The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1907-01-04

shteam mime Thin he signs an
says: Barney, I niver intinded f'r
to do it, but We know how it is ye-er-
silf. Will We lind me tn loan iv a
two-dollar bill SOS we can ate till tn
mkt pay-day?' That's tn wa-ay iv tn
ma-an with tn big hear-rt, Mary, an
so I've had me hear-rt ossified."
This naturally had its effect on Mrs.
Flynn. 9TH poor ma-an," she said
to herself; che do be ha-avin' hazard
time iv it over tn money, an it's FIR
me to help him out" So she glad
dened his heart by proposing that they
ignore Christmas entirely. AS that
was the very idea that he had in mind
all along, he readily acquiesced. And
yet, even in the hour of victory, he be-
gan to modify the compact, thus DELHI
erately disproving his previous pessi-
mistic assertions about the expected
return favors.
"a bit iv something fr Maggie an
Terry" he said, "but nawthin' ilse"
Here, however, Maggie objected. II
there was to be any such arrangement
she wished to be included in it. There
was no reason why she Should receive
any presents if she was expected to
give none; indeed, as she was receiv-
ing an Independent salary for her
work as a teacher, she told herself that
there was all the less reason why her
parents should incur any Christmas
4
own money, she could do with that as
she saw fit. It was right that they
should be relieved of a burden that
was rather hard to bear in the exist
ing circumstances, but that was no rea-
son why she should be deprived of the
pleasure of giving. Here, it will be
noticed, was another blow to Police
man Flynn's views of the selfishness
that marks the modern Christmas, but
of course he didn't know it. Maggie
kept her opinions to herself, and mere
ly insisted that she should be includ-
ed in the compact.
Now this is an agreement that many
people of limited means have entered
into at various times, and they will
appreciate the difficulties that con-
fronted the parties to it. The Christ
mas spirit is contagious, and more
than once Policeman Flynn regretted
that he had been so far-sighted When
he saw anything that he wanted to
buy for Mrs. Flynn or Maggie, he
tried to console himself with the re-
Election: "Niver mind! IT will be
ma-arked down afther Christmas"
But with this came the haunting fear
that the stock might be exhausted be-
fore the day of bargain sales arrived
The occasional queries at the station:
What are We goin' to buy tn good
woman?" also worried him, for he
feared truthful answer would be mis-
construed, and he would be put down
as a miserly wretch with little affec-
ton for his family. He had one con-
ISOLATION, however. By tacit agree
ment Terry had been left out of the
arrangement, as being too young right
fully to appreciate it, and so there
was an opportunity to make some fam
lily purchases. Thus it happened that
Christmas eve Policeman Flynn told
his wife that he must get something
more for Terry.
"But We ha-ave a p;fnty f'r him." ar
gued Mrs. Flynn.
care you tn wan that's doin' this,
or am II" he demanded, with some as
perity.
ooh, g'wan, If we wa-ant to-" she re-
turned, "but ray-mimber wan hing"
whats that?"
"Ray-mimber Cullen, tn la-ad iv tn
big hear-rt that niver meant FIR to do
it,"
Policeman Flynn departed with the
uncomfortable feeling of criminal
who fears he has been found out and
Mrs. Flynn chuckled. Then she re-
tired to her room and made an inves-
tigation of one Of the bureau drawers.
"'Twill niver do" she commented
as she held up one of Policeman
Flynn's socks and regarded it critical
ly. "'Tis Shame tn min don't wear
shtockin's. Now what1l 1 ta-ake FIR
to ma-ake it seem fright an proper?"
Terry noted his mothers mysterious
movements that night, but he was alb
solutely barred from the kitchen un-
til morning, and Mrs. Flynn kept
close watch Of him. Maggie was SUI
perintending or assisting. to superin-
tend waits Christmas celebration,
and did not get home until late. When
she did come she made a mysterious
trip to the kitchen in the dark and
deposited some packages on the table.
With the stealthiness of thief Po-
liceman Flynn came still later, and
his movements were the most extraor-
binary of all. He removed his boots
before going to the room where Mrs.
Flynn was neacefully dreaming of the