The Barre daily times. (Barre, Vt.) 1897-1959, 1910-12-21
A Christmas Gift
Worth Having
BY GERTRUDE E. WHARTON
Copyright, 1910. by American Press
Association.

Mrs. Austin" said the clergyman,
"you are on the committee on decora.
ton for Christmas this year"
Indeed, Mr. Rice, the others must
get on without me. have no heart for
the work.
The good man turned away without
trying to persuade her He 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 and
had never returned. Every year her
little boy had asked, Mamma, isn't
papa coming home for Christmas?'
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
It 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 q 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 the
other necessaries of life were provided.
Since she had little money for them
she at last lost all patience and up
braided her husband. There seemed
but one thing for him to do to save
himself from breaking down under the
strain-to go away from her. One day
he took his little boy, who was then
four years old, in his arms and after
a 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 it was her want of sympa-
thy for her husband In his profession
during trying time that had driven
him from her, and bitterly she rued it.
She would have called him back, but
she did not know where to find him.
The child had been his constant com
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 t.
The day before Christmas the clergy
man came to the house with a large
basket on his arm and emptied il on
the kitchen table
These things" he said, pointing to
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-
gregaton help being kind with such a
pastorY
"And. Arthur the clergyman con-
tlnued. speaking to the little boy, i've
got a nice present for YOU and one for
mamma. too. which l shall bring in
this evening before dinner that you
may have it Christmas eve and enjoy
II all Christmas day"
Mrs, Austin took great pains In pre-
pairing the supper, brought out set
of china she had received as a we'd
ding gift and set an extra place at the
table for the pastor Il was dark be-
fore O'clock and she lighted the
lamps, and Arthur was delighted al
the smell Of the good things coming
from the kitchen He bad forgotten
that the minister was coming and
seeing the extra place. asked:
rs that for papa Z"
The mother burst into tears. With
ell the comfort on this evening. bless l
Ell to all Christian families. the hus-
band and father was stir away per.
haps dead
AT G o'clock there was a tap on the /
door. Arthur ran TO open It. crying,
"Its al ready, Mr.. Rice" But instead
Of Nir Rice there was another, who
picked the boy up and held him 70 his
breast The mother came from the
kitcnen 10 see her husband standing r.