The Duluth rip-saw. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1917-19??, 1919-01-11

Although a meek, and lowly
follower Of the Prince of Peace,
whose natal day those ducks were
intended to help celebrate, Mr..
Sornberger entered vigorous pro-
test. He finanlly developed the
fact that the box had arrived in
good condition on the Friday be-
fore Christmas and that deliv-
eryman for the American Express
company sold the two ducks on
Saturday, one day later, for
$3.50, alleging that he was afraid
they would spoil and become a
total loss, before being claimed
by the consignee. What became
Of the missing jar Of honey was
not stated and how the second
jar was broken, as by a smash
with a ! hammer, was not ex-
planned.
Mr.. Sornberger informed the
deliveryman that if he valued the
dressed ducks at only $3.50 for
the two, he got mighty cheap eat
ing. The local officials informed
the poor missionary that he could
put in a claim for the shortage
but that failed to send him rejoic-
ing on his way. Previous exper-
fences in putting in claims and
then receiving payment had been
fruitless.
Rev. j. w. Sornberger sadly
and regretfully made his way
back to Munger. His children
came running to meet him, JOY
ously shouting:
"Did you get Grandma's
Christmas box?'
Mother Sornberger's face light
ed with pleasure as her husband
entered the door.
"Where is mothers Christmas
box?" she inquired, as she saw
his empty arms.
Then the home missionary told
how he and his had been treated
by the employees Of the powerful
American Express Co. A deep
silence fell on that little house
hold. The children s faces showed
sorrow and disappointment in the
extreme.
Mrs. Sornberger dropped into
a chair, covered her face with her
toil-worn hands and sobbed bit
terly.
"Dear wife," entreated the
distressed husband, edo not cry.
[ will 60 to Duluth and get you
some other ducks.''
"I don't care for all the ducks
in Duluth" wept the poor wife,
''but I did have my heart set on
some of mothers ducks for our
Christmas, dinner"
That, certainly, was not prom
Using start for merry Christmas,
up there in the blackened, devas-
tated, entirely too lean and hun
cry hinterland.
Grandma and uncle were
grieved, down there at Lake
Crystal, when they heard that the
great American Express Co. had
so sadly fallen down on it's part
in giving the missionary family
a Merry Christmas. Those ducks
had been laboriously plucked in
vain. That valued swarm of bees
had been destroyed for naught.
eve will make it up to them
for the New Year," said grandma
and uncle, down there on the old
homestead at Lake Crystal. eve
will get the biggest goose that we
can find and we will send it to
that terrible country up there
back of Duluth. A live goose
cannot spoil and no express en-
ploye dare kill and cook it."
They got a live goose that
weighed 10 pounds. 1t was
fowl that would bring joy to any
home and table on the Happy
New Year.
The Sornbergers were duly not
flied of the date Of shipment and
the probable day Of arrival in
Duluth. Munger has no express
office, therefore express ship
ments must 60 to Saginaw, seven
miles further up the D. NJ. & N,
unless charges are prepaid in Du-
luth and the express matter sent
on by owners risk, when it will
be chucked off at Munger.
Mrs. Sornberger came down to