The Roswell daily record. [volume] (Roswell, N.M.) 1903-current, 1905-01-14
A Bride and Groom's
First Christmas
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turning from their wedding trip to
their quiet little home for Christmas.
They had NO money to waste ON an ex-
tended tour and had planned their wed
ding for the of December that
they might wind up the festivities at
a time when other people were also
given over to pleasure.
But to begin at the beginning.
Tom and Julia had been playmates.
n when they were at that age when
children pass into youth and are cast
ing ahead for their hfe's occupation
Tom found Julia of immense aid and
comfort to him. In talking over his ia
ture Tom was both intellectual and am
bilious. He desired to go TO college and
after that to study a profession. But
Tom was the son of a widow whose
slender income kept her pinched in or
der to give her boy his schooling. and
after that Tom would not hear of her
continuing her sacrifices. Tom had a
great many friends among his compan-
ions as well as admirers among older
people. There was a good deal of sym
pathy expressed for him on his gradu-
alton at the high school that one SO
fitted for professional life must go into
a business occupation.
One day Tom received a note from an
! old friend of his mothers stating that
he wOuld furnish him $500 a year for
the purposes of q collegiate and profes-
sional education-that is, he would do
SO as long as the funds were forthcom-
ing. Tom was to give him notes for
the amounts with interest Tom was
very much surprised to receive such al
offer from the man who made it. for he
was considered very stingy. He was
not surprised that his benefactor ex
pected the amount to be returned and
with interest. He accepted the offer
and the next fall entered college.
Tom did not forget Julia. He heard
soon after he left her that she had be-
come Il teacher on Il very small salary.
report saying that her father had made
business losses. Be this as it may. Ju-
liza took hold Of her work energetically
and every year advanced. Tom mean
while was teaching during vacations
and tutoring In term time. The small
mounts he was enabled to pick up in
this way, together with the prizes and
scholarships he won, added to the re-
mittances he received, enabled him to
get through college. and In a similar
III he secured his degree as doc
tor Of medicine. So well fitted was he
for this profession Of his choice that
the day he was graduated he was made
assistant to a noted surgeon, a leetur-
er at the medical college where Tom
had studied, at a salary of $500 a
year.
Tom had met many girls while pur-
suing his studies and on one OF two
occasions had become somewhat inter
ested, but there was something coin-
forting about bis old schoolmate that
made him feel when he began his life's
work that he would like her to be his
permanent companion. The result was
that he asked her to be his wife, and
she consented.
But there was something more than
this well conceived adjunct to his
plans i'll store for Tom kenworthy. As
l have said. the couple returned from
their wedding trip and entered for the
first time the cozy little home they had
been preparing for months before their
marriage. Tom had determined to put
aside $3.50 d year from his salary to-
VAR paying off the advances made for
his education. This. with the fac that
50 much had been expended in fitting
the house, determined the young PEG
pie to make each other 3 Christmas
present consisting solely of some ne
cessity hat had not been included i'll
their wedding presents.
They reached home Christmas eve
aud found that kind friends had tidied
up everything, putting flowers here and
there and lighting up the house. A
nice supper had been provided, and
Toms brother and Julia's sister con
stituted themselves walters to serve it
to the couple who were taking their
first meal in their own house. There
was to be a reunion of both sides of
the family the next morning at break
fast, for which everything had been
provided. When the bride and groom
had finished the others withdrew with
the understanding that they were to
be on hand at 8 o'clock the text morn
ing. presents for ali to be opened after
breakfast.
There was a merry party Christmas
morning. Tom sat at the head of the
table with his mother on his right.
Julia at the other end with her father
and mother on each hand. h rest Of
the board was taken up by the brothers
and sisters, with Julia's little brother
Ted on a high chair. After breakfast
IoiH put the presents on inc LaUfc anu
distributed them. His present to Julia
and her present to him be left till the
last. When the others had been given.
taking up a box. he handed it to his
wife. She opened 1t to nnd a coneepot
something that had been omitted in
the presents. All ciapped their hands
at the idea Of a groom giving his bride
on their FIRST Christmas % practical an
article Then JuHa 0roduced her nrpa-
emit for Tom. 1t was In a very large
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