The Snowflake herald. [volume] (Snowflake, Ariz.) 1913-1969, 1917-01-05
A Christmas
Morning
On Which a Bride Gave
Her Husband a Present.
By MORTON STRINCFELLOW

"OHC"VA III W Hlo OIIuc, Out Tie
fact nevertheless remains true"
"And why not ?" asked the young
wife, with surprise written on ev-
cry line of her face.
"Let me tell you" He took both
her hands in his and drew her down
on to a seat beside him. 81 have
something to impart that | have
kept to myself for years. You
know Shuster ?"
eyes; know the old curmudg-
con-"
"Well, / am indebted to him to
the amount of $1,000"
"Why, Tom! And you never told
mel"
81 told you before we were mar
ried that | had barely enough in
come from my own profession to
procure for us the necessaries of
life, with not cent for pleasures.
The celebration of Christmas comes
under the latter head. You remem-
Der that when | finished my four
years at college my father failed
and | had not the whcrewithal to
attain my profession. Then sud
denly | told you that had obtain
ed the means, but was pledged to
tell no one whence | received it."
Eyes; | remember that"
zone day while | was lamenting
my hard fate IN being obliged to go
into business after expecting to be-
come a lawyer met old Shuster on
the street. Shuster, as you know.
lends money at a high rate of inter-
est. To my surprise, he offered to
lend me the money required to
study for my profession.
But | said, you only lend
money on security, and | have no
security
I want no better security than
the word of an honorable man. he
replied. 4 know when it is safe to
lend money and when to refuse to
lend
"'But you will require a high
rate Of interest.
"'Not in this case. Six per cent
will do
Gle agreed to furnish the money
IS | needed it ard declined II take
nv notes for the amount loaned.
borrowed little over three hun
lred wear from him for three
ears. earning myself as much be-
,ides On getting my degree | in
sisted on giving him two notes of
$500 each, one note to be paid each
year. Now, you know that my sal
airy with Busby & Busby is $1,000
year. Of this amount $500 must
60 to Shuster, leaving US 1000 on
which to live; consequently for two
years we have absolutely nothing
for pleasures.
While the husband was speaking
the wife drew closer and closer to
him and when he had finished look
ed up into his face and said:
81 will help you all | can in the
matter of giving up pleasures till
the debt is paid"
This dialogue occurred previous
to Tom Wentworth's departure for
his office. With the last words he
kissed his bride and went out. She
appeared at window, and he threw
her kiss.
Unknown to her husband, Ella
Wentworth made such preparations
| for Christmas as she chose to make,
bringing home the articles herself
when she knew Tom was at the Of
flee and storing them away where
he would not stumble upon them
She provided for an elaborate
breakfast for Christmas morning
inviting every one of her own and
her husbands families to join them
on the occasion.
Tom saw Christmas approach
with something of displeasure-
that is, the Christmas of his owl
household. Holidays we do not cele
brate ourselves are not only irk
some, but at times unpleasant. Tom
knew what he had asked of his wife
in suggesting that she give up en-
tering upon the pleasures OF Christ
mas in order to pay, as he expressed
it, "for dead horse" He told he.
when he went to his office the day
before the holiday that he would b
obliged to spend the evening there
working over the papers of a cas'
that had been referred to him t.
put in order to be used at an ap
preaching trial. His purpose was t.
furnish an excuse for spending
Christmas eve, which they coul'
not afford to make joyous occa
sion, away from home. He expect
cd that she would demur at this