MAUD'S CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

Taranaki Daily News, Volume LII, Issue 273, 24 December 1909, Page 3

MAUD'S CHRISTMAS SHOPPING

"Everyone I can think of to give anyone I seni to have given them last Christmas," said Maud in a wurn.Ml ;way, looking at her list. ' "Dick, llary, Aunt Julia, Jlis's ~ Brown, llort—um," she muttered, blocking the way to the counter. I suggested a move.

"I've forgotten Norali. I'll get hers while I thinly of it. What would you get, May?" "Gloves, handkerchiefs, ties!" "But she always gets tons of gloves, and I refuse to get any more handkerchiefs. I've bought dozens." "You're in the way," I reminded her.

"But I'm trying to think. Can't you suggest anything?" "Books," I said desperately.

"She's not the girl you can give hooks to; she wouldn't look at selections and gems and novels, and anything else ij too expensive."

" "Soap in a nfee box," I suggested again.

"Oh, May! She'd be ofl'ended. Do think!" "A frame!"

"Not silver," said Maud suspiciousiy.

"Certainly not," I said, carefully steering the way to frames, and sighing with relief when thV purchase was concluded. When the frame waS wrapped up and paid for Maud was dubious. "Isn't it rather banal?" she asked. "Most things are,".l told her. "Now for dick," she said briskly. "What shall I give him?" I wns incapable of suggestion. "I think I'll get him a new art silver pen tray," Maud said after a pause. "I want one for my table." "But. 1"

"We always do things' that way, 1 ' she went on blandly. "On my birthday J)icl< gave me Grotc's 'History ot Greece,' and I never opened it. 1 was mail, because I was dying for a parasol, and Dick hardly, it for weeks."

When the tray was at length selected I faintly suggested tea. After that we began in earnest, aud invaded the biiok shops, "I 1 always get a lot of little books' to eend to people I've forgotten all about until Christmas Eve," said Maud. "One can get all kinds of dear little books, and they look better than calendars. Here's one, '(.'ems of Friendship,' only sixpence, and quite'iiice-loois-ing. I'll get it for Miss Jlardeastlc, I gave her a brass rose bowl last Christmas' and she, gave me a nine-pennv cane pocket for a door—simply hideous. She'« awfuly well oil', too." We lore, ourselves away eventually, and pressed on to the jeweller's. "1 promised l,eonie a gunnieta] watch, but'l want a silver purse. 1 lost'mine last week."

"Wait until after Christmas, and someone mi'ght give you a purse," I suggested.

"Hut they mightn't; aud then everyone will be stoney. anil Diek won't give me any more 'extra.' Here's' a dear little clock, look, May. Only eight shillings. I'm sure Leonie would rather have it than a watch—so nice for a girl's room." "Yes." I assented weakly, hut Maud was absorbed in negotiations. "Now, what for Miss Brown?" Maud was looking into her purse. We stood in people's way and considered.

"A hatpin," I said tentatively. "Um! We'll leave it for a bit. iMor tinier?"

" V slaving titlv." "He's got dozens. He's got everythin','."

"Then don't give him anything." "I must. Sinelv you know of something?" I 1 thought until my head ached. "1 can't," I said desperately. We wore mining mi when Mis Hai'deastle came u]i. "My dear Maud, this is lucky,' she siiid, i;i her deep voice. "I'm going to Moss Vale for Christmas, and I can now give you my little remembrance in person before I go." "And I'll give you mine if you don't mind carrying it," said .Maud. "It is very small, but the wishes that go with it are the same."

Maud looked at her present distastefully.

'"lt's a liorrid little book," she said. "Devotional, 1 expect." 1 tore the paper, and held up "Gems of Friendship" before Maud's eyes. "How tragic!" she gasped. "She'll never -forgive me for giving her a sixpenn'orth. Isn't it awful? She must liave been at that place this very morning!"'

1 "What about Mortimer?" I said, to create a diversion.

"I think we'll go home to lunch," said Maud weakly. "l''ve done enough shopping for one day." ."Let's," I said with alacrity.