CanÌƒon City record. [volume] (CanÌƒon City, Colo.) 1883-192?, 1907-12-12
" u n u u T. u
~ The Boxer Boxed a s ::::::: ::: s.~ =

came for the dog. found the big box
with the paddock ON. snapped that shut
MS they saw what In the semidarkness
they thought was the dog and loaded
1t in the wagon. The 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
the dim light Of the early dawn they
saw two men tugging an immense box
to lift It carefully out
Mary sent two other men to help.
and the strange looking box was
brought to the veranda. She wondered
what II could b.
The expressmxn took his receipt book
to Mary. who mechanically signed 1t
while she looked st the awkward box
aAkance.
Il reckon It's q dawE." said one Of
the men. The other then pried OF the
tacks that held the letter and handed
It to Mary. saying:
"If you'll take out that there key
we'll take him out"
The men both had a faint fear that
the dog.wns 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 II had he barked.
Mary gave them the key and read the
letter. II was:
Dear Miss Mary-I beg you to accept
the one you will find in this box your
Christmas Eift. He will love and protect
al
As he lives. asking but a little OF your
priceless love in return. Wishing you .
merry Christmas. BERT ALLEN.
Somehow her heart grew lighter. her
cheeks grew red and her eyes sparkled.
So he had not forgotten her.
I'VE will take him out for you." said
one of the men again.
go and get big piece Of meat and
a basin Of water. Billy. and then We
will open the box. He will be strange
at frst." said Mary, while her aunt
looked afraid.
''Oh. know the dawg. He's q nns
animal" said the nrst expresaman.
Hes as gentle a. . 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
a man In II. He made NO reply to
their questions. They nnally 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
Mnry's vernnda. At last he saw and
recognized the letter in Mnry's hand
and stammered:
Miss Mary. l don't know how II has
happened that am here In the place
Of Prince Roland. but II 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.
AMI III tell Dinah to hurry the 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 a chance to talk II
over.
The upsliot Of It all was that Bert
stayed and helped with the tree and
also TINT there was q wedding In May.
when Mary deliberately abandoned her
career and settled down for life ~ .
happy wife and mother. Bert Inherit
Cd q comfortable fortune from Mr..
Burnside. mud 30 with "neither power
ty nor grent riches" they were very
happy. Marv keeps In the Earret the bis
boz where nuee the boxer was boxed.