The Cecil Whig. [volume] (Elkton, Md.) 1841-current, 1871-12-23

t dCucI SOuo W SIdiupd .. Aio NCho
last night, and he hasn't come back, and
there's nobody here but me and the chill
dren. So was afraid to open the door at
first" said July, clinging to Mr.. Cross
hand and looking shyly at the strangers
who entered. But in a few moments she
forgot her shyness, and was busy throwing
pine knots on the bed of Goals that glowed
in the great fireplace, and setting chairs for
the ladies with instructive grace and cour-
tesy. Up sprang glorious blaze, light
ming every corner of the large kitchen with
its crimson glow, and warming Thoroughly
the chilled travellers who crowded around
it.
"Now, july" said Mr.. Cross, who SEEM
ed perfectly at home, "you see this basket?
Well, there's plenty of supper in here
cold chicken and so on-for these people.
but we d like some coffee amazin'. IIelloh!
What's this? Here's 4 nice mess. This
here bottle of shrub has gone and smashed,
and soaked all the bread! Now what's to
be done %
"Make more Bread" said Leslie, reck-
lessly. Il suppose July can give us some
flour or meal to make it of. We will pay
you well, little one, for the trouble we give
you.''
July laughed as she opened the door of
shed room, and with some pride showed a
well-stocked store-room. But she said she
never made any bread out of flour. "Fath-
or always made the bread
"Now, ladies, which of you will make
the bread for SUPPER" asked Leslie gayly
and the girls looked at one another in
silence.
81 never made any bread in my life, !"
said Alice, slowly.
"And l never saw any made" exclaimed
Emmie, while Addy folded her hands, and
looked upwards with a comical face of
despair.
In this emergency Margie came forward
modestly, yet confidently. 81 haze made
biscuit. l think can do it again." she
said, and she proceeded to fasten up her
Sleeves put on an apron July brought her,
and to wash her hands in a business-like
way.
Mr.. Cross watched her handle the tray
and quart cup, and sift the flour, and then
saying with quiet nod, "You'll do he
left the house, reckoning several of the
young men to follow.
The party remaining in the house were
soon very busy getting supper, under the
directions of Margie, who fitted about like
a fairy, doing everything she attempted
with wonderful grace and dexterity, and
issuing her orders like general on the
field of battle. 1t was amusing to see how
even Addy the magnificent went to her
humbly for orders, and obeyed them with
slavish precision.
When Mr.. Cross and his party returned,
having first made trip to the stage to
bring down all the shawls and cushions,
and then sheltered the horses in a shed
adjoining the smythy, they found George
and Emmie carefully putting biscuit to
bake in couple of ovens, while Alice
watched the boiling coffee-pot. Addy and
Leslie were setting table, and Margie
with flushed cheeks and bright eyes, was
everywhere at once, showing everybody the
right way to do everything, and exciting
the opened mouthed wonder and admira-
ton of little July and the other children.
She had made friends with them long ago,
and July had told her all about the long
night and day they had passed "since
father went away and the snow began to
fall. They had been SO frightened, and
had had nothing to eat but some corn bread
| July had baked on the hearth, for she
rafters in the store-room. She was so glad
when Mr.. Cross came, but she wished
father knew all about it, for he would be
frightened at their being all alone in the
house. Father had gone to bring home
little brother Johnny from grandfather's,
cause tomorrow was Christmas, and they
wanted Johnny at home. She s'posed
father would come early tomorrow morn
ing"
Somehow the child's story filled her hear
ers with vague apprehensions, which none
of them liked to give utterance to. When
Mr.. Cross came in, Margie whispered her
fears to him, but was met by the assuar-
arce that Jim Bailey was prudent man,
and wasn't likely to do nothing rash. He'd
turn up all right
So they went on with their preparations
for supper, and a merrier meal than sup
per was, when it came, never was seen.-
They appointed Margie mistress of cere-
monies, as she had proved herself more
capable than any one else of filling the
position of housekeeper, and very grace
fully she did the honors.
And just as they were rising from the
table, some one discovered that it was
twelve o'clock, and Margie, starting up,
declared they must "sing in Christmas
morning." and sing in the open air, too,
as Christmas carols should be sung. So
flakes had ceased to fall, the clouds were
flying away before the lulling wind, and on
the bending forest trees, and the steep
mountain sides, and in the wide valleys,
the heaped and drifted snow lay "spark-
ling to the moon -" that shone calmly down
upon the quiet earth, while here and there
in the sky a large white star glimmered
forth, too brilliant to be outdone by the
radiant moon.
Then, on the crystal air, went ringing
like q chime of bells, chorus of clear
young voices in the sweet old Christmas
hymn
"' While shepherds watched their flocks
by night,
All seated on the ground,
The angel of the Lord came down,
And glory shone around"
1t was Margie who led the hymn in Won
derful voice, so fresh, so sweet, and so full,
that the others could scarcely sing for lis
tening, and when the last liquid note had
foated up beyond the stars, the listeners
stood looking up as if there mast be angels
lowering over them.
A long deep silence followed, which