Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-12-22
That's all for Linnie. l made Bob a

Owed the same color That's all except
the popcorn and candy. l never spent
a penny for anything except nuts and
oranges"
'It's enough, Anne Tiddleberry, and
you were the exponent Of the giftless
Christmas. Good night, my dear. Go
to bed | shall sit up awhile"
''I'm afraid I've spoiled your Christ
mas by Directing to the presents" she
said, with conjunction in her tone, as
she fingered by his side.
"Not at all, my dear. | wouldn't be
surprised if this turned out to be the
happiest Christmas we ever had
For a long while after his wife had
departed Mr.. Tiddleberry waited in ST.
lence, and when he had quite deter
mined she must have retired he tip
toed softly to and fro between the par
lor and the hall closet under the
stairs. his stockinged feet making no
sound on the carpeted floor.
First he united a package and look
ed with unstinted admiration upon a
cotton Grape kimono in gay tints of
red and yellow, a pair OF brown KID
gloves and a book that his wife had
longed for. He found a pair of stock
ings in her darnfng basket and hung
one beside Linnie's, putting nuts and
candy and a big orange in first. Then
he stuffed in the kimOno and the
gloves and laid the book on the shelf
above it.
Into Linnie's we'll filled stocking he
dropped a tissue paper package con-
tanning a silver bracelet, and into
Bob's there went a pair of skates.
After he had solemnly executed a
highland fling on the hearth rug Mr..
Tiddleberry extinguished the lights
and went to bed much pleased with
his own Shrewdness.
Later Mrs. Tiddleberry arose from
beside her sleeping husband and crept
down in the darkness to hang one of
his socks beside Bob's. She heard him
stirring and fitted back again with
out noticing any additions to the row
Of stockings on the shelf.
Just before daybreak Bob's door
opened softly. and a ghostly figure
made a journey down to the parlor
and returned. 1t was not until the
cold Christmas sun was peeping over
the rim Of the world and gliding Lin
ME Tiddleberry's bedroom window
that the little girl stirred from her
warm nest and timidly slipped down
tot tIo rpi11 yiY1 (.01
Just as she reached her bedroom
door her fathers voice roared in mock
ferocity: merry Christmas! Who goes
there?"
"Me," cried Linnie. Merry Christ
mas, everybody"
That was the signal for all the It'd
dleberrys to arise, for it was Christ
mas custom with them that they
should all go downstairs together on
Christmas morning. Mr.. Tiddleberry
looked very complacent and self salts
fed as he hurried into his clothes.
His wife was beaming with some hid
den happiness, while Linnie and Bob
sat on the top stair fully dressed and
giggling joyfully.
1t was a solemnly happy procession
that wended it's way down the stairs
that morning. Remember, children"
said Mrs Tiddleberry, II told you not
to feel disappointed if Santa Claus did
not remember you very bountifully
this year. Perhaps he has forgotten
you entirely. We are all so happy"
h0 OF hn
that it seems as though we had ev-
cry gift that Christmas can bring,
health and one another and peace and
good WILL
"And lots of love-" burst out Linnie.
"And the pleasure of working for
each other" added Mr.. Tiddleberry en-
phatically as he opened the parlor door.
"Whoop-pee" shouted Bob, making
a dash for his plethoric stocking.
"Ohr' cried Linnie delightedly.
"Oh!" echoed her astOnished mother
as she claimed her own stocking.
"Great smoker calculated Mr.. It'd
dleberry, feeling of his own dependent
sock. whats here, Anne? Wearing
out your pretty eyes over a knitted
scarf for me? And what is this and
this?'' He held two objects to view.
81 gave you the knife, and 1 want
penny so as not to cut friendship"
shouted Bob from the folds of his bath
robe as he strapped on his skates, "and
I gave mother the hairbrush, and l
made Linnie the doll house out of
soap box and some wall paper"
"And 1 gave you the pipe, father,
and the perfume is for mother and I
knitted the toboggan cap for Bob out
Of my old sweater-I unraveled it,"
cried Linnie breathlessly.
Mrs. Tiddleberry was crying softly
over the contents of her stocking. II
thought was the only one who could
sacrifice for the Others" she said
shamefacedly, but they all fell upon
her with caresses.
"Bob," said his father, chow did you
do it?"
"Sold my rabbits-didn't want 'em
anyway" said Bob deiantly.
II ran errands for Mrs. Mosher, and
altogether 1 earned As cents" declared