The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1875-12-23

| "Yes."
She took down an old skillet from the
wall and put it upon the stove, then she
dropped Into it handful of corn and
awaited the result.
Mickey listened for the popping, and at
last it came. When the kernels were
"all snapped OUT she took large needle
and some blue yarn and strung them
thereon. Then she tied the string to the
old bough, winding it in and out among
the withered branches, whence 1t hung in
long white loops.
"There's yer Christmas" SAID she,
with satisfied air. "Look well now.
Don't break it."
He took it in his plump hand. He
walked proudly up and down the room,
the corn waving gracefully.
"That's nice Christmas" said Granny
WEIGH, the queer cap-border bobbing
again:
"a nice Christmas. Nice little boys
gets nice Christmasses."
Mikey's stout figure Strengthened.
There's little Biddy Mclaughlin be-
yant, as cries wild the toot'ache. She gets
no Christmas at all. Mind that, now"
Mickey looked sober. The little girl
oS Ills UCSt-OCAOtCu uAutC 0uu AC " u6
very sorry for her. He thought of her all
ing his potato in one hand and grasping
When the meal was over and his grand
mother was busy putting away the frag-
ments he took to his little heels and ran
across the court to Biddy's part"
Poor Biddy looked up with fearful eyes.
"Toot' ache nows" inquired Mickey.
cts stoppin'," replied Biddy, soberly.
"There are a Glove in it,"
"See my Christmas, Biddy."
She looked admiringly.
"Come out Until the court" Biddy.
Well have percession. Pretind its BAN
ners."
but have none," whined Biddy.
Mickey broke his bough in two, scatter
| ing bits of wood and kernels Of corn as
he did so. To arrange the two ban
ners" gracefully was work of time, but
the children did it, or thought they did it,
at last.
The percession" had been in motion
hardly five minutes when it was uncere-
moniously ordered to halt.
"Stand still there! What do you call
that? A string Of snow flakes? Give us
one, won't your"
The children stood still and looked ter
rifed.
"Oh! Frank! Come here moment. "
Frank came, merry faced boy, with
clear gray eyes.
"What is it, Tom?"
"Just look at those little rats. They've
a whole string of snow hakes and they
won't give fellow one."
"Nonsenser' laughed Frank. "Let
'em alone"
"Its my Christmas" faltered little
Mickey.
"Your whats'
"My Christmas
"Je-rusalem!" exclaimed Tom, think
ing of the stately evergreen, at which he
had managed to get peep, in his parlor
at home
Don't you get any presents:" inquired
Frank, kindly.
Pm to get a new coat" spoke up
Biddy. les maxim out of a lady's
dress-good an warm, wild quiltin' in it. N
Alas! there was need of it, poor little
Biddy.
I'm to have some shoes-some time,'
said Mickey.
The gray eyes looked little less clear
Something dimmed them.
For moment Frank seemed lost in
thought; then he suddenly pulled from his
pocket small rule.
Put your foot on this" said he tC
Mickey at won't hurt you (seeing that
the child hesitated). Just for minute
Comet"
Mickey did so, wonderingly; and Frank
after examining it carefully, put the rule
in his pocket again, and the boys walked
off.
What are you going to do now
| Frank ?" inquired Tom.
Il can't stand it, Tom," replied Mark
earnestly. Here am I-great man almost
with everything l want. And just think
of those little chaps! 1t makes fellow
feel mean, somehow. Father gave me five
dollars yesterday. 1t was to 60 toward my
printing press; but that youngster shall
have some new shoes to-day or my names
not Frank Wellington
Tom made no reply. He also had
little money, which had been given hin
to spend as he pleased, and he had no
ticeG what seemed to have escaped thu
sharp eyes of his brother-viz.: that Bid
dy's brown locks were struggling through
the many loop holes in her worn out hood
"Do girls heads have to be measured
he inquired at length.
"No. Anything fits 'em. Why's
ooh, nothing" replied Tom, carelessly
Half an hour afterward the boys stool
again at the entrance of the court. TIL
children were still there but the trees
were stripped. Most of the corn hat
found its way into the two little rec
mouths, which were even now quite full
Bring those what-do-you-call-'e m
here" called Frank. both ofyou."
But the what-do-you-c call ems" didn'
move, so the boys went to them. Hastily
snatching the "banners" from the Devil
dered children, they proceeded to ii
thereon some queer looking packages
one suspiciously like doll, another lik
horse, besides couple of well-6lle'
horns, the contents of which, of course
nobody could guess, and two large
bundles, which were reserved for the last
They lad fastened them all on securely
as they thought, when snap, snap wen
the withered old branches, sending tn
packages ANONYMOUSLY to the ground
where they lay surrounded by broke
twigs and scraps of wood.
Mickey gave one cry. 1t brought Gran
ny WEIGH quickly to tie spot Her cap
border seemed fairly to dance and her lii
tie black eyes to flash fire as she caugh
sight of the boys.
IAN it's We, Frank Willin'ton-ye an
yer brither-as couldn't let poor b.
play wild few rotten sticks unmerlisted
It's little enough he has, thin-he no
Biddy nayther. Be off wild yees," sh
added, iercely, raising her voice. &c
home wild yees, now, or 1ql-I'n-"
The boys didn't wait until the sentenc
was finished. They walked away witho,
word.
They we're sober and thoughtful thu
evening. The mother wondered what ha
come over her fun-loving lads; but sh
, waited patiently for solution of the my
, terry.
And at eight O'Clock came furious pu
, at the door-bell.
. "Its old Mrs. WEIGH, and she wants