The herald and mail. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1873-188?, 1874-01-30
A Christmas Cake, and What Came
of If


It 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 table-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 p 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-
cid Robbie slipped down from his high
the table, buried it deep in the yielding
dough which stood so invitingiy near.
In a 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.
Willie p she cried, "have
you seen them %
The bows said ono" 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 Of
pantry shelves, in the -four barrels, the
sugar box, the pickle lar-in every spot
that mischievOus hands Teach-but all
in vain. At last she gave up the quest
in despair, and, putting on her old,
cta h,Hy EJayC . f1,nr1
the oven.
Such beautiful golden brown as it
was, with here and there a purple raisin
breaking through the tender crust.
Wrapping it mp carefully, she sent it
across the way to the parsonage, and
began preparations for dinner.
Mrs. Gray, the minister's wife, was
sIicing 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 I have found p 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
IL
manner? And Just when you were wish
ing for them so much. It's like fairy
tale. [ must go and thank her at Oncer'
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 I ever thank you q said
Mrs. Gray.
cts 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.
cit 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 y
Chimes must be very hard at our /
if a 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 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 orr
wishes before they are expressed. May |
the Lord bless you !" and she wrung .
her friends hand and hurried home.
SIS Failing sight ? steel-bowedr 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 aCus |
q loss. for they were 9ar from wealthy. /
and it would IL many day IL to- ST.
could afford another pair; but if any |
tears dimmed her eyes they were all .
gone when she walked back to the happy /
group by the fresiGe; and, catching up .
the tiny cause of all this trouble, said,
in her CHEEKY way, "Ah, little rough |
Mothers old ones Will DO very well, and .
orr minister VIII have indeed Merry |
Christmas =