The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1870-12-26

Even Winnie was delighted, while
Rob made no scruple of expressing
his satisfaction with the change Of
cooks.
"Now, then, Winnie" said Sa-
rah, "do You know what your ma
was calculatin' to do for Christ.
mas? Is any of your folks COM
ing ?"
Eyes, indeed" said Winnie.
"Horace is coming home, all I'm
Gle Ralph's folks; and mother was
going to roast the speckle.tailed
turkey, and make mince pies and
apple and cranberry sauce, and
lection cake, and lots of things"
+" Well" said Sarah, Z" they'll
all be here tomorrow, | don't
doubt, and your pa and ma, too.
for the roads'll be broke out, and
they can borrow II sleigh; but it'll
be nigh dinner time when they
Get here, and you and | have got
TO fly round lively and get every
thing ready. set the bread last
night; and Rob must pare the APP
plies for us, and kill that turkey"
Winnie'S eyes fairly danced with
delight ut the prospect. and Rob
marched off grandlv to do his part
of the work. He found plenty of
lit before night, for the great,
roaring stove fairly devoured wood,
and it took IN unreasonable guam
titv of apples, he concluded, to
make Sarah Spicer'S tarts and
pies. Even Tot had finger in it,
and sometimes good many of
them, but she had profound re-
spect for Sarah's authority, and
on the whole behaved very well.
Only one thing spoiled the triumph
Of the day, and that was when the
children remembered, ut bed time,
that it was Christmas eve, and no.
body there to play Santa Claus
with their stockings.
Never mind," said Sarah,
"you can hang 'em up tomorrow
nigh just rs well :" and they had
TO be satisfied with that.
Such "A glorious Christmas morn
inc rs it was The whole spot
less surface Of tire snow was COW
cred with IA glittering sparkle of
frost. work, and every little twig
of the bare trees shone as if it was
blosSoming with rainbows. Inside
the house the work went on brisk
w until the middle Of the forenoon,
and then the children began to
grow impatient, and ran to the
door at every sound Of bells.
S'poS'n they shouldn't come
said Winnie, about eleven o'clock,
'and MI this splendid dinner
spoiled"
They'll COME" said Sarah.
turning the big turkey around tor
another basting; YOU will see 'em
within an hour.
"Therc's somebody now,"' said
Rob, "mSt coming around by the
crosS-road."
There was another stampede to
the doorstep, and variety OF
opinions MS to who was coming.
Rover pricked up his ears and
looked rs if what he knew would
be worth hearing, if he only chose
to tell it.
Over the bridge, and past the
willOw-nearer and nearer. until
they could see the familiar star III
old Whitv's face.
It's them. hurrah !" shouted
Rob; and at that moment Il hand
kerchicf was waved from the sleigh
and Winnie responded by swing.
inc the napkin with which she had
been polishing the delicate, old
fashioned china.
In moment more the sleigh
was at the gate, and the children
dragged their half-frozen mother
into the little keeping room,
which was ~ warm as q nest.
40 dear!' she said, when She
could speak for shivcring, & dc
: feel thankful t. come home anC
find you nil well; and grandma
better too; but / feel as if | shoul'
: 90 through the floor, to think o
, Ill thncn Enlkc n1n,n;nn nnl nat