Democratic messenger. [volume] (Snow Hill, Md.) 1869-1973, 1911-12-09
A Christmas
Morning
On Which q Bride Gives Her
Husband a Present
By Martin Strinsfellow

By Martin Strinsfellow
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation. 1911.


II an sorry. Ella, that we are not
able TO celebrate this our first Christ
mas together" said Tom Wentworth
to his bride. but the fact neverthe-
less remains true"
"And why notT' asked the young
wife. with surprise written on every
| line Of her face.
LET me tell you" He took both her
hands in his and drew her down on to
q seat beside him. II have something
to impart that | have kept to myself
| for years. You know Shusterr
"Yes. l know the old curmudgeon."
"well. l am indebted to him to the
amount Of $1,000"
why. Toni And you never told
mer
II told you before we were married
that l had barely enough income from
my own profession to procure for us
the necessaries of life. with not cent
for pleasures. The celebration Of
Christmas comes under the latter
head. You remember that when fin.
ished my four years at college my fa-
Their failed and had not the where
withai to attain my profession. Then
suddenly told you that had obtain
ed the means. but was pledged to tell
no one whence received It."
Eyes; ] remember that"
zone day while was lamenting my
hard fate In being obliged to go into
business after expecting to become a
lawyer / met old Shuster on the street.
Shuster. as you know. lends money at
high rate of interest. He asked me
what | proposed to do now that had
been graduated. was full Of my dis
appointment and told him about II.
To my surprise. he offered to lend me
the money required to study for my
profession.
But said. you only lend money
on security. and have no security
81 want no better security than
the word of an honorable man. he re-
piled, I know when IL is safe to lend
money and when to refuse to lend
"'But you will require a high rate
of interest.
"'Not In this case. Six per cent will
do
"He agreed to furnish the money as
needed It and declined to take any
notes for the amounts loaned. Dor
rowed a little over three hundred a
yaar %ror,, hin, FOR fhroo vaarQ arm
ing myself as much besides. On get
ting my degree | insisted on giving
him two notes of $500 each. one note
to be paid each year. Now. you know
that my salary with Busby and Busby
Is $500 a year. or this amount $500
must go to Shuster. leaving US $1,000
on which to live; consequently for two
years we have absolutely nothing for
pleasures"
While the husband was speaking the
wife drew closer and closer to him
and when he had finished looked up
into his face and said:
II will help you all can in the mat
ter OF giving up pleasures till the debt
Is paid"
~ knew you would. sweetheart. You
see, shall not only wish to show ms
self worthy OF Shuster's confidence
"His confidencer'
Eyes. Did he not prove 1t In lend.
ing me the money on my bare prom.
Use to repay him?"
"Oh. certainly-yes. suppose so.'
well. then. II is understood that we
give no presents on Christmas. We
can tell every one beforehand that
we intend to make nothing of Christ
mas this year. and next year Wen tell
them the same"
mo. we won't"
"But dear. shall have another
note
''Never mind next year will agree
to all you suggest for this one except
one thing. There shall be one gift be.
tween us. and only one. That will be
from me to you"
well. be II as you wish. But let IL
be some tri1lng article made with your
own hands shall prize II all the
more II you make II yourself"
This dialogue occurred previous TO
Tom wentworih's departure for his Of.
Gee With the last words he kissed his
bride and went ont She appeared ut
a window. and he threw her kiss.
Unknown TO her husband. Ella Went.
worth made such preparations for
Christmas ns she chose to make. She
was the financial manager of house
hold expenses and was not required
to make an accounting. As to the sub
ject Of her conversation with her hus-
band, II must be confessed that she VIC
lated his wishes She purchased such
gifts as she would have bought had he
not signified desire that she should
not do so But she maintained abso.
lutte secrecy in these matters. bringing
home the articles herself when she
knew Tom was at the Office and stor.
ing them away where he would not