The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1919-12-18
THE EVENING STORY.
Ye Merry eif. Time.

I tween the folds.
II simply could not find anything nice
enough for Louise, though L locke un-
til l was almost cray" Mrs, Bagby So
! ~liloquized. There is not a thing thai I
possibly think of that she might need,
n this handkerchief is a beauty,
though 1t cost burned up the bill as
soon as l got home from downtown, it
seemed SO dreadful" She looked at
the weblike lace over her hand admir-
ingly.
A few moments later Mrs. Bagby
came from another room with a dollar
bill in her hand, and, putting it in an
envelope with a little note, remarked,
as she wrote the address, Il once heard
of a poor woman who said thai at
Christmas time everyone gave her
money, and she did wish they wouldn't,
for II they hadn't she would have got
along some way without it, and, as it
was, She never never had anything out
OF it, for it always went for food or
fuel, and a handkerchief would have
made it seem more like Christmas. I
expect that is a good deal the way
Cousin Ida feels, but what could l have
bought for a dollar that would do her
amy good? And this way she can get
what she needs"
L certainly nave spent a fortune for
RIBBON and paper this year." she muir
INJURED as she tied up a very small pres
ent in a quantity Of white paper and
almost hid it under a large bow of
green and red ribbon.
"A dyspeptic looking pair of varie-
gated golf gloves went to a cousin in
the country, who would have counted
a pair of kid gloves a luxury, while the
KID gloves went to a city relative, who
would sigh mournfully because thew
were not the make she usually wore
INC lay them away to pass on to some
one else the mex Christmas.
Mrs. Bagby hummed and wrapped ix
Iull enjoyment of her occupaIion
"Footpaths to Peace" with ",Iovs Of
Living and Symphonies OF Life" were
addressed indiscriminatelr and laid
aside, each with a sprig Of holly tucked
under the ribbon. A Nile green stock
holder went to a short fat lad who
never wore stocks and who possessed a
sallow complexion and pimples, and a
theater record to a girl in the country
who only went to the theater once on
each of the two yearly shopping visits
h made to the city; but Mrs. Bagby's
Christmas spirit vas in full possess
sion of her n never a shadow crossed
her, mind.
AT the end of an hour the mountain
on her left hand absorbed the noun
tain on her right n it only needed a
little evergreen sticking out here and
there, with a few candles, to look like
a real Christmas tree. Mrs. Bagby
leaned back in her chair and gazed
with satisfaction at the result of her
labors. Nov 1 believe I nave every
thing done and not a soul forgotten
not a soul forgotten" she repeated
slowly, and then she stopped abruptly
and sat up quickly. why, I have for
gotten Mrs. Leander, the president of
the reading club. What shall l do? I
make another trip downtown and
/ must send her something" And she
looked at the packages as if for in
spiration. The women always give the
president something. How did 1 hap
pen to forget her?"
Suddenly her face frightened and
she began to turn packages over reck-
lessly until she found a fiat one near
the bottom of the pile. The very
thing! I'll just send her his motto,
for it really is a beautiful piece of
handwork and l can get Cousin Emma
a handkerchief or something and send
it right after Christmas. She won't
mind if it is a little late, she will be
SO glad to receive something Mrs.
Bagby united the package and changed
the cards and retied it, smiling joy
fully. ooh, l am SO glad I remembered
Mrs. Leander, and Cousin Emma won't
The simple Merry Christmas" to
Cousin Emma was laid aside until later
while in it's place was a dainty formal
greeting to the stately Mrs. Leander.
Verify, He that hath, to him shall be