Pine Bluff daily graphic. (Pine Bluff, Ark.) 1893-1942, 1913-12-26

there in those days. aud II 1t could he
served there now would cost much
more than it did then. The turkey was
wild. and the venisOn was wild, as In
deed were all the meats served. There
was terrapin. but it was not touched
being considered tit only for the negro
slaves. The only invited guest at the
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
ovcrcoat and hat and gloves and walk
ing stick; The landlord stepped fey
ward to help him on with his coat and
as he did so slipped silver dollar into
his hand with the words:
This being Christmas. sir. trus!
you will not take OffenSe at my offer
ing you little gift"
The gentleman looked at the coin as
though he did not quite understand
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 Fraunces' tav'
ern The landlord was puzzled at his
not coming again. ignorant whether he
had taken his Christmas gift as re-
proof for his parsimony or whether
something had happened to him. He
always expected that his 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 Il start and was pushing north
ward The Aston house was built. a
far more imposing building than the
little tavern downtown. and the land
lord Of the latter found himself ont of
the fashionable district He turned
over the management to another and
opened Il house farther uptown. But
he was now getting old. and his former
patrons We're passing off the stage
The travellers who We're tlocking 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 a
genial host as when the city was con
fined to that region bordering on the
Rowling Green. Men We're getting in
too much of a hurry to require much
fornnr keeper of Ifraunees' 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 he sank into
poverty.
One Christmas eve he received a note
through the post that If he would call
ut certain house near st Marks
church he would receive gift. There
was no name signed to the missive: in
deed. 1t was a scrawl in very few
words He could not think Of anything
he wished for Christmas. though his
needs We're many and there were per-
sons on whom he would have liked to
bestow gifts. 1t is quite possible he
might not have paid any attention to
the note had it 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
a walk and so past the address given
in the note. He told his wife that he
would not go inside to claim the prof
fered gift. but woman takes differ
ent view of such matters from man.
and She urged him to take measures to
crafty her curiosity. Indeed. they
were in such financial straits that even
Il small gift of money was needed to
buy Christmas dinner
The ex-landlord half promised what
his wife asked and started out on his
walk. When he came to the house in
question it's size and elegance sur
prised him and still further stimulated
his curiosity He ran. the bell. was
admitted by servant and sent In his
uHIuc. liz Sci leu lllIu lHtO
library. and Il man advanced to meet
him.
Great heavens. he was the stingy
stranger.
''You are surprised, | suppose" said
the gentleman. Ito see me here. | did
not return to your tavern after partak
ing OF the Christmas dinner you so
kindly gave me because the next day |
departed for the northwest ! was
then and am now II fur trader. and
m.ch 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 as ! expressed it
to make you gift. but to hand you
the proceeds Of your investment. And
yet what have to offer | intend for Il
return for your many acts Of kindness
to me when could not afford to sub
scribe for Il journal the news In which