The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1913-12-12

tdfefu. dinner sucn as was euJOytu
there In those days. and IL IL could III
served there now would cost much
more than Ii did then. The turkey wa
wild. and the venison was wild. as in
deed were all the meats served. There
was terrapin. but II was not touched
being considered ct only for the negro
slaves. The only invited guest at til"
dinner did not break his customary
silence. Having read the newspaper
before the meal was served and having
dined, he went to a 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 80 slipped a silver dollar int"
his hand with the words:
"This being Christmas. sir. ] trus'
you will not take offense at my ofrer
ing you little gift"
The gentleman looked at the coin as
though he did not quite understand
what 1t meant. then at the donor. ana
muttering the only word that had ever
come from him. except to order his
brandy. "Thanks." 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 Frances tav-
ern. The landlord was puzzled at his
not coming again. ignorant whether hr
had taken his Christmas gift as re
proof for his parsimOny or whether
something had happened to him. H.
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 and 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.
far more imposing building than the
little tavern downtown. and the land
lord Of the latter found himself out OF
the fashionable district. He turned
opened house farther uptown. But
he was now getting old. and his former
patrons were passing off the stage
The travellers who were fOcking into
the city did not know what a genial
host he was. and. even had they known
it, they had not the same use for n
genial host as when the city was con.
fined to that region bordering on the
Bowling Green. Men were getting In
too much of n hurry TO require much
attention from q landlord Besides. the
former keeper of Fraunces' tavern haG
not the wherewithal to put up struc
ture suitable for the hotel of the late"
period He threw up the sponge and
advertised his furniture and fixtures
for sale From this time he sank int
poverty.
One Christmas eve he received note
through the post that II he would cali
at a certain house near St Marks
church he would receive gift. Their"
was no name signed TO the missive: IN
deed. Ii was scrawl I'm very few
words. He could not think Of anythine
he wished for Christmas. though his
needs were many and there were per
sons on whom he would have liked 10
might not have paid any attention 4"
the note had ii not been from curiosity
He desired to know who his would be-
donor was.
Christmas morning being bright and
crisp. he concluded that he would take
walk and 20 past the address given
in the note. He told his wife that he
would not 20 inside to claim the prot
fered gift. but woman takes differ
ent view Of such matters from n man
and she urged him to take measures tn
crafty her curiosity Indeed. they
were in such financial straits that even
small gift of money was needed To-
buy Christmas dinner.
The ex-landlOrd half promised whar
his wife asked and started out on his
walk When he came to the house In
question its size and elegance sur
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 u
library. and a man advanced to meet
him.
Great heavens. he was the sting,
stranger.
You are surprised. suppose" said
the gentleman. Ito see me here. | id
not return to your tavern after partak
ing of the Christmas dinner you so
kindly gave me beca use the next day
departed for the northwest. WAS
then and am now fur trader. AMI
much Of my time FOR the past twpni,
years has been spent in the wilds Wf
Canada You remember your Christ
mas gift to me Just before we parted.
Well. invested II in my business at II
time when I was In great straits for
ready money and every dollar wa
worth thousands to me. have sen;
for you not exactly az ! expressed IL
to make you a gift. but to hand yo"
the proceeds of, your investment. And
yet what have to offer intend for n
return for your many acts Of kindness
to me when could not afford to sub.
scribe for journal the news In which
Il refer more especially to the bust
ness news-I greatly needed"
Going to desk. he took ont paper.
which no handed Tn the OF landlord