Judge — December 16, 1905 — page 39: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

A TWO-SIDED CHRISTMAS STORY. AST year,” said Mrs. Gannels to the members of the sewing-circle, “last year, do you remember, we all gave the minister carpet slippers. Think of it! Each member of this society, not knowing what were the intentions of her sisters, devised and completed with her own hands a pair of slippers and gave them to the good old man, Of course he thanked us, collectively and individually, but, goodness knows, with all his gentle heart he couldn't have helped wishing we had lent a little more variety to our giving. Now, my suggestion is that none of us gives him slippers this year.” The ladies agreed with her. AND THIS WAS THE OUTCOME: As Christmas approached, an air of mystery hung over the sewing- circle. Not one of the ladies would tell any of the others what she proposed giving the pastor, except, to be sure, that carpet slippers were tabooed, Mrs. Gannels found her mind uncon- sciously and unerringly turning slipper- ward. But she fought bravely against the temptation, and at last decided upon a book-mark. Book-marks, she said to herself, were things no preacher should be without ; and, besides, one could work them so easily. Mrs. Thompkins was puzzled for a long time over what to give. In the end, however, she came to a decision. But she took no one into her confidence. Mrs. Redmond studied the helpful- hints columns in the newspapers, and even wrote to the editor of the answers- to-queries department. The advice she got was a great help to her. Mrs. Bowluss told the other ladies that she was going to give the minister something she wanted to give him last year, but which she had feared the others would think of and give also. That was how she came to give him slippers. ‘ Thus it went, all through the mem- bership. By the time Christmas came around the ladies were worn to a nerv- ous frazzle, what with the labor of mak- ing many presents and of keeping the secret of what they intended giving the pastor. So, the evening before Christmas the entire membership of the sewing-society went in a body to the minister's study. Mrs. Gannels handed him a long, flat package, with her best wishes. So did Mrs. Thompkins. So did Mrs, Red- mond. Likewise Mrs. Bowluss and Mrs. Ginton and all the rest. And the good old minister was thoroughly surprised. Each flat package contained a book- marker ! Or, THIS WAS THE OUTCOME: As Christmas approached, the mem- bers of the sewing-circle grew more and more mysterious, both toward each other and toward the good old minister. In his inner consciousness he knew what it all meant, for had he not gone through forty similar experiences ? Why, it was only by a supreme effort of his will that he refrained from quot- ing “Sinners stand in slippery places” two weeks before Christmas. Mrs. Gannels thought of a muffler, a box of cigars, a book-mark, a new pulpit cover, and half a dozen other things, but rejected them in turn. No,” she said to herselt; «I know what I shall give him. Since all the women have agreed not to make him a present of slippers, I shall be perfectly safe in making him a pai Mrs. Thompkins hesitated fora long time between a hand-painted hot-water bottle and a brush and comb, but finally remembered that the minister never had an ache or a pain and was utterly bald. So, at last, she reasoned that the thing to give was what she was morally sure none of the rest would give. Mrs. Redmond and Mrs. Bowluss for a time talked of dividing the expense of a new easy-chair, but one day Mrs. Redmond had a flash of inspiration and picked out a gift, so Mrs. Bowluss con- cluded that the best move for her to make was to be as contrary as the pro- verbial female. In this she was aided and abetted by her husband, who said, “Don't you see? If all the rest have agreed not to give him slippers they are the only things you can get for him that none of the others will have chosen. And so, the evening before Christmas all the members of the sewing-circle went in a body to the minister's study and unwrapped their slippers. And, let the truth be told, he was the least sur- prised of all present. However, after they had departed he gazed long and sadly at the heap of presents before him, and then brushed a few of them off his study table, so that he could find the manuscript of a sermon he had been preparing for Christmas. The title of the sermon was, “The Dying out of the Good Old Christmas Customs.” NEVER JUDGE BY APPEARANCE, ITTLE bits of children Lying in a row. Poor old Santa Claus, How i: he to know That those mighty stockings Hanging by the chair Fit the little children Sweetly sleeping there? MARGARET EESKINE. NECESSITY IS THE MOTHER OF INVENTION. 1. “There, that alarm-clock went off again and I didn’t It don't make noise enough.” hear it! 2. “ With this scheme I'll have that alarm-clock beaten by a mile.” How do you like this for early rising ?” comicbooks.com