The Snowflake herald. [volume] (Snowflake, Ariz.) 1913-1969, 1917-01-05

" nav a NOdouAC JOu dICS sweet
heart" he said, embracing her, Ito
give up so much for mel"
Tom lay awake that night brood
ing over having to deny his young
wife what he knew she so eagerly
desired and awoke late the next
morning. Ella had dressed and
gone below. Tom arose and was
completing his toilet when he heard
voices downstairs. Since the pair
kept no servant he was surprised.
Going downstairs he was astonished
to see his mother and his father and
his sister, while his wife's parents
were just coming in at the front
door.
merry Christmasp' all shouted
at once.
Tom looked at Ella with a half
astonished, half reproachful glance,
which melted into smile under the
ringing salutation.
! Then came others of both fami-
lies, every one bringing a package.
Tom was surprised to see the break
fast table drawn out to thrice it's
usual length, with a card bearing a
name on each plate, packages piling
up on each card.
Neither Tom nor Ella made any
reference during the meal to Elias
violation of her agreement as to
celebrating Christmas. But Tom
did not act disagreeably about it,
after the first few moments enter
ing into the spirit of Christmas
with hearty good will. Ella was
unusually merry, showing no trace
of fear at scolding after the cele-
bration was over. When breakfast
was finished it was agreed that the
presents should be handed to the
brides father, who would read
aloud the names of the donor and
receiver written on them and hand
them to the latter to be opened.
And so the process began, the
minor articles being first distribut-
ed. Even though the gifts are tri-
fling there is something delightful
in the expectation attending these
Christmas distributions. A name
was read and the package handed
to the receiver, who, with a smile
for the donor, opened it and, no
matter how unimportant the gift,
expressed unbounded delight. Half
an hour was taken up before the
last present came up to be deliv-
cred.
ella to Tom,' was read out in a
sonorous voice.
The package was handed to Tom
amid silence, all eyes turned upon
him to discover what her gift would
be. He broke the string and took
out two bits of rectangular paper.
1t gradually dawned upon him that
they were the two notes for $500
each he had made to Shuster. On
their face was stamped in large red
letters the word "Canceled."
Tom looked up at Ella, whose
eyes were dancing with delight. For
few moments he did not seem to
understand the matter or at least
did not know what to do. Then he
arose from his seat and, going to
her, took her in his arms amid a
united shout of merry Christmas?'
from the others, who by this time
had gained an inkling of the mean
ing of the brides gift.
Calls for an explanation coming
from all sides, it was given by the
brides father:
"About the time Tom was gradu-
ated from college and needed money
for his studies for a profession Ella
received legacy of about $1,000.
She desired to give it to Tom for
educational purposes, but feared he
would not accept it. She went to
Shuster, a money lender, and hired
him to propose to furnish Tom
with the required means at a mod
crate interest, and it was through
Shuster that Ella lent Tom tie
money, the notes for which on this
blessed Christmas morning she as
his wife cancels"
All leaned forward to catch every
word of this brief explanation
When it was finished every one felt
moved to say something, yet no one
seemed to know what to say. The
silence was broken by Elias little
brother, aged six, who wildly shout
ed ''Merry ChristmasY'
The words were not so irrelevant
as they seemed, since it was on the
first Christmas morning that the
great lesson of self sacrifice was an
nounced to the world.
A Stubborn Soul.
'eYou're wasting your time argu