JOB WARNER'S CHRISTMAS

New Zealand Tablet, 24 December 1908, Page 3

JOB WARNER'S CHRISTMAS

The day before Christmas was--drawing to a close. Cold gray clouds drifted off to the eastward, and a snow storm seemed imminent. But in spite of threatening clouds gay throngs crowded the thoroughfares. The shop windows were brilliant with articles of every conceivable variety adapted for Christmas gifts. So the human tide ebbed and flowed, surging into shops, taxing to the utmost the attention of overworked clerks, and receded with pleasant surprises destined on the following morning to make many households happy. In front of a large window, brilliantly illuminated, stood an elderly man, somewhat under middle stature. Job \\ arner was scarcely fifty, but sedentary habits and long stooping over a desk had bowed his form and gave him the appearance of being several years older than he actually was. lor twenty-five years he had ueen assistant bookkeeper in the counting-room of Bentley and Co., importers of dry goods and wholesale jobbers. His excellent business capacity would have secured his promotion to the post of chief bookkeeper, but his own humility and absence of pretension had unconsciously influenced his employers to accept him at his own valuotion. So while the firm had prospered and made money, by the hundreds of thousands, still Job Warner continued to be assistant bookkeeper on a modest salary of seven hundred dollars. With a "family becoming daily more expensive, the little bookkeeper had round it hard work to make both ends meet. He was compelled to live in very poor and incommodious lodgings and practice humble acts of self-denial, all of which he bore with a meek and uncomplaining soirit, with which he was doubtless credited in that better world, where we trust, all the inequalities of this life will be made ivo! The last year had been rather a trying one to Job • *Tn? T \ , lhe enha"ced price of nearly every article which is included under the head of necessaries had made a rigid economy needful. Months ago the family had given up using sugar ,and butter was only used on Sundays. Frugality had become a rule, and was meekly submitted to as a necessary condition of life. But, in spite of bis habitual self-denial, the worthy bookkeeper was stirred with an impulse to extravagance on this day. In tlie window before him bloomed a large doll—quite a queen she must have been in the realm of dolls—royally attired in a purple silk dress and a bonnet of the latest style. The eyes of the good bookkeeper were fixed in admiration upon this beautiful doll vision. There was a household pet at home, little Effie, whom the possession of that doll would exalt to the seventh heaven of happiness. True, such a royal ladv might spurn the idea of entering so humble a home, and her silks might seem out of place in contrast with the calicoes and ginghams with which Effie and her mother were contented. But when these considerations suggested themselves to Job Warner he triumphantly answered: 'Is there anything too good for Effie?' Yes, we have found out the little bookkeeoer's weakness. He no sooner thought of little Effie's bright eyes dancing with delight than his habitual prudence forsook um;. vvith-the air of desperate resolution he entered the brilliant shop, and, timidly pushing his way among the well-dressed crowds surrounding the, counter, asked with an apologetic cough the price of her Royal Highness in the wwidow. The clerk looked a little surprised at such a question from a man of so humble appearance, and answered, in a short, quick tone: ' Five dollars, sir. Will you take it?' Five dollars! Job was startled at the price, and answered in an abashed tone that he would not decide just yet. Outside, he again looked longingly at the doll. Effie would be so delighted with it—but then five dollars! He reckoned up what a number of articles might be purchased for five dollars, and shook his head reluctantly. Mrs Warner would think he had quite taken leave of his senses. Of course, he must give up all thoughts of it. But no 1 A daring suggestion occurred to him. Might he not apply to Mr. Bentley for an increase of salary? There had been a general raising of salaries elsewhere. That he knew. His old friend Timothy Fogg had his raised six months ago, but somehow Job had never succeeded in summoning up courage to make such a request of his employer. He was not sure, in his humility, whether he was worth any more than seven hundred dollars a year. But his love for his little Effie gave him unwonted boldness. With an increase of salary he could buy this magnificent doll for her and afford his oldest boy a course of lessons in drawing,. for which he had a strong taste, Yes, he would ask to