Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1911-12-27
A Christmas
Morning
On Which . nriAe Gives Hsr
HusAanA Q Present
D. Marlin Strine1ellow
Copysisht By American Pres Aase-

+ copyrisht By American Pres Asss-
u citation. lel1. II
'+s ss-siiisi-ii-ii-i-i-i-s-i-i-i-s-s-s-s-s-s-s
Il am sorry. Ella. that we are not
able to celebrate this our first Christ
mas together" said Tom Wentworth
to bis bride. but the fact neverthe-
less remains true"
And why notT asked the young
wife. with surprise written on every
line Of her face.
''Lee me tell you" he took both her
hands In his and drew her down on to
seat bestde him. Il have something
to impart that have kept to myself
for years. You know ShustarY'
Yes, know the old curmudgeon."
|. well. I am indebted to him to the
amount Of $1,000"
why. Tom! And yeu never told
mer'
II told you before We were married
that 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 m
ished my four years 1t college my ia
Their failed and had not the where
withal to attain my profession. Then
suddenly I told you that had obtain
ed the means. but was pledged to tell
no one whence l received it,
"Yes; l remember that"
"One day while was lamenting my
hard fate In being obliged to 80 into
business after expecting to become .
lawyer l 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 it.
To my surprise, be 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, 4 know when it Is safe to lend
money and when to refuse to lend
".But you will require high rate
Of interest
"'Not in this case. Six per cent will
do
"He agreed to furnish the money as
l needed 1t and declined to take any
notes for the amounts loaned. I Dor
rowed a little over three hundred a
year from him for three years, earn
ing myself as much besides. On get
ting my degree I 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
il $500 a year. OF this amount $500
must 60 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
il paid"
II Knew you would. sweetheart. You
see. shall not only wish to show my
self worthy of Shuster's confidence
His confidence!"
Eyes. Did he not prove It In lend.
ing me the money on my bare prom
Use to repay himT
"Oh. certainly-yes. suppose So"
"Well. then, 1t 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. I will agree
to all you suggest for this one except
one thing. There shall be one gift be
tween US. and only one. That win be
from me to you"
"Well. be 1t as you wish. But let II
be some trtnlng article mace with your
own hands. shall prize 1t all the
more If you make 1t yourself"
This dialogue occurred previous to
Tom Wentworth's departure for his of.
fee. With the last words he kissed his
bride and went out She appeared al
a window, and he threw her kiss.
Unknown to her husband. Ella Went
worth made such preparations fol-
Christmas as 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. 1t must be confessed that she VIC
lated his wishes. She purchased such
| gifts as she would have bought had be
not signified desire that she should
MT do Rnt che QinfninoA n han