Maryland independent. [volume] (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1874-current, 1913-12-19

before the meal was served and having
dlned, he went to side room for his
overcoat and hat and gloves and walk
ing stick. The landlord stepped for
ward TO help him on with his coat and
as he did so slipped a silver dollar into
his hand with the words:
This fReing Christmas. sir. trust
you will not take offense at my offer,
ing you a le gift"
The gentleman looked at the coin as
though he did not quite understand
what II meant. then at the donor, and
muttering the OILY word that had ever
come from hlnf except to order his
5randy, "Thanks,r he put the piece In
his pocket and left the house
That was the last time the stingy
gentleman. as the servants continued
to call him. appeared at Fraunces' tav-
ern. The landlord was puzzled at his
not coming again. ignorant whether he
had taken his Christmas gift as a re-
proof for his parsimony or whether
something had happened to him. He
always expected that bis former guest
would turn up some evening, call for
his glass Of brandy and read the news.
paper as before. But the next Christ
mas came aud went without his ap-
pearance. and the next and many 9th
ers, and still the stingy gentleman did
not come to Fraunces' tavern.
Meanwhile the city of New York had
taken start and was pushing north
ward. The Astor house was built. q
fer rfvre imposing building than the
4 little tavern downtown. and the iand
I lord " the latter found himself out OF
/, the fashionable district He turned
8 over de infringement to another and
opened house farther uptown. But
ne was now getting old. and his former
patrons were passing OF the stage.
The travellers who were focKing into
the city did not know what genial
host he was. and. even had they known
1t, they had not the same use for q
genial host as when the city was CON
fined to that region bordering on the
Bowling Green. Men were getting In
too much Of a hurry to require much
attention from a landlord. Besides. the
former keeper of Fraunces' tavern had
not the wherewithal to put up struc-
ture suitable for the hotel Of the later
period. He threw up the sponge and
advertised his furniture and fixtures
for sale. From this time be sank into
poverty
Onu Christmas eve he received note
through the rost that if he would call
at certain house near st Mark s
church he would receive a gift. There
was no name signed to the missive; in
deed. It was a scrawI In very few
words. He could not think Of anything
be wished for Christmas. though bis
needs were many and there were per
sons on whom he would Lave liked to
Jestow gifts. 1t Is quite possible he
might not have paid any attention to
the note had 1t not been from curiosity
He desired to know who his would be
donor was.
Christmas morning being bright and
crisp. he concluded that be would take
q walk and go past the address given
In the note. He told his wife that he
1 would not 20 inside to claim the prof
fered gift, but a woman takes a differ
ent view Of such matters from man.
I and she urged him to take measures to
crafty her curiosity Indeed. they
were in such financial straits that even
a small gift Of money was needed to
buy Christmas dinner.
The ex-laudlord half promised what
his wife asked and started out or, his
! walk. When he came to the house p
question It's size and elegance spr-
prised him and still further stimulated
his curiosity He rang the bell. was
admitted by servant and sent In his
name. The servant led him into a
library, aud a man advanced to meet
him
Great heavens. he was the stingy
stranger,
sYou are surprised. | suppose" said
the gentleman. TO see me here, did
not return to your tavern after partak-
ing Of the Christmas dinner yon 50
kindly gave ME because the next day
departed for the northwest. was
then and am now fur trader. and
much Of my time for the past twenty
years has been spent in the wilds Of
Canada You remember your Christ
mas gift to me just before We parted
Well. invested ii in my business at a
time when was in great straits for
ready money and every dollar was
worth thousands to me have sent
for You not exactly rs expressed 1t
to make you u gift but to hand you
the proceeds Of yonr investment Aud
yet what have to offer I intend for q
return for your many acts Of kindness
to me wheu / could not afford TO sub
scribe for journal the news In which
II refer more especially to the bust
ness news--I greatly needed
Going to desk he took ont ~. :,
which he handed to the ex.land old
who. with his usual deIicacy. put i il
his pocket without looking at IT. Then
the donor asked II he wonld partake "
sqfep refreshment. and they sat down
1 ~ !. glass Of brandy. the gentleman
remarking that It was time he return.
ed favors received in that respect also.
Then the ex-landlord returned to his
home and gave his wife an account IT
his visit
-The paperT exclaimed the wife.
''Ect me seaakhe paper he gave you'"
"Oh. I VNsg the paper said her
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