The Mount Holly news. [volume] (Mount Holly, Burlington Co., N.J.) 1891-1942, 1911-12-12


downstairs he was astonished to see
his mother and his father and his sis
ter. while his wife's parents were just
coming In at the front door
merry Christmas" all shouted al
once.
Tom looked at Ella with a half as
tonished, half reproachfuI glance
which melted into a smile under the
ringing salutation.
Then came others Of both families
every one bringing a package. Tom
was surprised to see the breakfast ia
BILE drawn out to thrice its usual
length, with a card bearing name on
each plate. packages piling up on each
card Ella in passing him took his
hand and gave 1t squeeze, looking
into his eyes with an expression which
might mean almost anything, but
which Tom took as pleading for for
giveness. Then the breakfast was
brought in and all sat down to the ia
BILE.
Neither Tom nor Ella made any ref
erence during the meal to Elias viola.
tion of her agreement as to celebrat.
ing Christmas. But Tom did not ACT
disagreeably about 1t. after the first
few moments entering into the spirit
Of Christmas with hearty good will
Ella was unusually merry, showing nc
trace Of fear at a scolding after the
celebration wss over. When breakfast
An4a rs.6 f.ok > h.
presents should be handed to the
brides father. who would read aloud
the names Of the donor and receiver
written on them and hand them to the
latter to be opened
And so the process began, the minor
articles being first distributed Even
though the gifts are trihing there is
something delightful in the expecta-
ton attending these Christmas dis
tributions A name was read and the
package handed to the receiver. who,
with a smile for the donor. opened 1t
and, no matter how unimportant the
gift. expressed unbounded delight
Half an hour was taken up before the
last present came up to be delivered
ELLA to Tom" was read out in a
sonorous voice.
Tom, seeing a little package no
heavier than an ordinary letter. felt
relieved. thinking that Ella had kept
her word at least in this one item
giving him some trifie-a bookmark
perhaps-that she had made with her
needle. The package was handed to
him amid silence. all eyes turned upon
him to discover what her gift would
be. he broke the string and took out
two bits Of rectangular paper. 1t grad
ually dawned upon him that they were
the two notes for $500 each be had
made to Shuster. On their face was
stamped in large red letters the word
Cancelled"
Tom looked up at Ella. whose eyes
were dancing with delight. For a few
moments be did not seem to under
stand the matter or at least did not
know what to do Then he arose from
bis seat and. going to her. took her in
his arms amid united shout of "Mer
~ Christmasl" from the others, who by
this time had gained an inkling Of the
meaning of the brides gift
Calls for an explanation coming from
all sides. It was given by the brides
father:
about the time Tom was gradu
ated from college and needed money
for his studies for a profession Ella
received legacy Of about $1,000 She
desired to give it to Tom for educa
tionai purposes. but feared be would
not accept it. She went to Shuster, a
money lender, and hired him to propose
to furnish Tom with the required
means at a moderate interest. and IL
was through Shuster that Ella lent
Tom the money. the notes for which
on this blessed Christmas morning she
as his wife cancels"
All leaned forward to catch every
word of this brief explanation. When
It was finished every one felt moved
to say something, yet no one seemed
to know what to say The silence was
broker By Elias little brother. aged
SIX. who wildly shouted Merry Christ.
mas!'
The words were not so irrelevant as
they seemed. since 1t was on the first
Christmas morning that the great les
son of self sacrifice was announced to
the world.