Historical Newspapers of South Carolina

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MBLV J O o?R Mrs. Midgely sat in "Oh, dear,*' she sighed, "I haven't the heart to tidy the house or even myself. To think of Christmas only three week# away, and not one gift for the children and no hope of getting any. I am glad thev are at school: I can at least have a good cry!" Just as she was getting out her handkerchief preparatory to enjoying this unusual luxury she heard the postman's step on the porch. Habit forced her to gulp back the tears and go to the door. He handed her several letters, all of which she recognized as bills, with the exception of one, which bore the handwriting of her sister Judith. "Anne, dear," she wrote, "at last I can visit you, and shall be with you in a few days." "Oh, dear! Oh, dear! To think of Judith visiting us at a time like this, when we can hardly manage, with the high cost of living, to set the table, let alone having a holiday time!" Mrs. Midgely indulged in the desired trj, then, realizing there was much to be done, she dried her eyes, and with the relief that the shedding of tears / Became a Great Help to Judith. s^ave her, she started in to put the 1 house in order. "At least well be clean," she said to herself, as she made broom and duster fly about Some months before this time Henry ; Midgely had lost his position as book- j keeper on account of the failure of the j firm for which he worked. They had j had no idea of impending conditions , and were almost staggered by the blow. The Midgelys had four growing children and every month had lived up to the salary. Mr. Midgely had Just found another position. When Anne wrote home she did not tell her family j of their loss, and she bravely set her-j self the task of making up for the ' months when debts had accumulated. | Christmas! That was the hard part Nothing for the children! They had had such jolly times before, with presents for everyone. No\y she had more work than ever to do and less, time for : making presents, even if she had the money with which to buy material. "I shall have to tell Judith," she said ; : to her husband that night, when they j 1 were seated by the lamp and the chil-1 dren were in bed, "how sorry we are | that we cannot make her visit a pleas- I ant one." . i "It is too bid," said he. "Judith is ; i such a slave to your father, looking J after his every whim and never think- I tag. of herself. I wish' she had a home of her own. I always planned to give ; ? her a really good time whenever she should make that long-deferred visit." < * Judith arrived, her face shining with happiness. < "As last I am here! Are you quite well, Anne?" ( < "Oh, yes, dear." Mrs. Midgely's voice had a strange note in it. Judith looked up quickly. "You don't look well, Anne. What is the matter?" Poor Anne let the floodgates of her tears open and told Jadith her troubles. "It's only that we don't want you to have a stupid timo, Judith." "Never mind about me," answered Judith. "I am wildly happy just to be here with you all. But I um glad you 1 told me." < The children were delighted to have their aunt with them. They had often i visited the pleasant old white house that had been their mother's home, and it was a happy party that surrounded the dinner tabic that night. Mrs. Midgeiy, too, almost forgot to be worried as she sullied at her sister's high ' spfrita. ! Next corning after Judith had kissed the four children as they left for school, she turned to her sister and eaidj ~ \ \ Girl and if)e | h Tambourme T WAS the Saturday be j fore Christmas. Th< j jtfESSi winter's day was fasl | disappearing as Ton VjHB Danvers and John Harding stepped out of th* yigjj club and joined the mow vfrf ing holiday crowd. For an hour they had V watched it through the window as they smoked and talked, and Tom, while he had been mncli amused at John's cynical comment had taken it all as a joke, for John was never pessimistic. Now, as thej walked down the crowded thorough fare conversation was difficult, and John was unusually silent Recalling bits of phrases in their recent conversation, it suddenly occurred to Tom that there had been an unaccustomed tone, even a note of better ness, underlying the smile and lightly spoken" words of his oldest and best friend, tfhom he felt he knew as he did himself. At the thought he looked sharply and piercingly at him,! but the strong, resolute profile bore no trace of the cynicism of the last hour, much less evidence of its cause. It was just imagination, Tom concluded. As they stood waiting for4 a cross- j town car an observant and clever beg- j gar approached. Tom answered the appeal with a coin. "Not from me," said John, in a disapproving tone. "Oh, well, it's Christmas time," said Tom. "Yes, that's just it, and he knows it and makes capital of it. It is sympathetic or sentimental charity, and I don't approve of it" "Upon my word, Tom, you are fun ny this afternoon. What is the mat-] ter with you? First you condemn Christmas, You Know." women, then you denounce this happy holiday crowd as a 'passing show,' and now this poor beggar. It's well you are going to be with me for a while; you need the home influence, and?by Jove! you need a wife! That ] is the antidote for you, old fellow,1* he concluded, emphasizing his convic ?i-t- - -1 ! HOD Willi u siup uu lilt; uai&. < "No, thank you," was the laughing -\ reply as they stepped aboard the car. It was well filled. Across from the friends sat two good-looking women, J evidently mother and daughter. Next to the younger woman sat a sweet- . faced Salvation Army girl, with her tambourine in her lap. Her plain J dMk blue dress was in marked contrast to the fashionable suit and beautiful furs of the ladies beside her. Suddenly the younger, of the two turned and spoke to her. She smilingly responded and shook her head, but as the other continued to urge a wistful look came ipto the Army girl's face as she glanced about the car. "No, no," they heard her say; "the conductor would not allow me. The rules .are very strict," she added in ] nvnlnnnftnn a TnAtnonf nl> 1A CApiatia iivu* x' vx ex xuvxuvu t v*. w there was silence, and over the faces of both showed disappointment. Then suddenly the younger woman, with the color suffusing her lovely face, caught up the tambourine and, depositing a coin in it, started down the car, ignoring the shocked and expostulating "Nancy!" and the detain* Ing hand of her astonished companion. Passing from passenger to passenger, she extended the tambourine, always with a little smile and "It's Christmas, you know," or some little word, until each one felt it a privilege to contribute something. As she turned by the door the conductor stepped forward with, "Please, miss, I want to add something to that, too." Flushing, she exclaimed, "Oh! thank you so much." j She passed on to her se?t and returned to its owner the tambourine, that never before had received contributions so promptly and cheerfully bestowed. ?foha HardlDg's hand had gen?; at 3uce Into his pocket when he realized what the girl was doing, and now he s watching her with an almost awe ii Smkii ! 1 APPRC 1 W""' YT ! ! A \A/#\VYI o in M Airm ii n tt uiitaii il^YV/i TV TV TV TV _ v H 1 TV I H I f J ad H THEY ALWAYS TALK ABOl THEY HAVE SEEN, AND TH WHERE TO GET IT. HERE ] LOOKING FOR FROM THE S f't FIVE YEARS. HE ALWAYS f > CLUNY LUNCHING SET AT ' VV ALL KINDS. ALSO A NICE TTAIM- -n-piPQcjiPCi nnMP. Awn I I XUim A/AkUWMUW. VV1UU n?i A/ TV TV ~ ft SP3 * A A 19 Piece Cluny Lunching Set XX at $9.75 AA Cluny Tray Covers at.... $1.98 S w: XX 0PP0SITE herald opfic \ Tis not enough to give one a liearty IV ry Xmas greeting, if there is sometl: more needed. This is an occasion not only of greel and giving, but as much so of congrat tions, of thanks. Think seriously, glance back, and t look up. But "the mill will not grind by the wf that is past." What vou have had will JL. ?tielp you now. 0 i YOUR MONEY'S WORTH AND A ' \ LITTLE MORE s our motto, and will help you now, and. f rou pleasure, joy and satisfaction of get! Your money's worth and a little mor In trading at Rentz & Felder's Stor WISHING YOU A MERRY CHRIST WHEN IN TO -v BAMBE J Su5 j r Appreciates Anyth as Well as INEN JT THE BEAUTIFUL HAND-MAI EY WOULD LIKE TO GET ONE, [S TH E CHANCE TO GET THE 1 AME MAN YOU HAVE BEEN BUI GUARANTEES SATISFACTION. rilE OLD PRICE. I ALSO HAVE LINE OF SILK DRESSES AND I SEE THEM. ETTA! nccr UV/ir&AJ V/A A LI, 12 inch Plate Metz Cluny at _ [ 50c each or dozen for $5.50 Scarfs as cheap as $1.50 Zimme IE MAIN A^k A^A A^A g_ w 'w"w'w^? hristmos Gift MAS WE ASK YOU TO MAKE 01 WN, WHETHER YOU WISH TO l&Fl ;ro, south caf * <^P> j^it if [NTS I i ^'? g' XX y img in the House %% x S I >E CLUNY TABLE COVERS VV i BUT THEY DON'T KNOW YV YERY THING YOU WERE iTING FROM FOR THE LAST VV COME, GET YOU A NICE W ^NICE LINE OF SCARFS OF VV 1. SPECIAL LINE OF GING- V? ??I RS _ | , $25.00 Silk Dresses at SI7.98 XX , Special Nice House Dresses at XX only S4.98 aX 'a rman 1 STREET, BAMBERG, S. C. TY Vv * A^A A^A A^A i^A A^A A^A A^A A^A i.^ ATA A^A ATA ATA lj|TT^" ~^~ T^V v^T T^T yy t^T T^T Ty^y Ty yy >; '} % In our new lines of ADIES' COATS, TIES, HOSIERY, / SHIRTS, SHOES, UMBRELLAS, HATS, UNDERWEAR, BLANKETS, COMFORTS, SHIRTS $1.00 to $4.00, TIES 25s TO $1.00. you can see the besfr gifts to present and learn more the truth of m 0 our money's worth and a little more l trading at Rentz & Felder's Store FR STORE YOUR HEADQUARTERS OTTTr ATJ *TA?P Dy i uxv ii\jx. 1DER MOLINA ; V