The Irish standard., 1914-12-26

whom he recognized as the proprietor
of small restaurant in humble part
of the city which he had entered once
for the convenience of a hasty meal.
Then the time soon came when the
young man, reduced in means, visited
the inexpensive restaurant from
choice and learned, like all the other
customers, to call the proprietor,
"Joe." And finally a day dawned when
he called in distress and said, "Joe,
whatever I do, can't find work. I
have come to the end of my money.
Can't l arrange to board here till find
something to do and pay you when I
find it?' and Joe, with primitive gener-
osity had said, "Sure,' and had gone
out to tell his wife and she had fol-
lowed up her husbands consent by
prevailing on the guest to occupy a
small, upper story bed room above the
restaurant and he had moved in his
belongings, blessing heaven for the
simple hearted kindness that still re-
NAMED in the world. He blessed it
still more when the fatigue of fruit.
less search and depressing failure
brought him down with heavy illness
and when friendly hands had tided him
past the danger point and he was ly-
ing In weakness but in expectation of
recovery. Late in the month of De-
cember his mail had brought him, with
transferred address, the wedding an
nouncement of his fellow guests at the
Christmas dinner and their invitation
to their home for the approaching
Christmas. With great pride he
showed the announcement and the in.
vitation to his harborers. Joe there.
fore had guessed why he found his
patient up and dressed when he had
brought in his breakfast. Later he
came in to help him finish dressing
and little while afterwards he was
escorting him on the street car and
then conducted him to the house he
sought, seeing him safely through the
door.
Once more the good, glad gathering
OF CHEEKY friendship. The young host.
at his end of the table carved the tyr.
key with proprietary pride. His tafpy
helpmate at hers handed, abodt~minor
viands and happiness. All assembled
told of their doings of the past year.
All applauded the faithful attendance
OF the one staunch enough to rise from
sick bed to be there. Opposite to
him the heroine of his memories re-
garded him with gentle admiration.
1t nerved him to keep up his strength
during the dinner. But the dinner
over the host remarked, I'VE shall not
overtax our brave friend. We are 60
ing to distribute our gifts in the sitss.ssss::y;
room where he can rest on the couss
When womanly attention had ma
him comfortable and he was reclinin
restfully with the others near, the dis
irritation of gifts began. Even If sim
pie, many Of them were costly gifts.
rare and we'll chosen. The bestowal
OF all showed sheer good fellowship.
The invalid guest received a jeweled
scarf pin, hand painted miniature. a
choice edition of Shakespeare and two
delicious pieces of feminine fancy
work. They all gave him very sincere
pleasure and he rose for moment to
sitting position while he said:
i cannot sufficiently express my
pleasure at the presents 1 have been
given. They are all highly priced. I
accept them all in the spirit in which
they are presented and now 1 beg les 3
to offer the gifts brought to dir j.
ute. I have held fast to the COM ys
of our pact. Severe illness AND T.
ton have made 1t impossible for to
procure anything without incu. liz
debt, nevertheless have kept to he
agreement to bring a gift to each lot
the company that would give the re-
ceiver pleasure. For our gracious hos
tess l have brought an unpublished
collection of original cooking recipes
obtained from my landlady. To our
host l offer funny story cut from a
newspaper. To one of my two fellow
gentlemen guests bring printed &C.
count, also clipped from a paper, of
recent happenings in his native town
and to the other give the pleasure It
Will occasion him to regain his lost
key which doubtless opens something
and which he can save for duplicate
even If he has replaced it. NY only re-
naming gift is written on paper and
deliver 1t herewith to its recipient"
and the sister of the hostess received
folded sheet on which, when she
opened 1T, she saw the words, "All the
loving thoughts have had about Won.
All of the recipients except her de-
clared that his presents were the most
original and most pleasure giving they
had got. She did not say word till
the host had taken all the other men
guests away and his wife had shortly
followed all having a guess that the
patient could thrive better with the
one attendant left. She came near the
couch and said, your present is beau.
t1ful," and he spoke of his constant
memories whi1o oiol, ond ~ A.. -,