The Buchanan County guardian. (Independence, Buchanan County, Iowa) 1858-1864, 1863-02-17

| if you'll lend hera drawin' O. tea. She
pay you tomorrow
20 she needn't be in the least bit Q
hurry about that are,' answered Mis-
Green, as she took the little blue cu]
from the boys hand. Do sit down
Johnnie, and warm yourself by the fire.
And he boy sat down in the grea
armed chair, while the woman measured
the tea in the cover of her tin cani aer
Yes ma'am, only mother said she
| felt little touch o rheumatic in heI
right shoulder this mornin'.'
Dear me, suz 1t won't do for hel
to let The rheumatic get hold on her this
time o year. I'll jest step out into the
she'd and get her little boneset. l al
'ays lay up some every fall, for there s
nothiu' like it for the rheumatic, as my
grandfather used TO say
And as the woman tied up the dried
herbs in piece OF brown paper, it struck
her that her litlle neighbor was unusual,
ly' grave and silent SO half with the pur-
pose of drawing out any concealed trou
BILE which might possess him, Miss
Green continued The conversation.
We'll, Johnnie, You all goin' to have
a merry Christmas al your house 2
l don't know, said the boy in a dis
consoate tone of voice, twisting his
brown fingers in and out Of each other.
What, you and sisters not going
10 hang up your stockings :?
No, ma'a mother said she couldn't
afford TO give us any presents this year,
Ellen and Jane cried all The afternoon
about it,
Wall, now | declare That is too
bad, answered the sympathizing voice OF
Miss Green, and she silently tied The pa.
per and snapped the thread with her
scissors, and as she placed II in the boy 5
hands she said to him, Never mind
Johnnie, dear. Pluck up good heart.
May be somethin' II turn about them
Christmas presents after ALL"
If | was only little better off now,
murmured Miss Charity Green, as she
rocked herself back and forth in her
gaeat arm chair, them are children
shouldn't SO without hangin' up their
stockings. I'd willingly sell my dinner
to buy 'em some presents, for | know
jest how much store children set by
them, | remember The Christmas when
aunt Marsy sent me my first cheeny
cradle. with litlle baby inside of il !;
and brother Tim his new skates. | can
see 'em both jest as plain as | see that
stove now, though it's nigh upon forty
years ago. How Tim and I did reckon
on them are presents | don't believe a
crowned king and queen were happier
that Christmas than we Poor, dear
Tim il he hadn't gone TO sea and been
overtaken in that terrible storm his sister
wouldn't been poor. lonely toIin'
woman to night and here the tears
gathered into Miss Charity Green's eyes,
and she Wiped them away with the
corner her gingham apron. and con
tinued her rocking aud her low mon.
ologue. Well. the Lord knows what is
best, and must leave it all with him.
But about them presents shan'l
take minutes disappointment and yet
| don't see how IN the world | can pre-.
vent it, II | don't need that plaid dress
now here the woman unclasped hei
bead purse and drew out The bank note
and looked at il wistiully. But | d.
need il my old silk amt fit TO be seen,
and cousin Nathan's folks are so pertic.
erler like. | can't get along without a
new gown any how but then how
dreadful. down in the mouth Johnnie
did look and to think o them children's
cryin' all the afternoon cause they
couldn't hang up their stockings Poor
things Ii might seem sort o. nonsense
TO some people, but it dom, TO me for
can look right down into my own child.
hood aud remember Jest how Tim and
used to feel, and | never look az Johnnie
Russell but it takes me rlgbt back to my
brother that loved SO, aud was so proud
on-the laughin' fun lovin', bright eyed
boy that he was
Them children must hang up theil
stockings but il they do | must &c
without my dress, for it's jest come tc
that. One things ssrtin that ever stood
alone, and here Miss Charity Green
brought down her foot with solemn EN-.
phasis. | must wear my shabby old
silk, and those that don't like the looks
must turn their heads t'olher way for
as long as ] hold three dollars in my