The Washburn leader. [volume] (Washburn, McLean County, N.D.) 1890-1986, 1912-04-05
Her
81
Disarrangi i
Plans

How nice to meet you, Martha
Shawl" exclaimed the little woman
with her hat awry as she sank into
the vacant seat on the elevated train
beside a serene faced young woman.
II suppose you also are bound on that
necessary errand. Don't you abso-
lutely dread. Christmas shopping"
Not in the least, you funny Josie
Graham" Mrs. Shaw answered with
. superior air, II don't believe in
rushing madly around at the eleventh
hour to select gifts that invariably
prove unsuitable and oftentimes are
unappreciated. I'm giving only to my
Sunday school class and the children
In the family. For the girls l have
made dainty little fancy things dur.
ing the summer; for the children I
bought books away back In septem.
ber. Today I'm going downtown to
lunch with . dear friend"
fortunate %creature!" Mrs. Graham
sighed, enviously. another wrinkle
appearing in her forehead as she
opened her bag, drew forth q list and
:hurriedly added another line Of
'cramped writing. 1--WE Just remem
!!bered that I must get something for
the little girl next door. Last year
her mother sent the baby a book,
and, Of course. she'll expect SOME.
thing for Betty this year."
Don't you think that Is q wrong
conception of the Christmas spirit,
giving because one gets?" Mrs. Shaw
asked. II never will be a party to
such q mercenary arrangement"
1T doesn't seem quite right, but I
hate to hurt any ones feelings by
seeming to slight her." Mrs. Graham
replied, looking out of the window
!%anxiously. Mercy! How this train
::crawls. I know I won't have time to
buy half the things on my list"
II wish I could persuade you to try
my plan." Mrs. Shaw said. Outside
the children and the Sunday school
class not a single soul will receive
anything from mi but a card express.
ing q Christmas sentiment. You
know, that is the custom abroad, and
It is a very convenient and pretty
one"
"But I'd feel awfully embarrassed
on receiving gifts, especially II they
happened to be things I really want.
ed, knowing that l had sent the donor
merely a trifiing card" Mrs. Graham
demurred. wouldn't you feel embar.
raised under similar circumstances"
"Not# In the least" Mrs. Shaw an.
swered, placidly.
Mrs. Graham looked dubious as she
removed a needle from the front of
her shirt waist and picked a strand
of red silk thread from her skirt. eff
one could only make, up ones mind
I'd begin ones Christmas work early
in the year," she unused. "Some Of
my friends did and That reminds
me; can you keep a secret? can't,
I'm afraid. When we were at the
lake last summer Mrs. Kemper knit
you the most exquisite pale pink
porch shawl for a Christmas gift"
Elbow sweet of her!!" Mrs. Shaw ex.
claimed delightedly. "And pink, too!
She knows that pink is my favorite
color" A thoughtful look came inta
her eyes. Il.
At the. next stop the two arose and
left the car together, parting when
they reached the sidewalk. :
.. r ~A~ knrakAA ~&kn1n1ov xy1nxn AHrS
Graham paused beside q handkerchief
counter she bumped elbows with Mrs.
Shaw, who vas frantically inspecting
the contents Of various, boxes. Her
calm appearance of the morning had
vanished and she was disheveleA and
wild eyed.
elf 1t isn't tho luckiest thing to
meet you now!" Mrs. Shaw exclaimed.
"Do you. think Mrs. Kemper would
like = lace handkerchief for q gift?
I've racked my brains and I can't
think OF another thing. There, that's
my bundle that dropped-all these
are mine. I must have them made
iuto one. You never. know when
you'll get things IL you have chem
sent at this busy season.
But I thought" began Mrs.
Graham wonderingly.
Something fne and exquisite, of
course" Mrs. Shaw said. she has
taken 70 many love-stitches for me in
the pink shawl. BY the way, I had q
delightful visit today with my friend.
She BROUGHT me an exquisite center.