Johnstown High School - Spectator Yearbook (Johnstown, PA)

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SPECTATOR 13 with a check for fifty dollars. She was directed to use the money for hair switches, powders, creams, and other toilet articles. She, too, was deeply insulted and turned with fury upon Uncle Jasper. She called him a “sneering old skin- flint who never looked at anything for any other purpose than to find fault.” She swept by Uncle Jasper, who stood dazed with astonishment. Grandmother Bradclifif had not been able to hear the proceedings on account of her deafness, but she saw that something was going wrong and wanted to know what was the matter. Son Percy, speaking in a loud voice directly into her ear, told her the family were receiving Uncle Jasper’s Christmas gifts, and were having a fine old time over them. Grandmother at once became curious and had to examine her gift. She adjusted her glasses and opened her envelope. The note enclosed told her the fifty dollars were to be used for the purchase of a wheel chair, a cane, and an ear trum- pet. She looked around with surprise from one to the other, and at last she cried out and shook her trembling finger at Uncle Jasper. “In my young days such an insult to a lady would have been punished with a horse-whip or pistal.” She trembled with rage and asked Percy to take her where she could not see Jasper. Uncle Jasper was stunned. Mr. Bradclifif was astonished and bewildered. He dared not open his envelope and handed it back to Uncle Jasper. After a few minutes Uncle Jasper recovered himself and realized the mistake he had made. He explained to Bradclifif that he meant no harm, but only wanted to give to those he loved the things he believed they needed and secretly wished for. He insisted he “had their welfare in mind” and as a proof handed back to Bradclifif the envelope. Mr. Bradclifif still hesitated in opening it and said. I would rather not know than risk the friendship we have enjoyed for so many years.” Uncle Jasper convinced him he meant only to express his love by all his gifts, al- though he regretted his bluntness, and so Mr. Bradclifif tore open the envelope and read: “I know you cannot see your

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12 SPECTATOR Uncle Jasper, who had read of the society with great interest, considered it based upon common sense and in every way a good idea. Many times he had talked with the family about it, and finally announced that there would be no more useless Christmas gifts received from him. “From this time on I believe in giving people those things which they need,” said Uncle Jasper. As Christmas approached, Uncle Jasper had been spend- ing more time than usual in his room, and when he did ap- pear in the family circle, he appeared very much pleased and tickled. The joyful day at last arrived, and everyone in the house was beaming with pleasure. The members of the family were exchanging presents when Uncle Jasper ap- peared with his gifts, which were half a dozen or more large envelopes. He distributed the envelopes. Each re- ceived the gift with a feeling of wonder and watched for an opportunity to leave the room and examine it. Pansy, the cook, a large, kind hearted woman, but very homely and disfigured somewhat by the loss of her front teeth, was the first to give way to her curiosity. She slip- ped into a corner and opened her envelope. In it she found a note which told her the enclosed twenty-five dollars were to be used to have her teeth replaced, and not to be used for any other purpose. She read the note several times be- fore she realized how she had been insulted. Then she tore up the check and left the room, determined to leave the house without notice. Mrs. Bradcliff, a tall and rather handsome woman with the exception of a wart on the side of her nose, which de- tracted from her general appearance, slipped into the next room to open her gift. It contained a note for her and a check for fifty dollars. The note directed that the money be used only for the purpose of removing the wart. Mrs. Bradcliff cried with shame and scolded Uncle Jasper for his insolence. By this time Gwendolin, a large girl with thin hair and muddy complexion, opened her envelope and found her note,

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14 SPECTATOR way clear to meet Percy’s expenses during the last half of the college term, so accept this check for three hundred dol- lars and send him back. Jasper.” Mr. Bradcliff gasped with joy. With tears in his eyes he grasped Uncle Jasper’s hand and exclaimed. “Forgive me, my dear old friend! For our boy’s sake, I accept.” With a light heart Mr. Bradcliff rounded up the family and scolded them for their discourtesy and ingratitude. “The motive back of the gift is all that counts!” declared Mr. Bradcliff as he soothed and quieted his indignant family. Uncle Jasper explained with many expressions of regret that he had no intention to hurt the feelings of any one. He withdrew all conditions upon which the gifts were given. Each one was to use the money as he or she wished. When good feeling was restored, Uncle Jasper announced When good feeling was restored, Uncle Jasper announc- ed, “I resign from membership in the impudent and insolent order of ‘Spugs.’ ” Told by a Christmas Stocking Coover Greer T7 It was long past midnight, and the Stocking began to be angry. “To be taken out of a nice comfortable drawer on a winter night,” it said querulously, “and not to be hung on a nice chair in front of the fire is a great misfortune.” A little girl lay fast asleep in the bed. The curtains were drawn across the window. A light burned nearby. The clothes of the sleeper lay neatly folded on a chair be- side the wall; the stockings which she had worn the day pre- vious hung dreaming over the back of this chair, and un- derneath were her little button shoes, both of them snoring. “I miss my mate,” said the stocking, glancing at the folded pair of sleeping stockings.” Just as it finished speaking, there was a noise in the chimney, and looking in the direction of the fireplace, the