The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1907-09-21
|yvEDDlNc GIFTS.


trip and was about to spend long
happy morning looking over her we'd
ding presents and finding out what
she had really received. Before the
great day she had been so excited and
rushed that she had no time to exam
inc her treasures closely. although she
remembered. as In a dream. writing a
large number of notes OF acknowledg-
ment Then. too, 10 gifts had come
after she had gone away.
The bride went into the room where
the presents were arranged on all
the tables the house afforded and two
borrowed from neighbors, and sepa-
rated the sheep from the lambs.
The first thing which caught her eye
were number Of punch glasses. She
counted them and found there were
440 In all.
They will be awfully nice when you
give ball. said her sister, who was
accompanying her on this voyage OF
discovery.
The bride admitted that they would
But you see, dear" she said
thoughtfully, "our apartment has only
five rooms and d bath, and the little
library table Is but 16 by 20 feet, SO
that 1t win probably be some years
before can invite i40 people to take
dinner with me. or even give small
and early dance to that number"
The sister giggled, and they inspect
ed the coffee spoons, which came next
on the table. There were As coffee
spoons and the bride sorted them into
little groups and looked them over
admiringly.
Il will use them by turns" she said.
This set first. then that. and SO on.
why not have them exchanged for
something elseg" asked the sister
II don't think that would be nice.
replied the bride. primly
There were liz cut-glass bonhon
dishes and 20 bonbon spoons. There |
were 36 silver knives which the bride !
said were pie knives and her sister
declared should be used either for
Ice cream or fish, or both. as occasion
demanded
There we're ii CLOCKS.
I'VE can put two In. each ROOM"
said the BRIDE land | mustn't forget
TO go downtown this very afternoon
and buy dollar alarm clock to waken |
George in the morning"
These are the puzzles explained
the sister. as the twain approached a
table laden with silver implements. |
Each member OF the family has been |
given three guesses as to the identity |
Of each but we haven't succeeded in
making them all out yet
The bride took UP the implements
one by one, knitted her brows and |
puzzled over them.
This looks to me like something to
eat asparagus with" she said, refer
ring to gnarled specimen
"Oh! we've guessed that" replied
the sister, that is combination
cork-screw and bottle-opener and ice
pick, and ID is solid silver. 1t was easy. |
but just try your brains on this"
This" resembled nothing SO much :
as a dynamite bomb with fussy top. /
IL Was ttiQCntly iAlCuGtu do a lttNHtd-
Gle for some special thing. but what |
the bride could not make out in the |
least. There we're all sorts and con-
ditions Of forks and pronged things |
which were not particularly ornamen
tai and would only be useful II the
owner knew to what to apply them.
Il should take them to jeweler
and have him explain their uses"
said the sister.
Il WILL" acquiesced the bride. Per
haps he will know. though ! doubt II.
Did / get any doyGes or embroidered
things for the table?"
mo. but you are the happy owner Of
II lamps"
"And there Is both electric light and
gas In the apartment. Still. when we
build summer home they will come
in nicely. hope we received some
pictures"
mo. no pictures. but II trays of
various sorts and conditions"
ANY furniture?"
Certainly not: people don't give
such things, but you received IL pep
per pots"
I'VE viii certainly have spicy i
iife," sighed the bride. Il had hoped
some one would send me tea table"
1T seems to me you are awfully I'M
grateful" said the sister
Il am not" contradicted the bride.
Il love everything have. They are
all perfectly lovely, and wouldn't
part with one of them for the world.
] am merely taking an inventory.
Tell you what viii do will 10 right
down town and find out what these
things are intended for and-and--er
Iii you dsn't think II would be dread
full, viii take basketful of dupIi-
Gates along and exchange them for
articles l did not get. You are sure
you don't think II win be dreadful?
But what will the givers say when
they come to call and don't find their
gifts7 Yon honestly don't think Il
viii matterl Well. then. come with
me and we Will exchange the LAMPS
for tablecloths and some Of those
silver spoons for a bread tray, and
oaru~ ME knlvoe Tor q r~~.-t-~ -.