Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1874-12-09

merry christmas. jONnnl2, Slla!i
not forget you on the 10th. " She
turned sadly.a@aJy and went slowly home
with the children, trying TO share their
enjoyment of the brilliantly beautiful
shop windows, where 50 many things
were displayed that she would like to
own. But she SCARCELY thought Of that,
her disappointment in not getting the
expected ten dollars that, evening had
quite deranged her plans, for now no
turkey could be bought
Laugh. mamma, laugh ! Don't he
SO still.' cried out little BERTHE as he
glanced up at her sad face. The mother
smiled to please him, tender, loving
smile such as an ANGELS face might
wear, and both the children laughed out
right. "h s~ a#f+
"Dear innocents! They know moth
ing of lifes trials and disappointments
Neither shall they know; [ have always
made them happy and / will still do SO,
whether we have a Christmas dinner or
not !" w
New energy animated her, she joined
with her darlings in admiring beautiful
and wonderful toys, books and all the
various holiday gifts SO telnptingly dis
played, and only took them home when
they were ready. AS she helped little
BERTHE up the long, tedious fight of
stairs that led to their two rooms,
while Madge tripped lightly on ahead,
she met Mrs Wilson, her neighbor
coming down, and exchanging pleas
ant greeting, saw that the young wife's
eyelashes were wet with tears, while
her voice sounded unnaturally cheer
full. '@'@
So the artist, who had been young
wife herself once, and was now patient,
quiet little widow, fell a-planning again
as soon as she had given the children
their supper, and after a merry game of
romps put them 10 bed.
!" Only one dollar beside the money
for rent /" she sighed, land four meals
to provide before I can see Mr.. Poser
Well, have some stores In the pantry,
[ will see what there is and then go to
market [ must manage to share my
dinner with mypoor neighbors-at least
to invite theG-or [ shall be troubled
all day How glad am that bought
gifts for the children three weeks since,
when they were cheaper and [ had the
money; now they at least will not be
defrauded Of their expected enjoyment
on Christmas day.
Among the lessons which the vicissi-
tudes of life had taught this brave little
woman, was that of the true art OF cook
ery-how to provide a delicious meal
from cheap and simple materials; so
when she had looked through herpantry
she tripped off to market with self
satisfied and happy smile, as If she had
been going to buy the largest turkey
and best bunch OF celery to be found
there, though her basket was small and
her purse held only one dollar. .a'' N''
The Wilson's, her neighbors, occupied
but one room, which was warmed by
fire in large open CRATE, and Mrs.
Lenox knew that the young wife was
accustomed to cook a simple breakfast
By this fire, every morning. But ior
two mornings past there had been no
fragrance OF beefsteak and coffee, or any
other good. thing, coming through the
cracks of the nailed up door that led
from her pantry into their room, and she
could not help fearing that they were
living very frugally. -5., 4
So, on Christmas morning Mrs.
Lenox went with her children to bid her
young neighbors s. Merry Christmas, -
and when the Wilson's door was opened
one quick glance showed her that no
cooking had been done that day, nor
was likely to be- The husband sat by
the window looking out, while the wife
was sowing near very small, carefully
built fire.
Both responded politely at her greet
ing, but they looked pale and sad.
The artist hurried back to her room
and wrote friendly little note inviting
them to share her Christmas dinner,
because her other friends were not COM
ing and she did not like to dine alone.
But they wrote a delicately worded,
friendly refusal, on the ground OF pre-
ferring to spend their holidays with
each other only.
The kind little woman sighed, but
went on with her preparations for din
ner, while her children enjoyed the
pretty gifts that had made them happy
since morning. By and by she wrote
another note which read -
Don't be annoyed dear Mrs Wilson, if beg
you to accept one little dish from my table
since you prefer to remain at home, because {
am dreadfuily superstitious and believe in the,
old Saxon proverb: "The family whose
Christmas dinner is unshared, will be unlucky
all the year." So please do taste morsel, just
to save me from misfortune. Yours truly,
KATE LENOX.
Then on a china platter she arranged
most appetizing little filet, tender and
brown and juicy, fanked by sliced po-
tatoes Drowned in gravy, amber like bits
of carrot tender as jelly, sippets of toast,
and over the whole gravy that would
have compelled the praise Of French
man. All round these she placed ten
der heart leaves of lettuce, and put the
dish on a pretty tea tray with saucer
Of cranberry jelly beside it, and her lit
tie note edgewise between them, and
gently opening the door looked out.
No one was in the hall, so Mrs. Lenox
noiselessly put the tray close to her
neighbours door, raped loudly, and in