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About Medford mail tribune. (Medford, Or.) 1909-1989 | View Entire Issue (Dec. 12, 1909)
THE MEDFOttD MAIL TRIBUNE, MEDFORD, . OREGON, SUNDAY, DECEMBER 12, 1909. 21 A BIT OF CHRISTMAS y C. E. WYMAN ICopyrlulit, Iffl. Uy Anwrlcnii Press Amo ulittlon, IT u'iim Christinas iiiornliiu n ml vary, wry cold, livery few minutes a irnliiiiiiin would come throiiuli tint car, wiik'lilnii carefully a dial iaced thermometer and stopping to (urn screws of t ho heatlntf apparatus In persistent it 1 1 (iiiiptH to keep the JIOllllllIK ItllUIT lit 70 lll'ltlCCS. Despite tliu discomfort of clout' ntr, which was none tint warm at bout, tho imssouijcrs In tho inn In wore Joyous faces and didn't strain to consider thu numerous packages nnd IjuiullrH an mi. tioyniKi'. I'ruiu a vny(ililo Million, which look vd n h If It had never lii'i'ii neighbor to nuy liutiMu where human uolnp lived, u poor little Klrl entered and dropped Into a sent whero an overcoat told that ItH owner wan protmhly In tho hiiioUIii car. Thu child did not notice this, and In her Icuornuco of travel It would have inndi) no difference If she had. Hho iiiluht linvu Imeu cljjht or tun yearn old, hut that air of no If reliance wiin hern which poverty's child often at tilrcs very young, yet there wiim noth. Iiik forward or "hold" In her appear ance. Her dress wan of the scantiest -a thin cnilou pwu. Iiarely concealing tho Itiulc of HUllahlii underwear; a llttlo worn shoulder shawl and a battered straw hut. When the conductor nppcarcd the hand which prexented her Imlf fare ticket was red with cold, hut the Hinnll person lifted to him a wonderfully frank face and confidingly Informed 1 il lit that whe was Koine to Krnudmn'H for Christmas and that the pack it go rIio clinched In her other hand contain ed cookies for grandma. The conductor mulled down at her. A pitying smile It wnH, as he thought of hi own well fed, well clothed chil dren, with whom ho expected to eat n late Christmas dinner whou hU run was over. The hiiiIIo lingered on his face an he punned to the next seat and saw that Itn occupautH hud heard. Two women sat In tho seat, stroll ers to each other and nit unlike an two persons made on tho mime general principle could be. Olio wnn tall, dig nified, young, wrapped In conlly furs, everything about her showing the per no u who never lacked money or leisure; the other. stout. Jolly, elderly, comfort-nble-n kindly and well to do woman. The two had traveled tulles nnd miles hUIo by side with not a word passed between them. Now both ant with eye fixed on tho forlorn bit of Immunity In front of tlioin. Buddciily the younger woman opened her traveling bag and toolt from It a aoft gray shawl. It was at least two yards long mid half nit wide, "Nor would I if I could dissolve tho melancholy That makes her so adorable my lady of the holly I" Folding It together, ahe touched tho little waif. Kiiylug In n low tone, "Hlnnd up. my dear." Thu child oley rd wonderlngly. nnd thin woman In the costly furs placed the folded idiawl around the small shoulders, crossed It In front and. bringing the omltt to tho bnck. pinned them securely. "It In your to keep." alio whispered "n ChrlMtniaH present." Then, turn ing to the woman at her Hide, alio anld apologetically, "I really did not need It myself," There was n blink of tears In her eyes. "Well, now." the older woman ex claimed In admiration, "you Just net me to tlilnltln'! I'm really aithaiued that 1 didn't think of doing something myself. Here. I've got two pairs of uiltteint for my grandson-Just about her hIcv lit my hand bag, and be can't wear out more than one pair this win ter. Uesldcs. 1 con. Unit another. It's nothing at all to knit mittens." Sho was busily undrawing tho strings of an enormous silk bag. but her glasses were blurred, and her lingers were clumsy Willi haste. "What's your name, llttlo girl? Kn tie? Well, hold out your bands, Kntle. My! Aren't they a good lit: There's nu ether Christmas present to keep. And hero's a frosted cake. Just eat It right now. Katie. Your grandma won't need It. with nil those you've got In your bundle," The child ngoln obeyed. She did not sny. "Thank you." Possibly she did not know how. but she seemed to glow all over, and her eyes returned thanks even If her timid llp did not. "I'm proud to know you. my d"ar." the roily poly. comfort iM.- w uinu -aid now to the young lady, for she had been saying to herself all the while: "You're the right sort. I can see that." "And I am proud to know you." tho . other rescinded, nlrnost shyly offering ' her hand, which was quickly burled In ; a big. warm grnsp. "We nil long to Iw I of service at Christmas time, you know." At that Instnnt the man of the over coat on n n lent In to resume lilt sent. Ilu gave a low whistle of surprise at I the happy little traveler next the win dow, glanced at the two women and I comprehended tho situation. Ills right t hand made a 'julck dive Into his trou sers pocket as If to get some money. In another Instant he withdrew It and reached up to the rark overhead and lifted down a large paper bundle Tak Ing Hie bundle across the aisle to an empty seat, he opened It and took out a smaller package from among many others. Untying this package, ho brought to light a flaxen haired doll dressed In Ihe latest stylo nnd resplen dent In n large plcturo lint. This he placed In tho Utile girl's arms, s.iylng, "From my little daughter, who would rather you should have It." Then ho lifted bis hat courteously to tho wom en, tool; his overcoat on his nrtn and strode off to find a sett elsewhere. Itlcb llttlo JCntle! SANTA CLAUS A STRANGER. H Is Officially Unknown to Unci Sam's Mall Agtnt. Tho postofllco department does not know Snnta Claus. Tho old saint has no olllclal exlstenco so far as Undo Sam's mall agents arc concerned. This Is duo entirely to tho fact that Santa Clous lives cverywbero at tho sarno time Instead of having n single local habitation llko other people. It Is Tory sad, but It cannot Ikj helped. Letters which children address to Santa Claus or Kris ICrlugte must go straight to tho dead letter ofllce. Some time ngo an effort on behalf of the children wus tundo to Induce tho postolllco department to permit post masters to open all letters addressed to Hautn Claus and turn them over to tho parents of the child correspondent or to some local organization havlug a Christmas fund to spend, but the at torney general for tho department ren dered an adverse decision, holding as follows: If postmasters vrcro granted authority to open all inch letters and (elect thoso which they thought proper to deliver to persons applying for them, there would be temptation and opportunity for poit masters and other employer to open let ters Indlicrimlnately, tome cf which con tain Inclosuros of value, and the us on excuse for such action the authority crantcd by the department. The department's legal adviser also was of the opinion that. If permission were granted to deliver such tetters to benevo lent societies and Individuals, It would bo difficult for tho department to draw tho lino where benevolence ends and commer cialism begins. Many persons desire such letters for uso In newspapers and maga zine stories, the namo of the child of soma prominent public man attached to such n letter making It especially valua ble for that purposa and often corre spondingly embarrassing to tho parent of the child. Furthermore, tho opinion states, such a practice would vlolito tho principle of the sanctity of tho seal, which Is one of the best features of our postal system, and the department would continually bo open to serious suspicion. Gumdropt. WIH-I see thru Cook pays Teary stole his supplies. rhIl-Sortcr tore tnkln' candy from t bnby. eh7-.Ntw York Tribune Holiday Suggestions rani OPEN DECEMBER 15 DAAIf C For Men and Women, UUUIiJ For the Boys and Girls and for the Babies FINE STATIONERY WHITMAN'S CANDIES Pictures, Christmas Cards Etc. A general line of Books, Stationery, Magazines, Office and School Supplies, Post Cards and Confectionery, will be carried. WITH SHERMAN, CLAY & CO. 134 W. MAIN STREET ran blurred, and her llntrcrs were clumsy coat nauiuer.Mi in to resume his xont. - I MkiBWSBHtHBMsMSSsn mmK JTia, BEST M CHRISTMAS GIFT I Santa Claus' Best Gift A Victor or an EDISON VICTOR A Magnificent Christmas Giit 03 TALKING MACHINE will ninko both the rich and the poor happy on Ohristnm.s and every day in the year. Come in and hear Caruso, Gadski, Som hrich, Seotti, Planeon, Farrar and othei sing on tho VICTOtt, and Daddi, 'Avuz'n, Martin, Constan tino, Arral Dubois, Leo Slezak, Sousa's Band, Ada .tones, Col ins & ITarlin, Billy Hurry and others on tho EDISON. Whetsel Music House 134 W. MAIN ST. WITH SHEAMAN, CLAY & CO, Sherman Clay & Co. 134 West Mam Street, Medford, Oregon 9 6 Our Pianos 9 STEINWAY KURTZMAN EMERSON WELLINGTON EVERETT PACKARD CONOVER CABLE ESTEY A. B. CHASE LUDWIG KINGSBURY jz? PLAYER PIANOS jZ? A. B. CHASE KINGSBURY EUPHONA PACKARD CECILIAN CAROLA ORGANS CONOVER !2D ESTEY PIPE ORGAN GO COTTAGE VICTOR TALKING MACHINES jsr OUR POLICY & Reliability. One price to all. Superior quality of goods. A squaro deal to everybody. Easy terms. . Our prices are tho same in Medford as m Port land, San Francisco, Seattle, Spokane and all our other stores. The fundamental principlo upon which SHERMAN, CLAY & CO. is operating is honesty, be lieving 'To thino own self bo true and it must follow as the night tho day thou cannot bo ialse to any man " A number of second-hand Pianos and Organs, taken in exchange, on hand. SHERMAN CLAY . CO. To offer an oxpensive article today at one price, tomorrow at another, and later at half price, indicates an enormous profit. SHERMAN, CLAY & CO. shuns such methods. A child can buy a piano as safely and as cheaply from us as. tho most ex perienced business man. 134 WEST MAIN STREET. MEDFORD, OREGON
