Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1914-12-18

! left behind / call them my Christmas
astaways-they are castaways on the
island of loneliness. Tell me what to
do tomorrow to make the day less
! bleak for them"
Thcrcupon George Mitchell talked at
| Somr length. interrupted now and then
| 10y Iimily's delighted eXclamations.
| rhen they left the table. and presently,
| rloakcd and halted. they sailed forth
| into the world of flying snowhakes to
minglp with the other Christmas shop.
pers
one by one the four "castaways"
| wandered down to a Christmas morn.
| ng breakfast, and they fingered over
| the meal, pale and weary, for they
| had worked late the night before. 1t
was after 10 o'clock when Miss Deloss
| gave the tnble over to Mary and invit-
| ed the hoarders up to the front parlor
All UusuSpecting, they entered the
toom to pause in dumb surprise Mt the
| sight that met their tired, homesick
| eyes
In the crate under the white marble
mautrl coal fire was glowing cheer.
| fully ana the pictures and chandeliers
were twiued with evergreen and holly
In one corner of the room was large
Spicily fragrant tree bright with tinsel
md silt and laden with mysterious
packages. while larger bundles We're
heaped ON the floor underneath.
Near the tree stood Mr. Mitchell,
Innniup ilpnD tho fpur st,rpricoI Opoc
"Who says we can't have a Christ.
mas tree" boasted Miss Deloss. draw.
ipg the curtains and motioning Mr.
Mitchell to light the gas. MIR. Web.
Ster. Will YOU and Miss Baker please
light the candles on the tree? Perhaps
Miss Finley and Mr.. Piper would help"
Miss Finley leaned over and kissed
her suddenly, and Stephen Piper
wrung her hand and coughed violently.
Edith Baker hugged Emily and Miss
Finley while Harry Webster capered
uuyishiy and cried "Bullyr Presently
he shook hands with Edith out of pure
eNuh"i9nce of spirits and found a de.
icious sense of embarrassment in it.
Never hHd castaways such joyous
time Mr. Mitchell gave out the pres
-utS from the tree with funny little
speeches that fitted each one. He sol
emuy declared that Santa Claus him
self was the gtver and that all gifts
must he accepted in the spirit in which
they were given He ezacted a prom.
rse from each one to that effect.
1t was Il wonderful tree-it produced
wonderful fruit and gave such lasting
happiness to so many people.
There WAS a fur lined Overcoat for
Mr. Piper. and some yellow gold pieces
for honeymoon trip was the face
JiouSly worded tag upon it. Mr.. Piper
blushed guiltiIy and avoided Miss Fin
ley's eyes
There was a beautiful eiderdown
bath robe for Miss Finley, pale blue
eXtravagant looking and luxurious.
She dropped tears on the blue silk
binding. In the pocket was a packet
of crisp bank notes-yellow backs.
The price to Ohio when you are ready
to go" it said on the label.
Edith Baker had set of chinchilla
furs and big round gold piece, and
Harry Webster found a gold watch
that caused him to discard his old dol
lar one in immediate disgust. His
share of money was more than suffi
cient to take him home. spend the
rest for honeymoon trip if you can
find the right girl to marry you, was
his message. When he read it to Edith
Baker they both blushed.
Finally Emily Deloss had a surprise
She innocently opened a little velvet
box and discovered blazing solitaire
diamond ring. She did not read the
message that was inclosed there, but
George Mitchell read his answer in
her beautiful bIushing face. and so he
told them all.
That was the little intimate touch
that melted any strangeness between
them. a warm, mellow glow of feel
ing pervaded the little company when
at last they sat down to the dinner
they had prepared amid much merri.
ment during the morning. There were
laughter and fun and such happiness
as not one of them had known for a
long time. The sprig of mistletoe un-
der the chandelier paved the way for
SOuleluiHS llilt Slepieu 1 iJel "uuleu
to say.
Late in the afternoon they grew con.
fdential as they drew close about the
fire in the parlor.
Emily won't be here next Christ.
mas" said George Mitchell tenderly.
please God, we'll have a Christmas
tree in our own home in Boston, and
you are all invited to come"
I'VE won't be far away" said Harry
Webster quickly. 81 mean Brownville
is not far from Boston. and Edith here
well. she has a cousin in Brownvile.
and He stopped and blushed at the
ripple of laughter that went around,
while Edth's face became rose red, but
her eyes were shining.
I'm going home tomorrow, too," she
said softly, "Ill be so glad to see that
old home kitchen | shall fall down and