That is how Myra Eppley acquired an ash tray lined with cigar bands,
and why old Mr. Clute was amazed to receive a card offering him Mrs.
Budlong's "loving and affectionate greetings." He was more amazed when
he opened the bundle. It had ribbons in it.
There were other amazements in town the next morning. In fact, it was
the amazingest Christmas Carthage had ever had.
As fast as Mr. Budlong stuffed cards into bundles, he loaded bundles
into the driver's arms as if they were sticks of wood. The driver
stacked them up in his wagon. He made seven trips in all and some of
the cards fell out and were stuck in still wronger bundles than before.
But both the driver and Mr. Budlong were too sleepy to care. The
driver finally mounted his seat and called out from the dark:
"Say, Mr. Budlong, where do I leave these packages--on the porch, or do
I ring the bell?"
"Chuck 'em through the windows! The more glass you break the better
I'll like it."
"All right, sir. Get ap! Good night, sir, and wishing you a Merry
Christmas!"
"Merry ------" said Mr. Budlong, reaching for a rock. But even the
stones were frozen to the ground and the driver escaped. As Mr.
Budlong closed his front door, a thread of crimson spun out along the
East as if somebody were going to wrap the whole world up in a red
string.
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