Highland recorder. (Monterey, Highland County, Va.) 1877-1972, 1912-06-21
A Christmas
Morning
On Which a Bride Gives Fier
Husband q Present
BY Martin Stringfellow
Copyright by American Press Asso-
citation, 1911.

Il am sorry, Ella, that we are not
able to celebrate this our first Christ
MAG together" said Tom Wentworth
to bis bride. but the fact neverthe-
less remains true"
And why not?" asked the young
wir. With surprise written on every
! iiIe of her face.
Il At EIe fell you" He took both her
haras In bis and drew her down on to
q sect beside him. Il have something
to irpGrt that have kept to myself
for years. You know ShusterT
"Yes, know the old curmudgeon."
well, ] anl Indebted to him to the
amount Of $1,000"
Why. Tom! And you never told
mer'
II told you before we were married
that had barely enough income from
my own profession to procure for us
tho necesSaries of life. with not cent
fer pleasures. The celebration of
Christmas comes under the latter
head. You remember that when | fin
Islad MY four years at college my IA
tier failed and l had not the where
witha! to attain my profession. Then
suddenly told you that had obtain
ed the means, but was pledged to tell
no one whence received it."
"Yes; | remember that"
"Cre day while l was lamenting my
hard fate in being obliged to go into
business after expecting to become a
lawyer ! met old Shuster on the street.
Sinister, as you know, lends money at
a 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.
Tc 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
"T want no better security than
the word of an honorable man. he re-
piled, 4 know when 1t is safe to lend
money and when to refuse to lend
But you will require a high rate
Of interest.
mot In this case. Six per cent viii
do
.-~"He agreed to furnish the money az
needed it and declined to take an!
notes for the amounts loaned. / Dor
rowed q little over three hundred {
| year from him for three years. earn
| 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 Il year. or this amount $500
must 80 to Shuster, leaving rs S1.OOC
on which to live; consequently for two
years sc have absolutely nothing for
| pleasures
While the husband was speaking the
wife drew closer and closer to him
and when he had finished looked VI
into his FACE ard said:
II will help you all can in the mat.
ter of giving up pleasures till the debt
is paid"
II knew you would, sweetheart. You
see, | shall not only wish to show my
self worthy Of Shuster's confidence
"l1is confidencer'
Yes DID he not prove it in lend
ing me the money on my bare prom
isa % yapay h!mT
"OE, tertai1Iy-yes. I suppose So"
"TFel, then. it is understood that we
give 10 presents on Christmas. We
can tell every one beforehand that
we intend to make nothing of Christ
mas th:s year. and next year We'll tell
them tlie same"
mo, we won't"
"But dear. shall have another
nots"--
Never mind next year. l will agree
to MI you suggest for this one excep,
onc thing There shall be one gift be
tween US. and only one. That will be
frc:n me to you"
- VII, DC IL dS you Will. nut iCl u
be some trifing article made with your
own hands. shall prize it all the
more If you make it yourself"
This dialogue occurred previous tc
Tom Wentworth's departure for his of
fee. With the last words he kissed his
bride and went out. She appeared at
window. and he threw her kiss.
Unknown TO her husband. Ella Went
worth made such preparations for
Christmas as she chose TO uake. She
was the financial manager Of house
mold expenses and was not required
10 make an accounting. AS to the sub
ject of her conversation with her hus
band. it must be confessed that she vio
lated hls wishes She purchased such
gifta us she would have bought had he
not signified a 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 WIS al the office and stor'
ing them away where, ne would u0f
stumble upon them. She provided for
an elaborate breakfast for Christmas
morning. inviting every one OF her
own and ber husbands families 10 joir
them on the occasion
Tom saw Christmas approach witt
.omethinG of diSpleaSnre-that is. tn,
Christmas OF his own household. Holi
days we do not reIehrat, ourselves arr
not only irkS0me. bat nj fines nnpleas