The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1907-12-19
Christmas Story
BY OLIVE HARPER

came for the dog, found the big box
with the paddock ons snapped that shut
as they saw what in the semidarkness
they thought was the dog and loaded
It in the wagon. Tile weight and sub
dued snoring made them feel sure the
big animal was asleep inside.
Mary and her. household were all
astir as this: was Christmas morning,
and there was: much to do. Through
tile: dina light of the early dawn they
saw two men tugging an Immense box
TO lift it carefully out. -
E Mary. sent, two other men to help,
and the: strange looking" box was
brought:to the veranda.a She wondered
wlIat it could, be
The; expressman took his receipt book
to Nary: who mechanically signed it
while She looked at the awkward box
askanee. - 80 -:
s"I reckon it's a sdawg," said one OF
the" men. "The other then pried off the
tacks that held the letter and handed
il. to Mary, saying:
sssttf You'll take out that there key
we'll take him out
The men both had faint fear that
the dog was dead, as he had made no
sound, though coming over the rough
road they had Travelled and with their
ears bundled as they were they could
not have heard it had he barked.
Mary gave them the key and read the
letter. 1t was: -
+ Dear Miss Mary-I beg you to accept
the one you will find in this box as your
Christmas gift. He will love and protect
you and be devoted to you alone as long
as lie lives. asking but little Of your
priceless love in return. Wishing you a
!, merry Christmas. BERT ALLEN.
~ Somehow her heart grew lighter. her
checks grew red and her eyes sparkled.
So he had not forgotten her.
"We Will take him out for you said
one of the men again.
"Go and get a big piece of meat and
| basin of water, Billy. and then we
will open the box. He viii be strange
at first" said Mary, while her aunt
| looked afraid.
ooh, l know the dawg. He's q fine
| animal" said the first expressman.
Hes as gentle as kitten, and he's
| young, but as big as man."
BY this time the water and meat had
come, and the eXpressmen opened the
box, but to their surprise they found
4 man in it. He made no reply to
their questions. They finally got him
out, and then he proved to be Bert
Allen, limp, pale and scarcely able to
stand.
He tried to collect his senses and un-
derstand how he came to be here on
i Mary's veranda. At last he saw and
recognized the letter in Mary's hand
and stammered:
Miss Mary. don't know how it has
happened that am here in the place
of Prince Roland. but if you read the
letter over and take me instead Of him
for your Christmas gift
''It is too cold out here Mary. bring
| him into the sitting room by the fire
and I'll tell Dinah TO hurry tile break.
fast. And you. men, come out and
! have some hot coffee" This from the
| aunt. who was quick enough to see
| that the best thing TO do was to give
| the Young people Il chance TO talk il
| over
The .li'sl,nt Of il all WIS that Bert
| stayed and reiped with the tree and
| also that there Uas a wedding in May
when Mary Deliberately abandoned heI
career AMI settled down for life as q
happy wife and mother. Bert Inherit
| ed comfortable fortune from Mr.
| Burnside :.nsi 50 with neither power
| ty no- greet riches" they were very
happy. Mar keeps in the garret the bi;
box where once the boxer was boxed.