Year: 1875

fSySSS nosc UVASos n1AU o<14A = w toY
and I expect Ralph to scream Over !
real watch that win tick and 60. !
| "A watch for Ralpha You darling
wanted to get enc, but his fkthez
thinks he is too young


Twelve Oh It win teach him 70 be
careful. Oh, the sled is for Bob, but
the rest Of the traps we win distFibnte
As you think best I viii come IN this
afternoon and help finish the tree
sOh, stay noF. The children ore to
have their parly tonight Y


,,es sisi,s { I ! !. nR.a ! g ! - j


do it here


Can't! Good-by! I'll be back in
time


Maynard Wight had passed busy
day. His father had accepted a bust
ness opening in Chicago, and the young
man had half resolved to accompany
him. A few days only were left him
before 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 a young girls vanity that made Eta
sure Maynard Wight loved her. He
had given her 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 strobe home in the dusk of the
December evening, the bright shops, the
busy crowds attracted his attention.


Christmas eve,' he thought. twill
not be very merry Christmas for us,
but brighter times may come before an
other year. 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 l feel free tospeak?'


Such thoughts are none too lively for
the holiday season, but Maynard could
not turn his mind to brighter subjects.
II was 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
averted them if he had full control in
the business. Could he but accept the
offer of Hill & Hill he was certain that
in few years he could take stand
again amongst the successful merchants
of the day.


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


'All right. Is my father IMP


In the dining room, SIR


Get the package and bring it there


1t was small package, directed in q
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 colors, with red and blue stripes,
and a row of yellow stars at the top
A folded paper was in the 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.


.I,M q II,n
Now l can so to Chicago with an easy
mind


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


Who sent it? Kriss Kringle, 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 thought 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. If Eta loved him,
she would not marry for 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 viii 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 ais.
ter. never whispering one word of the
hore that was still alive in her heart.
Uncle Ralph knew her secret, and
Uncle Ralph was the wisest and kindest
Of friends. He knew how the new
partner of Hill & Hill was prcspering
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 10 the
rising young merchant, and invite him
to resume his visits to his house.
Christmas Eve, and showing fast
Eta said, as she rose from the dinnel