How to make a gift (1898)
The wife of a New York man knew the way to do it
A certain New Yorker, whose income permits the gratification of his generous impulses, wanted to send a substantial gift to an old friend, a clergyman, whose small parish in a distant community vouchsafed him more of love and reverence than salary, says the New York Times. “I am going to send B—- $100,” the New Yorker announced to his wife one day in December.
“Are you?” she said. “I’m glad.” Then after a minute she asked: “How will you send it?”
“By check, of course,” was the reply. “How else could I?”
But the wife demurred. “It seems a little too-too sordid, doesn’t it, for a man like Mr. B—-? Let me man age, may I?” and the husband consented.
On Christmas morning, a registered express package was delivered at the little western parsonage to Mrs. B—-. She opened it wonderingly and found a little flat box. Going further, a mat of silk paper was removed and a dainty booklet of Christmas remembrance was disclosed. This was taken out and admired and the card beneath it read for the givers.
Something still showed under a second mat of paper and, when that had been put aside, there, fitted neatly in the bottom of the box, were five tiny silken bags, each tied close with a little bow of ribbon. Each contained a $20 gold piece. This was the wife of the New Yorker’s delicate way of eliminating the check element.
You might also like...
Publication: Warren Sheaf - Minnesota
Publication date: 22 December 1898
