Frostburg mining journal. [volume] (Frostburg, Md.) 1871-1913, 1874-01-03
A Christmas Cake, and What Came
of 1t.

1t was Christmas Day, and Mrs. Len
nox was finishing her mornings work
by making Il large and savory frIlit-cakc
for the minister's Christmas dinner.
Three rosy-checked, 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 ~ 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-ycar-
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
spcctacles. But they were not to be
found.
Willie p she cried, " have
you seen them ?"
The boys said "No," little Robbie
shaking his curly head and protesting
his innocence as strongly as either of
and searched. Down the long rows o
pantry shelves, in the flour barrels, thef
sugar box, the pickle lar-in every spot
that miscellaneous hands reach-but all
in vain. At last she gave mp the quest
in despair, and, putting on her old,
steel-bowcd ones, drew the cake from
the oven.
Such a 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 / have found /" she
cried, running into the sitting Groom
where her husband was writing. "Was
there ever such Il woman Who but
Sister Lennox would have thought of
storing away a Christmas gift in such a
manner? And just when you were wish
ing for them so much. It's like n fairy
tale. must go and thank her at once p
Away she hurried for the two houses
were the closest and best of neighbors,
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 decd.
1t seems as if the Lord always sends
what we most need aud only last night
husband said there was nothing he
wished for so much y
Chimes must be very hard at our
minister's if fruit-c cake IS such great
rarity" thought Mrs. Lennox.
ellis 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 p and she wrung
her friends hand and hurried home.
"' Failing sight = steel bowed = a
light was breaking in on Mrs Lennox's
mind. She stood at the window mo-
ment, thoughtfully rubbing her poor old
glasses, that looked so cheap and plain
10, 81, l.. 4