for the wholt I
crowd. lust wonder II those lwise men
knew, when they brought their presents, Q
sbst terrible tax Christmas WAS going q
20 bei IL
Why, Nan Harmon! cried Ruth, sudden. Q
y waking up. You mustn't Say such dread. 4
'ul things! Don't you know what Christ. {
mas meansP
Yes, of course. But it's hard just the v
anne, and you know 1t, Ruthie! It's the q
'niy time in the whole year that you get
ross.
Ruth's conscience gave twiuge at that, q
'ut before she had time to answer, Nan v
'urst out, with shout, "Oh oh There g
omes the postman. with bis arms just full
1 things! Ia
Walt, Nan-do be quiet! cried Ruth, fol. y
owing the excited child to the door, and h
o-getting, just as she had begun to re.
,ember, that Christmas WAS not the time ..
D be cross. 10
Don't jump round so, Nan! No, you're &C
OF to look at one thing until tomorrow
b, don't be 30 noisy, dear! Come, let me p'
ave everyone Of those packages! And
Iith severe secrecy, but not bit Of ths ar
IN Of Christmas mystery, Ruth carried the b
undles of into her own room, while Nan IA
'ent solemnly back to the troublesome tea.
OF that would persist In thrusting iti "
pout through the tissue-paper she wss q
'ying to wrap round II. h
But as Ruth, alone /, her room, Was lay. ni
e the packages away In drawer, one Of
lem, addressed to herself and with cover. VI
e partly torn off, caught her curiosity. ~
ielding to sudden temptation, she slip.
cd of the rest Of the wrapping, snd sprsad
Ut upon her lap beautiful lace fchu. rs
The card with 1t bore the name OF her sr
unit Louise, In Philadelphia, but Ruth, vc
rpression ~ she gazed at the fichu wa, vc
ne Of unmixed bewiderment. 1t Was beau. sh
fully made, with rows Of, little Frercb u
nots In black heading the dainty lace frills al
but It was suitable for matron Of sixty to
Aunt Louise hasn't seen me for so long.
'e must think I'm terribly old was Ruth's be
rot thought. Oh, 1t would be just th. VI
ling for Mrs. Halliday was her second
er face Aurhed, and she gave . guilty N
'ok at the closed door. Aunt Louise would
ever ksow, the thought ran on. And 1t
ally isn't suitable for me to wear. It's 30 v
linty. I'm going TO % III
And before she had had time to repent, r
9TH had written Christmas message, en-. TO
oeed 1t with the dchu in dainty pack. W
ye, and cosxed long-suneripe Nan to ny r
the mail-box for positively the last
me-" ah
Then che plunged into the household II
uties with will. By two O'Clock 10 the q
tsrpoon she bad accomplished wonders, te
I'd was just ready to cit down to work or in
le lace tie when telegram was brought
lhe door, II was addressed to Mis- Ruth "
armor, and she hastily tore open the yel. tn
" envelope-to read the startling words: ne
Return nchu cent by mistake. Your gift si
'llows. Merry Christmas!
Aunt Louise. =,
The messsge nottered TO the floor ~ -
nth dropped into chair, covering her r.,
arnIrg face with both hands. Nan and
'e twins were outside At play; there was ..
4