Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-10-21
INA SORE STRAIT.

eve must have lemon or two, Sam" she
SAYS; and 80, though I'd just set down to
nv pipe and drop of beer, got up again,
ard | saws, "Now, | tell you what it is,
lass, it's Just two miles to the town, and it
SHOWS like fury, so if you can think ofany-
thing e7c you want, just say so, and I'll
get it some time"
"Ohl tisn't worth while to go If it
SHOWS she says, "never mind, and I'll
make shift without, But O" she cried,
all at once, fathers coming tomorrow,
and you've no tobacco"
Well, I'd never thought about that, for
when I'd had my fingers in the little jar
there seemed enough For me, even if next
day was Christmas Day; but with com
pany--why, there would not be half
enough. SO that settled it, and got my
stick and hat; when Polly declared |
couldn't go out night like that without
something round my neck, so she tied a
comforter round twice, close up to my nose
and ears.
"Now, don't be silly, SAM" she says.
"Why, wots silly" says.
"Why, your being such an old goose,
and making so much fuss after being mar
red all these months. Now, let go, do
she says But didn't, of course, but held
her for Just few moments while looked
down in her laughing eyes that seemed to
have grown brighter since we'd married F;
and then smoothed-no, didn't, for no
hair could have been smoother passed
my rough, chopped.about old hand down
the bright, shiny hair that felt so proud
OF, and then kissed both her pink cheeks,
and felt somehow half glad, half sorrowful,
for it seemed to me that was too happy
for it to last
"There, now she says, at last, "make
haste, there's a dear, good boy and get
back perhaps shall be done by that
time, and then wen have snug bit OF
supper"
But | couldn't get away, somehow, but
watched her busy fingers getting ready the
things for the next days dinner-chop-
ping suet, stoning plums, mincing peel
and all in such nice, neat, clean way,
that il was quite enjoyable
"Now, do go, Sam" she says, pretend.
ing to pout fcr | do want you back so
bad
So made start of it; unattached the
door, when the wind came roaring in,
laden with flakes of snow; the sparks
rushed up the chimney, the candle
tlickered, while Polly gave me just one
bright look and nod, and then shut the
door. But, there--I couldn't get away
even then, but went and stood by the win.
dow for n minute, where the little
branches of holly were stuck, gistening
green, and with scarlet berries amongst
the pfickly leaves and there | stood look
ing in at the snug, bright, warm kitchen,
with Polly making it look ten times more
warm and bright, 1t wasn't that it was a
handsome place. or well turnished-tor
those sort of things don't always make a
happy home-but plain, humble, and
poor as 1t was, ii seemed to me like Il
palace and after watching my lass for a
few minutes IN she was buster than ever
now irowning, now making little face at
her work-now with bright light in her
eye, rs something seemed to please her--I
all at once thought to myself and, what's
more, ! says TO mySelf-"Sam Darrall,n
says, "why, what donkey you are, not
to get " hat you want and make haste
back I" which, when you consider that it
was showing hard, blowing harder and
that where ! stood the snow drift was over
my knees, while inside there was every.
thing a reasonable working man could
wish for, you'll say was just about the
truth
So | gives myself pull together,
bitches mp my shoulders sets my head
down TO face the wind and the binding
snow, and then, with my hands right at
the bottom of my pockets, off goes.
Now, we'd been together into the town
that night to bring home a good baskethl
of Christmas cheer; for even if You do
live in the black country, amongst the coal
mines and furnaces, and work as a pit
carpenter at making bratticcs, and the diff
ierent woodwork wanted, that's no reason
why you shouldn't spend a merry Christ.
mas and a happy one. But now there
was this tobacco and The lemons to get
and from where we lived, right across the
heath TO the town, being two miles, and
me being alone, made up my mind to cut
of corner, SO as to get back sooner. So
turned out of the road rs soon as | was
out of the colllery village; makes sure OF
the town lights; and then, taking my
stick under my arm, set Off az trot Ia
the left of the old pits
The wind was behind me now, and
though the snow made ii hard work walk.
ing, | wasn't long before | was trudgng
like a white statty right through the town
street, then thronged with people, when
goes into shop, and at(cr a good deal Of
waiting gets my lemons ancFobacco pays
for 'em, and starts off home