“Well, you won’t forget next year what you got this,” said Thaddeus, dryly. “Here is an envelope containing $18, the amount of your wages until January 1st. Mary, what did you get last Christmas?”
“A box of candy, sir.”
“Nothing else?”
“I believe there was a dress of some kind. I gave it to my cousin.”
“Good. I am glad you were so generous. Here is an envelope for you. It has $16 in it, your wages up to January 1st.”
Bessie stood in the doorway, a mute witness to what seemed to her an incomprehensible scene.
“John, what did you get?”
“Five dollars an’ a day off.”
“And a two-dollar bill for Dennis, eh?”
“Dennis got that.”