Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-12-22
FAMILY ~
SACRIFICES
They Serve to Make
Merry Christmas
By CLARISSA MACKIE
Copyright, 1910, by American Press
Association.
1870 by American Press
Association

observe Christmas this year, Henry"
remarked Mrs. Tiddleberry two weeks
before that anniversary. "We've had
SO much sickness and bad luck during
the past twelve months that to make
any gifts will mean getting in debt for
living expenses, and / am unwilling to
do that
Mr.. Tiddleberry looked up from his
paper with a relieved expression on
his tired face. eve been bordering that
matter for several days, my dear"
Suddenly the wife looked up and
saw her husband take a cigar from
his pocket, regard it speculatively and
then, signing, return it to the case
Henry" she said, "smoke your CT
gar! You needn't think you're going
to save on your only consolation just
to buy some foolish nonsense for the
children. How much of your months
salary will there be after you've laid
aside the amount Of the interest due
the first Of the year,
"None," confessed her husband can
didly
'"Then why should we try to observe
Christmas just as if this year had
been a prosperous one"
"You have stumped me, Anne. l
hate to give up Christmas, but | guess
We'll have to-
'Pll do the best I can" promised
Mrs. Tiddleberry as she folded up the
stockings. There will be enough to
eat, but it will be plain. 1 laid a little
money away for Bob's suit and for
Linhie's new coat, and that will be all
the Christmas they can have this year.
l can make some black walnut candy
for them and some popcorn"
you're right, as usual, Anne" and
ed cheek
When she broke the news to Linnie
and Bob the next day their young
faces grew quite round and solemn, and
she felt little lump in her throat as
they trudged off to school with a
cheerful "All right, mother, DEAR"
They're disappointed enough" she
murmured, "but they won't say any
thing. I'm proud of their pluck"
Mr.. Tiddleberry developed a habit of
working late in the city, and each
night found him taking later train
to his suburban home until finally he
stamped into the house on Christmas
eve just as the clocks were striking II.
Henry Tiddleberry," said his wife
severely. ut seems to me the import
ing business is picking up or you're
getting behind with your books. There
must be some reason for your working
late at the office. You never did it be-
fore"
"There is an excellent reason, my
DEAR" said Mr.. Tiddleberry amiably
as he hung his overcoat before the
kitchen stove to dry, (which I will ex-
plain to you in due time. 1t certainly
is a wild night, Anne-a typical Christ
mas eve. Where are the youngsters
"Gone to bed like lambs" said their
mother in a burst of admiration. II
haven't told them just what their
Christmas presents were to be- but
they are clever enough to guess, sup
pose. I told them it was something
to wear"
How about dinner tomorrow? Got
everything in that you need?"
Everything" said Mrs. Tiddleberry,
bending flushed face over the evening
newspaper she had just opened. II
told you this morning 1t would be the
first Christmas eve you didn't have to
do any shopping. Did you miss it,
Henry?"
did II" exclaimed Mr.. Tiddleberry
emphatically.
$50 did l." admitted Anne soberly
Doesn't seem like Christmas at all. I
told the children to hang up their
stockings
"They might as we'll, suppose"
said Mr.. Tiddleberry, rather gloomily.
''If you hadn't forbidden me, Anne, l
might have managed few oranges or
something. 1 believe I'll go out and
get some now" He reached into the
kitchen for his overcoat, but Anne
slipped to the china closet and threw
open the door.
"Wait, Henry! Look there!'
"Great smoker whistled Mr.. fiddle
berry, and then he chuckled softly to
himself. 'Oh, Anne, Anne, how could
you, when you forbade me to buy
thing?"
81 baked half dozen Christmas
plum buildings and sold them and
made enough to get some oranges and
nuts" blushed Mrs. Tiddleberry under
his tender scrutiny. II couldn't bear
to have them find empty stockings
us that ALP" demanded her husband.
isn't it enough?" she evaded. Come
In the parlor and look at the coat and
suit. I made a larger fire in the fur
mace and turned the heat in here so
1t would be warm when they got up in
the morning"
What else have you done, Anne?"
persisted Mr.. Tiddleberry. Confess,
I'll give you"-looking at his watch
aust three minutes. Fire ahead"
Anne sank back in q big rocking