Marshall County Republican. (Plymouth, Ind.) 1856-1878, 1873-12-25

the corner boards with white lead and
oil.
A Christmas Cake, and What Came
of 1t.
1t was Christmas Day, and Mrs. Len
nox was finishing her mornings work
by making large and savory fruit-cake
for the minister's Christmas dinner.
Three rosy-cheeked, curly-headed little
ones-two In chairs and one standing on
tip-toe by the watched the pro-
cess with eager eyes till the last touch
was given and the dough transferred to
the baking tin.
Now run away, all of you !" said the
mother; and, taking off her spectacles
to wipe her eyes, she carelessly laid
them upon the table while she stirred
the fire.
Charlie and Willie went to the window
to look at the gay sleighs with their
prancing horses, and little three-year-
old Robbie slipped down from his high
chair, and. catching something up from
the table, buried it deep in the yielding
dough which stood so invitingly near.
In moment more the cake was in the
oven, and, coming back to the table,
Mrs. Lennox began looking for her
spectacles. But they were not to be
found.
Charlie-Willie p she cried, shave
you seen them ?"
The boys said "No," little Robbie
shaking his curly head and protesting
his innocence as strongly as either of
the others and the mother searched
and searched. Down the long rows O
pantry shelves, in the flour barrels, thief
sugar box, the pickle lar-in every spot
that mischievous hands reach-but all
in vain. At last she gave up the quest
in despair, and, putting ON her old,
steel-bowed ones, drew the cake from
the oven.
Such beautiful golden-brown as it
was, with here and there purple raisin
breaking through the tender crust.
Wrapping it up carefully, she sent it
across the way to the parsonage, and
began preparations for dinner.
Mrs. Gray, the minister's wife. was
slicing her cake with many kind thoughts
of the giver, when the knife rasped
against something hard. Cutting it out
carefully, she produced pair of gold
spectacles.
"Just see what l have found % she
cried, running into the sitting-room
where her husband was writing "Was
there ever such a woman Who but
Sister Lennox would have thought of
storing away Christmas gift in such a
manner? And just when you were wish
ing for them so much. It's like fairy
tale. 1 must go and thank her at once -
Away she hurried, for the two houses
were the closest and best of neighbors.
and entered her friends parlor just as
the latter was relating to her husband
the story of her loss.
How can ever thank you % said
Mrs. Gray.
It's nothing, nothing at ALL an
swered Mrs. Lennox, with that air which
we all assume when we feel conscious
of having performed some good deed.
1t seems as if the Lord always sends
what We most need and only last night
husband said there was nothing he
wished for so much p
"Times must be very hard at our
minister's if fruit-cake is such a great
rarity" thought Mrs. Lennox.
His sight is failing so fast" Mrs.
Gray went on, he had been thinking
OF buying a pair of steel bowed ones.
the best We could afford on our slender
income. but they would not be exactly
suited to minister, you know. You
are our good fairy. You divine our
wishes before they are expressed. May
the Lord bless you !" and she wrung
her friends hand and hurried home.
Failing sight 7 steel-bowed!' A
light was breaking in on Mrs. Lennox's
mind. She stood at the window a mo-
ment, thoughtfully rubbing her poor old
glasses, that looked SO cheap and plain
beside those she had lost. And it vas
a loss, for they were far from wealthy,
and it would be many day before she
could afford another pair but if any
tears dimued her eyes they were all
gone when She walked back to the happy
group by the Preside; and, catching up
the tiny cause of all this trouble, said,
in her CHEEKY way, '.Ah, little rough
you knew who needed them the mos.
Mothers old ones will do very well, and
our minister viii have indeed Merry
Christmas r"