Jasper County Democrat, Volume 6, Number 37, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 19 December 1903 — AN OLD MAN'S FIRST CHRISTMAS [ARTICLE]

AN OLD MAN'S FIRST CHRISTMAS

BY HOPE DARING.

YES, I will do It It’a the only way I can be sure of making a fair profit next year. My workmen must understand that 1 run the mill to put money la my own pocket” There was an ugly frown on Gilbert Bentley's brow as he sat In bis shabby tittle study, commuuiug with himself. He was a small, stoopiug man of 65, with Marching blue eyes, aud a cold, forbidding expression. “I*ll do It st once. One week from to-morrow I'll announce a ant of ten per

Mat oa all wages. One week —that will L the twenty-fifth. Why, that will be Christmas, and the men must have a holiday, Christmas I As If that old superstition made any difference with the World to-day!” The frown on his brow deepened. He loaned back, staring from a window. He «ould see the long, low buildings of the Bentley Lumber Company. In the background was the leafless forest The sun Was setting and the sky, above the tree tops, whs tinged with a rosy glow. Oilbert Bentley had spent ten years In that lumbering village. In that time be had doubled his capital. Now, owing to a general depression, his profits were email. To continue his business through the winter would mean very little profit but doubtless the spring would bring a change. Well, he would not wait for opring. Money had always been Gilbert Bentley's god. He had begun life a poor boy ond hsd worked his way upward, unaided. His life had been too busy for OiiUnu nl To be sure he bad married. His wife lived only a few years. There eras a child. Harold had grown up, high spirited and proud. In early manhood be married against bis father's wishes. Arrangement had followed. Harold and ; bis wife died within a few months of saeh other, leaving a little daughter. Bride prompted Mr. Bentley to pay the girl's bills at a good school, but he never saw bar. Tbs door bell rang and there was the

sound of footsteps and voices la tbs halL The door of the study waa thrown open, and n sweet voice cried: “Grandpa, are yon here?” Before Mr. Bentley could speak, Simpson. hia old English housekeeper, entered. In one hand she held aloft a lighted lamp, thus showing Gilbert Bentley his unexpected visitor. She was a slender girl of sixteen, a dimpled, blohde face lighted by sunny blue eyee. “Why, don't you know me? I am Floreuce, and I am glad—so glad—to sea you!” She waa st hia side, both arms round hia neck, and bar Ups npUfted for his kiss. As In a dream ha listened as she told how aha had grown tired of spending her vacations st tha school. “You know, grandpa, that it is dread ful to have no one of your very own to bo glad with, and I’ve com* to spend Christmas with you.” Tha girl was se sure that her grandfather was glad to sea her that ha could not tall her she was unwelcome An hour lator they sat at dinner. The old man looked acroee to where tha glrl'a golden head gleamed In tha lamp. Bha chatted gayly. Whan they rose from tha table aha want with him to the study. Sitting ou n stool, sho told him of her school life “1 am happy there, graudpa, but I will be glad when school Is finished. Then I can keep house for you. It has been so Mud in you to do without me so 1 could be educated.” He mads no response. They parted without the words being said that would send Florence back to school. Mr. Bentley resolved to say them at breakfast the next morning. There he found himself confronted by that smiling face, and was obliged to hold his peace. Florence stayed. Simpson, the maid, and the man all delighted to serve her. A few simple changes were made in the dreary old house. Mr. Bentley choae some new furniture. He ordered that good fires should be kept up and bade

Simpson see that the table was well spread. Gilbert Bentley was powerless. Florence would think the best of him. She would think that hs loved her and was glad to hava har there. „ She would believe that he shared her own lore for humauity and her reverent trust in God. She went with him to the mill and through the village. There her mistaken ides of his character showed in a strong light Many of his workmen were living in poverty. She knew he was doing all he could for them, but was there not soma way aha could help? What waa he going to do for tbs men and for the churches of tks town for Christmas? Then they mast remember the little children. Christman Eva came. Mr. Bentley had shamefacedly ordered Simpson to provide n “regular Christmas dinner.” He had never made a Christmas gift in Iris life, but now —well. Florence would persist In talking aa if Christinas meant as much to hhn as it did to her. He waa thinking of this as lie walked boms that evening. It was snowing, and the wind buffeted him as he mouuted the slops. The next day the mill must stand Idle, but on the following morning the men should bo notified of the reduction In their wages. How angry they would bet Gilbert Bentley's Ups closed la a Inn, cruel Urn Ha had looked out for hlmaelf; others must do the same. He touched the boose. As he passed through the hall the dlmag room door

Stood open. Hs noted the vase es scarlet carnations, ordered from the city, la i the center of the table. Upon a quaint old sideboard waa a basket of orangse and pula green grapes and a plate of tha nuts over which Florence loved to linger while ha drank his coffee Tha old man’s fact softened. Ho sat down before the fire. He was so engrossed in thought that bs did not hear Florence enter. “You precious grandpa!” Again her arm* were round his neck. . “I found your gift, and I thank you a thousand time* But grandpa, I want to ask yon for something more. It to a part In your work I want you to give me. And X want to give you my help—myself. It Is a wonderful position yon hold —so much wealth and so many people whom you can help. On this best of all nights —tha birth night of oar dear Savior, tot ns give ourselves anew to tha work yon have been doing alone.” “Little girl, you don't understand. X have not been what yon think I har* and ” Her dimpled hand Closed hia lips. “Yon are not to malign my dear grandfather. Wo will work together, will wa not!” “Yes, dear.” ✓ In thosa two words ths old man renounced his greed and selfishness. On the morrow his workmen should not s reduction of their wages, bat an, sssnrsncs of his good will and interest In them. For this child’s sake ha would learn to know and do his duty. “It will be our first Christmas together,” Florence eaid dreamily, 'her cheek pressed against his. “Yes, little girl. It will really be my first, my very first, Christmas.”—Home Monthly.