Life — December 1, 1900 — page 10: what you’re looking at

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

-LIFE- Christmas, 1900. G02 ess all givers and their gifts, And ull the giftless, too. And help them by whatecer shifts Their kindly will to do. When seasons, which our hearts expand, Our purses fait to fill, A word, a smite, a clasp of hand Shall carry our good will, Let him who hath his plenty share, And him who lacks, his lack, Give, each one, what he may, nor care What recompense comes back. If only love his heart shall sicelt And kindness guide his hand, His Christmas he shall keep as welt As any in the land. Out greed! Out guile! Out jealousy! Out envy! Out despair! Come hope! Come faith! Come charity! And ease the pains of care. Come, Christmas, with thy message dear, And all thy gentle mirth, To teach that love shall east out fear, And peace shall reign on earth, Epwanp S, Martin. Gold and Dross. (A SUMMER ECTIO.) HEY sat side by side in the farthermost corner of the summer-house, shut out from the world by a tangled net of vines, and looked together over a mysterious desert of black that at morning had been the Sound. A feather of a moon rested lazily in the topmost branches of the tallest pine tree. An orchestra of crickets piped lustily beneath the veranda steps. “And not one word about my dress to-night ?” she said. “It's downright cruel of you. When one is wearing turquoise satin and real lace one properly wishes to be appreciated. You like me, don’t you?” He laid her hand in both his own, said, “T love you in it,” he “But why diamonds to-night? Where are the pearls I brought you yesterday t” ‘You wouldn’t have me wear them all at once,” she laughed. ‘I’m saving them for the dinner to-morrow. You have,” anxiously, ‘‘seen about the wines? You can hardly trust Simpson.” “Ah, yes,” he said, ‘I've attended to that. I wouldn’t let a mere butler meddle in affairs of state. Incidentally, dear, I brought a man from town to-night to look after the auto, It’s getting a bit eccentric lately, I've noticed.” “The poor, dear horses!" she sighed. ‘*I never go to the stables now, but they look, ‘Ob, why, why did you desert us for that beastly trolley-car affair?’ I am going to take the ponies out to-morrow morning. It’s months since they have had a spin.” “Wait until the afternoon,” he urged, ‘‘and we'll take the mail-coach and run to New London and come back by moon- light, eh?” “You've forgotten the dinner,” she laughed. ‘And oh, my gown, Jim! Such a duck of a gown—yards upon yards of lace like spun moonbeams (you remember you helped me pick it out in Venice last year), and a train! Wait until you see the train.” “You can get all the flowers you want from the green- houses, can't you ? he asked. “* Because if you can’t ——” “Oh, plenty, plenty,” she said. ‘ That new gardener isa magician, 1 believe he could raise roses in the middle of the ocean.” “Speaking of the ocean,” he said, ‘‘how would you like to have a little run on the yacht next week? I can wire Mc- Pherson to put things shipshape, and we can make up our party afterward.” She stood before him and looked down in bis eyes reproach- fully. ‘‘Our party? Oh! Jim,” she said. He pulled her down on his knee and put his face against her cheek. ‘* Yes," he said. ‘‘It won't take long to make it up. You and I will be the party, sweetheart, We shan’t have a sensible soul aboard. Think of the long. lazy days and the blue nights with just you and me to watch them.” “Oh 1” she sighed, rapturously. ** Jim,” she said presently, “ it’s nice to be rich, isn’t it? I wonder how it would feel to have to worry about rent and ico bills and worn-out clothes,” “I have thought of that,” he said promptly. ‘ But it’s hard to imagine. I wonder if we could tind life worth living without the house—the servants, and—the horses, and—the auto, and—the yacht.” His arm folded her closer to his side, ‘But I think, I really think,” be whispered, ‘that just you——” The door of the little house near-by opened suddenly. A flood of yellow lamplight poured out on the narrow porch and a tangled odor of cooking followed. A clanging, metallic bell rang violently and a shrill voice sounded in its rever- berations, “*Supper’s ready. The other boarders have been waitin’ a TTT Ta BS) , \\ WS ) | “ Wille Fly: GRR, ISN'T THIS AWFUL? MERE IT 18 ALMOST CHRISTMAS, ANDIOUR POND ISN'T FROZEN OVER YET.