The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1910-12-07
Christmas Gift
Worth Having
BY GERTRUDE E. WHARTON
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association

get ON without me- | have no heart for
the wors."
| The good man turned away without
trying to persuade heA lie knew that
! there was a sorrow always with her
| and intensified on this Christmas ami
versary. Her husband Edgar had gone
| away from her six years before ana
had never returned. Every year her
| little boy had asked, Mamma, isn't
papa coming home, for Christmast'
+, and every year she had been obliged
| to put him off by saying. Not this
year, Arthur dear. Perhaps he may be
/ with us next year" But she only said
1t to tighten the childs disappointment,
for she did not believe he would ever
come
Edgar Austin was an artist and had
an artists temperament. He had mar.
ried woman with very practical
disposition, and when hard times came
on and he was not able to sell his pic.
lures she had lost her patience at the
hardships she was obliged to endure
and had told her husband that he had
better leave such idle work" as ''daub-
ing" and take up something that
would bring more steady and practical
results.
| While Edgar was painting he for
got the troubles that were always
present with her. 1t was her part to
see that the rent was paid and thu
other necessaries of life We're provided
Since she had little money for them
she ate1ast lost all patience aud up
braided her husband. There seemed
but one thing for him to do to save
himself from breaking down under the
strain to 30 away from her. One day
he took his little boy, who was then
four years old. In his arms and after
long embrace went out of the house
and did not return.
At times Mrs. Austin received small
donations from the clergyman, which
she supposed came from his parishion
ers. On this and what she was able to
earn she managed TO get on. She
! knew that 1t was her want Of sympa-
thy for her husband In his profession
during trying time that Ind driven
him from her, and bitterly she rued It.
She would have called him back, but
she did not know where to find him.
panion, often playing In the studio,
and the artist said that he could al
ways do better work with his boy near
him. For six years the easel had
stood with an unfinished picture on It,
and the studio remained in every re.
spect as it was when Austin left IT.
The day before Christmas the clergy
man came to the house with Il large
= basket on his arm and emptied II on
the kitchen table.
These things" he said, pointing tt
one heap, "are for supper tonight and
these for your dinner on Christmas
day"
How many kind people there are IN
your church! But how could any con
grcgation help being kind with such &
pastorF"
And, Arthur" the clergyman con
tInued. speaking to the little boy, I've
got nice present for you and one fol
mamma, too, which shall bring II
this evening before dinner that yot
may have 1t Christmas eve and enjoy
1t all Christmas day"
Mrs. Austin took great pains in pre-
pairing the supper, brought out a Sc
of china she had received as a wed
, ding gift and set an extra place at tht
J table for the pastor. 1t was dark be
fore & o'clock, and she lighted TIL
lamps. and Arthur was delighted a
the smell Of the good things coninl
! from the kitchen. He had forgotten
/ that the minister was coming and
/ seeing the extra place, asked;
/ as that for papa%
The mother burst into tears. Wit
4 all the comfort on this evening, bless
: ed to all Christian families, the bus
band and father was still away, pei
Z haps dead.
5 At G O'clock there was a tap on tn
= door. Arthur ran TO open 1t, crying
r ITS all ready, Mr.. Rlce!" But instea
of Mr.. Rice there was another. VIII
r picked the boy up and held him to hi
I breast. The mother came from til
i kitchen 10 see her husband standing !
+ the doorway embracing his child. The
!, In a moment she, too, was taken
: the mans arms, and kisses from mott
or and child were rained on the artist
10 face. II
: "Wife,' he said my fortune
t made I have sent you through Nj
It Rice all could earn-little enough,
Q grant--but now | can sell pictures
l. fast as can paint them. A year aft
e leaving you found means to take II
Y to Paris. A few months ago ! pahite
l. a picture that was hung In the salo
e and 1t made a great hit. But we mu
1t not stay here, where | am not y
g known, Besides, my pictures w
n bring higher prices coming fro
l. abroad. We must 90 back to Paris
y Then they all sat down to suppe
IS the happiness that had so sudden
Is come With this Christmas eve tlngllr
IS In their very finger tips. But the ira
81 sition was too quick for Arthur to Il
h derstand.
Is Papa" said the little man,
thought you was Mr.. Rice. What do
1t all mean, anyway"