Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-12-26
The Daily Story
A Mother 5 Christmas lan-By F. A. Mitchell
Copyrighte=. Associated Literary bureau

I christmas morning opened ~.
and crisp. The WarfieId childro, .. sus
MP. as usual. at daylight nulIin,. "e'e
! tneir stockings and diving into tn
Their mother Joined them and for ,,ss''
their opening any OF the PACKAGES ~. ~
cept those that Santa Clans 80.
brought a bright FIRE blazed a aas
cracked and snapped on the baos.S
joining in the festivities and sddin. :.
the children's happiness.
why mamma" said one. II though,
we were not going to have this klna
of a Christmas this year"
II didn't say that said thar ! h.s
an especial plan for this years Cbr,st
mas
What is it?S
Wait"
Mr.. Warfeld came down and IN -.
merry scene forgor for the moment
the troubles in which the merrvmaL.
ers were equally interested. tbongb
they were ignorant of them. He no..
mitted little Billy to show him n.
jumping jack and consented to mill
the string that worked its arms ana
legs. He was obliged to kiss MoIlv,s
doll and take notice of how II closed
its eyes when it lay on its back. Ms
Warfield was as CHEEKY as the chi.
dren.
''She doesn't know the worst said
her husband to himself. "or she could
not keep up this way"
The thought brought back the gloom
to his face. but his wife kissed II
away with a smile.
Then his eyes took in the numerous
bundles she had stacked about the
fireplace, and be could not refrain
from giving her a look as much as to
say, why did you go to such er.
penseT' But she gave him another
kiss, and the children were constantly
forcing him to inspect more gifts. And
so it was that he got through this
Christmas ordeal. with trouble at the
door, better than might have been ex-
pected.
When the children had emptied their
stockings all sat down to breakfast
Thus far it seemed that no gift had
been provided for papa. After he had
asked the divine blessing he said to bis
wife:
81 am glad. my dear. that you have
acceded to my wishes in one respect
you have not inflicted Christmas gift
upon me-"
Lift your plate" was the reply.
Warfield did as he was hidden and
revealed an envelope addressed to him.
Opening it, he took out a check payable
to his wife and Endorsed to him for
$11.655.
whats this:''
stanford Bros check to me for roy.
atty on "A Mystery of Mirror"
Warfield looked at his wife inquir-
,ingly. He evidently did not under
stand.
II wrote the novel," she continued.
land sent it to you anonymously.
received it back with printed unayail-
able card. | sent it to other publish
ers. and they all declined it. Finally
Stanford Bros. consented to bring it
out. They are a new firm and have
adopted new plan of judging, of man.
uscripts. They circulate them among
a large number of persons such as may
be expected to read them when puD-
Iished. Nearly all these approved.
They published the book on the usual
terms. This is my first remittance.
but 1 understand from them that the
book is still selling and will sell TOT
some time"
There was so much of mortihcatloh
mingled with this announcement that
the authoress arose from the table ana
put her arms about her HUSBANDS
neck. Then at a sign from her tne
children followed her example. eacn
giving him a hug and a kiss ana al
frying: -
.Glad you got your Christmas gift
1apar'
When he had been duly Rugged ana
kissed into a frame of mind acceptapie
o his wife and children he took up the
heck again, looked at its face. turned
t over and looked ut its back ana s'iiu'
What do you propose ! shall uo
With it. sweetheart"
Whatever you think best
II shall do whatever you think pest
Nv nat use SnOulu De hi''NS
or future consideration. For the pres
mt it is enough for us to know tn"'
have the wherewithal to give tne
hildren a merry Christmas. ana as io'
-ou and me. well. we know that We
ave new start"
Later Warfield proposed that ne cou'
inue the publication of fiction. iea
ne his wife to decide what he shou'u
ssue and what decline. But sue re-
used to make the trial and persuaue"
i'm to confine himself TO what was
ass like a lottery However. she ue
oted herself for a time to huhtins
or some field that was needed anu
eglected and finally found one wnicn
he recommended. and her husoaiu'
blowing her advice. succeedeo Az
lirably.
Christmas day was thereafter 10 tpe
TarfeId family double celeDrilio"'
! was not only Christmas. but an an
iversary OF their being tided over
ulf OF poverty and the beginning :"
lenty.
oo 4y.Inrr