The Albany register. [volume] (Albany, Or.) 1868-18??, 1875-01-01

ing of life's trials and disappointments
Neither shall they know; have always
made them happy and l will still do SO,
whether we have Christmas dinner or
mott"
New energy animated her, she joined
with her darlings in admiring beautiful
and wonderful toys, books and all the
various holiday gifts so temptingly 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
eyelashes were wet with tears, while
her voice sounded unnaturally cheer
full
So the artist, who had been a young
wife herself once, and was now a patient,
quiet little widow, fell a-planning again
as soon as she had given the children
their supper, and after merry game of
romps put them to bed.
''Only one dollar beside the money
for rent - she sighed, "and four meals
to provide before / 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-a least
to invite them-or shall be troubled
all day! How glad am that bought
gifts for the children three weeks since,
when they were cheaper and 1 had the
money; now they at least will not be
defrauded of their expected enjoyment
on Christmas day!"
Among the lessons which the vicisis-
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.
The Wilson's, her neighbors, occupied
but one room, which was warmed by
fire in Il large open CRATE, and Mrs.
Lenox knew that the young wife was
accustomed to cook a simple breakfast
by this fire, every morning. But for
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.
So, on Christmas morning Mrs.
Lenox went with her children to bid her
young neighbors Sc 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 sewing near a 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 dreadfully superstitious and believe in the
Christmas dinner is unshared, will be unlucky
all the year" So please do taste q morsel, just
| to save me from misfortune. Yours truly,
KATE LENox.
Then on china platter she arranged
aemost appetizing little flet, tender and
brown and juicy, fanked by sliced po-
tatoes Drowned in gravy, amber like bits
of carrot tenderas jelly, sippets of toast,
and over the whole a 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 pretty tea tray with a saucer
of@cranberry jelly beside it, and her lit
tie note edgewise between them, and
softly opening the door looked out.
No one was in the hall, so Mrs. Lenox
noiselessly put the tray close to her
srantly darted swiftly back to her own
room, softly shutting herself in. Then
with her children she enjoyed just such
dinner as she had given her neighbor.
There came no sound from the adjoin
ing room, for the walls We're thick
enough to muffie ordinary noises, and
Mrs. Lenox did not knowif the Wilson's
were pleased or not, but solaced herself
with the saying "no newsis good news, !"
and took her children out for walk.
That evening, when the little ones
were asleep and the artist IN her pretty
studio reclined on the sofa enjoying a
book, she heard timid rap, and Mrs.
Wilson came quietly in. She tried to
speak but could not; her cheeks grew
crimson and her earnest eyes sparkled
with moisture; then as Kate Lenox rose
to receive her neighbor with a pleasant
smile welcome the young wife fell into
her arms sobbing:
stOh, you angel. God bless you
The artist felt her own eyes grow
dim, but endeavored to speak lightly as
she drew her guest to sit by her on the
sofa, saying:
ssYou are very good not to be vexed
with me for wanting you to taste my
flet. Do you know rather pride my
self on my cooking 2"
ttAh, God bless you'll You saved
us We were hungry I"
"Hungry +" cried Kate Lenox, hor-
rifed. " Hungry on Christmas day p
Mrs. Wilson could only nod in reply
| for her sobs came faster. The, two
| ladies sat clasping each other, and Kate
Lenox kissed her neighbor and COM
forted her by repeating holy words of
promise; while her own tears fell fast
and her heart stopped beating for a
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