The Birmingham age-herald., 1912-12-20

either. I sent her all the new books worth reading. Memoirs of great women. It does woman good to read about the experiences of other women. All womens lives are pretty much alike in the Final Analysis, and it's just as well for them to know it. l then tucked in subscrin- tions to several magazines. l put in sub scriptions for two well known Fashion papers, for her dear self-she always loved pretty clothes. 1 put in, for the husband, who. by the way, is very scholarly man, subscriptions to Magazines that men like. and last of all went in a beautiful neg lgee and Boudoir cap, dainty little lace apron and some gloves and silk stock
 ngs, and d wonderful box of bonbons. feel sure that box will bring joy to that household way out in the country, re- mote from even the little country village that is the nearest point of civilisatloh to them.
 Well I should say it would" Anna belle said jubiantly. I'm not surprised that you said you were only sending Christmas Cards to your family and friends
 For the other girl, whom l loved so much, and who is now a poor struggling little widow in Washington, ekeing out an existence for her and her four chil- dre1 by her work as a stenographer' Miss Petunia continued, T made up very different box, but one that pleased me equally well. She had written me some time ago that she never went out aS night because she had no suitable clothes, and so l got busy. She didn't need anything to wear to the office where she worked, because, knowing her of old, 1 knew she was as neat and as ire proachable in her dress as the richest woman in the land So the first thing put in the box was lovely dinner dress that I had last winter. l took it to the dressmaxers and had it, freshened up a bit with new lace and chiffon and flowers and it was a perfect dear. I sent her the three piece velvet suit I had last winter which I had steamed and renovated. sent her two brand new lace blouses and d fascinating Japanese Kimona and Boudoir Cap. I knew she'd never be able to buy those. things that every woman under the sun loves. and so l filled the box with all sorts of lovely dainty things, and I also put in a few books and again some subscriptions to Magazines. and that box went off with my hearts love to a woman I've loved for years
 Miss Petunia. you are an angel, ex- claimed Annabee.
 Not an angel. only very human sort of an old maid" Miss Petunia corrected. and 1 wanted to do something for the people who in other days did pleasant things for me when I needed them so mueh I sent boxes to some little coun-
 
 summer resort last year, and I also sent a small box to a poor sick woman who was there, and to whom l became very much attached The person who did most for me in all my young life, outside of my family, was my school teacher, who is still living down in the little Alabama town came from, and to her each Christ mas I send a box. That's a debt of love that I try to cancel each Christmas, but won't live enough Christmases. I'm afraid ever to do that entirely
 There's always somebody to go out on Christmas Eve" Miss Petunia continued. and find the poor little waifs in the al- leys and fill their stomachs with turkey and Plum Pudding. but there are few who remember the friends of other Cays that are down and out"
 "There's many a debt that the most honest of us owes without ever cancesiing it." Annabelle observed.
 -Yes, that's true" said Miss PetGnia. q think it's a good thing to take an oc- casional day off and locate the people who would appreciate things that you would do for them, people who appre- ciate what would send them.'
 q think I'll appoint tonight" said An nabelle. seriously. "to look over my ac- count books I owe a lot of debts. too. and I have an idea that it isn't too late to send some REAL Christmas Boxes where they are badly needed"