Year: 1875

! eyes, / have bought him half Toy shop
and / expect Ralph to scream over
real watch that viii tick and 90
"A watch for Ralph7 You darling
wanted to get one, but his fAthel
thinks he il too young


Twelve Oh, II win teach him to b
careful. Oh, the sled Is for Bob, but
the rest of the traps we viii distribute
as you think best. / viii come in thil
afternoon and help finish the tree
fOh, stay now. The children are to
have their party tonight


Christmas Eve. I'll come back.
must go now. have . note to write.


DO it here


| 'CaI'tl Ge0d-bEl I'll Be haek ].


Maynard Wight had passed busy
da.. His father had accepted busi-
ness opening in Chicago, and the young
ma. had half resolved to accompany
him A few days only were left him
befo e he must refuse the offer of Hill
& Hill that would once more open the
path of prosperity for him. He did
not despair. He was young yet, in
good health, and full of energy, but yet
at his heart one thought lay with dull,
heavy pain. 1t was not the mere fancy
of young girls vanity that made Eta
sure Maynard Wight loved her. He
had given her a perfect and true love,
but, as she rightly judged, his pride
closed his lips, when business misfor-
tune fell upon him. She was wealthy,
and he would not offer her a less in
come than her own. He was no for
tune hunter, to live upon his wife's mo-
ney, or even to take her money for the
stepping-stone to his own prosperity.


As he strode home in the dusk of the
December evening, the bright shops, the
busy crowds attracted his attention.


Christmas eve,' he thought. twill
not be a very merry Christmas for us,
but brighter times may come before an
other year. 1 had hoped to have the
right to give Eta Christmas gift, but
that too must wait till brighter days.
l wonder if some more fortunate suitor
will win her before feel free tospeak?'


Such thoughts are none too lively for
the holiday season, but Maynard could
not turn his mind to brighter subjects
1t was a hard trial for him to meet
these heavy reverses in the very COM
mencement of his business career, es-
pecially as he felt assured he could have
ayerted them if he had full control in
the business. Could he but accept the
offer of Hill & Hill ne was certain that
in few years he could take a stand
again amongst the successfulmerchants
of the day. .


There is a package in your bureau,
Mr.. Maynard the servant said, as she
opened the door for him. 1T was lefta
few moments ago by little boy


All right. Is my father inf


In the dining room, sir


Get the package and bring it there


1t was small package. directed in
stiff hand, the letters being printed in
ink instead of written. The gentlemen
bent over it with some curiosity.


Somebody has sent you Christmas
gift. Maynard said Mr.. Wight.


Of all the odd gifts, this seemed the
oldest. 1t was knit cotton sock, of
gay co!ors, with red and blue stripes,
and a row of yellow stars at the top
A folded paper was in tie toe, and on
this was written, in the same stiff hand
as the direction :-'Kriss Kringle to
Maynard Wight But inside the pa
per were five crisp new notes for one
thousand dollars each. Maynard could
scarcely believe his eyes.


Hill & Hill' shouted his father
Now l can go to Chicago with an easy
mind


But who could have sent it? Pinch
me, and see if am awake


Who sent it? kriss Krincle. of
course! Here is his own word for it.


1t was useless TO speculate about the
generous giver. but it was quite against
human nature not to doso. One wealthy
friend after another was mentioned, and
the probabilities discussed. but not once
was the blue-eyed girl named, whose
heart was full OF JOY at the thoxght of
her power to aid the friend who was
dearest of all friends to her.


If she had hoped that Maynard would
tell her his love before he went to Bal
timore. she was disappointed. He call
ed upon her. as he did upon his other
friends, to speak his brief farewell. but
he did no more. He would wait, he
told himself. till he had succeeded in
his new enterprise. II Eta loved him.
she would not marry for a time. and he
would bind her BY no promise that
might prove irksome in the uncertain
future.


Christmas after Christmas came, and
Eta was still unmarried Marion was
sure that her sister would be an old
maid, and loudly congratulated herself
upon the fact.


L am sure it will kill me if Eta mar
ries now,' she would say. Those Young
ones Of mine think more of Aunt Eta
than they do of me. AS for Uncle
Ralph. he would never consent now to
lose Eta; she Is all the world to him -
And Eta would smile and kiss her sis
ter, never whispering one word of the
hope that was still alive in Ter heart.


Uncle Ralph knew her secret. and
Uncle Ralph was the wisest and kindsst
of friends. He knew how the new
partner of Hill & Hill was prosperins
in all he touched. He heard the first
rumor of the fact that Maynard Wight
was to again return to his old home
and establish himself once more in
his former business He was one of the
first to offer his congratulations to the
rising young merchant. and invite him
TO resume his visits 10 his house.


Christmas Eve, and showing fast.