Spirit of the age. [volume] (Woodstock, Vt.) 1845-1913, 1907-12-21

and said a slight operation would BE-
necessary the next day.
The operation was successful, and
the physician assured the anxious
general manager that the patient
would be at the factory in a couple OF
weeks. But the physician had not
reckoned on many things--the wearl-
ness Of mind and body in his patient,
the bitterness OF his recent failure to
induce the firm to increase the pay OF
the hands, and the dragging load I'M
der which he had struggled silently
for the past three years.
The wound caused by the opera
ton healed rapidly, but with the heal
Ing came no strength. Crawford sat
daily propped up in a chair by the
window, listless and uninterested in
his surroundings. The physician was
puzzled and not little irritated; the
general manager, who came daily, be-
gan to show signs of alarm.
TITS the pace of modern business,
sirl" the physician snapped angrily
to the attendant, who had been sent
up from the hospital. Get him In
terested in something. It's his only
chance"
The man tried everything his fer
tile mind and thorough training could
suggest, but with no results. Craw-
ford sat silently by the window day
after day, looking vacantly at the
bare branches of the trees and the
patches of dull cloud drifting across
the early winter sky.
Christmas time found Crawford
propped in his chair, looking out over
a world newly swathed in spotless
white, The doctor declared that now
1t was only question of time, and
the attendant had long since ceased
trying to rouse the sick mans dor
mant interest. On Christmas Day
Crawford opened an envelope from
the factory, and found 1t enclosed a
substantial check. He smiled bitter
ly and handed 1t to the attendant.
Here, take 1t! Merry Christmas!"
he said, in colorless voice.
At dusk 1t was showing again, and
just after the lights began to twinkle
through the gloom Crawford, in his
chair, fell into heavy slumber. He
was awakened by lusty rapping at
the door. The attendant went into
the little hall and presently returned.
1.-TWO ladies and three gentlemen
to see you, sir" he said.
The visitors were ushered in, and
as they entered the room Crawford
gripped the arms of his chair and
stared with wide opened eyes. There
were two giggling girls from the wir-
ing department at the factory, two
men from the assembling bench and
the foreman of the brass room.
The girls Uttered and the men
looked i'll at ease. Crawford sat up
in his chair. Two spots of color came
into his wan cheeks. The foreman
advanced and cleared his throat
"We've come, sir" he said, looking
at the ceiling, ito show you that, even
If you're not with us, you're not for
gotten. Perhaps we haven't always
understood you, but anyway we know
you're the right sort. We've heard
all about your fight for an increase
for us, and even If we didn't get 1t,
we know 1t wasn't because you didn't
do your best for us. So to show our
respect for you and your efforts in
our behalf we've brought you this"
He tore the covering from a parcel
he bore and held out silk umbrella
with large pearl and silver handle.
"And-and Merry Christmas!" he
finished.
Merry Christmas" echoed the
two other men and the two girls.
A lump rose in Crawford's throat.
He could only beam upon them and
mutter feebly, Merry Christmas to
you!"
Some few minutes after the com
mittee from the factory had gone the
doctor came bustling into the hall.
The attendant met him and shook
warning finger at him. The doctor
craned his neck and peeped cautious
ly into the room.
Crawford sat under the light. His
head was hidden in the crook of one
arm that rested on the window SILL
Clutched tightly in the other was a
silk umbrella with large pearl and
silver handle. Crawford's shoulders
rose and fell convulsively; he was
sobbing like child.
The doctor smiled in comprehen-
sion. Good" he declared, emphati-
cally. That's something like!"
And turning on his heel he stole
softly down the stairs.-From Youths
Companion.
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