The citizen-Republican. (Scotland, Bon Homme County, S.D.) 1???-19??, 1919-12-18
Copyright. 1917, by w. Werner.

Mrs. Bagby leaned her elbows on the
table and stared down with a SATISFIED
air. while on either side of her doomed
a mountain Of Christmas gifts, gay
boxes and fancy ribbons and tissue
paper. She sighed gently n looked
about a~pprovingly. Now comes the
work" she thought.
She moved things about for a NOM
ent and then drawing a silk bag to-
ward her announced to the assembled
presents: This bag is for Sister ELIAS
! daughter. She has everything she
needs, anyway, but a silk bag or two
| will never come amiss. Girls a never
| have too many of such things" And
. she slipped in the little Christmas
| greeting she had written and folded
and wrapped it daintily in tissue paper.
tied it with the girls %favorite color of
ribbon and poked a bit of holly under
the bow, saying as she held it up to
view, THAT makes it look more festive.
How a little thing like that helps"
II do wish I could send something to
poor Mrs. Jones, but there are so many
people ont has to send presents to be-
that l might send to every one. Some
- INV, Ao iiAhNlS "
small. This little kimono cost a great
deal more than l thought it would"
she thought as she laid a fluff of soft
dalntiness on a square OF pink ape
ITO begin with, the silk was more ex-
pensive than l supposed it would be,
and it took more lace that | had count
ed on, and then 1 had to buy a better
quality Of ribbon to go with the silk,
co o1fnnafhnr ~ 1o,,4t1I ,~. l~-s%
dare let myself know how much" She
smoothed and patted and Strengthened
and smothed. But Inez has every
thing so lovely couldn't give her any
thing inexpensive, n then, too, we
have exchanged presents yer since we
were in school together. To be sure,
the little motto she sent me last year
did seem very shabby by the side of
the beautiful hand painted dish l sent
her, but it would never do this year of
all times to send her anything small,
Off fear she might thing l had thought
her last years present mean-though
L never ave been able to understand
1T, when I've always given her such
beautiful things-but then one couldn't
give 1nez anything cheap, for every
thing she has is the very best" And
by way of emphasizing the fact even
to herself, Mrs. Bagby hunted out care
fully the largest and prettiest piece of
holly to tuck under the ribbon "for
Inez."
She wrote a CHEEKY little Christmas
note and inclosed it with a motto on
THE joy of Work., done in the latest
fashion by hand, to n poor cousin whose
only means of livelihood was sewing
from early morning until late at night
for $3.50 a day, and remarked as she
tied the ribbon in a double bow, Poor
Emma has so little bright and CHEEKY,
this red ribbon and the holly will help
to brighten her Christmas" and she
the flat package by the smart one,
signing gently at the thought of Cousin
Emma.
Il do hope the twins will like these
books" she mused as she laboriously
tied up a set of three bulky volumes,
smiling as she did so. IN not waste
any holly on this, the dears; they will
never notice how it is wrapped, they
will be SO anxious to see what is inside"
and h smiled lovingly as she laid the
bundle to one side.
II can't decide about those hand
said she to herself in leis-
urely enjoyment. II guess 1 will send
one to each of the girls. I do wish 1
had time to embroider their initials,
but I haven't.
Nov. this doll for Louis baby" She
peeped into a box lovingly. cit is so
sAreet h:.I suppose the child will get
SO many, like she did last year, that
she will scarcely notice4it. / would have
liked to send n to Helen's little girl,
but they cost so much, and then she
needed the dress, and I couldn't send
both. oh, well, l hope some one else
will send her a doll" She smoothed out
a red and black plaid she had bought
on sale and laid a Christmas card be-