she threatened to roll off the chair on to a divan. Mr. Budlong
straightened her out and gazed at her in hopeless pity. He stared at
the chaos of bundles.

He seized the pack of cards from his wife's chubby fingers and ran here
and there jabbing pasteboards into bundles, regardless.

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!"