Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1876-12-28
TAFFY WHITE.
His Adventure on a Christmas Eve
BY CHARLES E. HURD.

It was the twenty-fourth of Deem
Der. A sharp, singing sort of day,
that made the boys on their way to
school pull their caps down tighter
over their ears and stick their we'll
mittened hands deeper into their pock-
cts. The icicles which hung from the
caves were brittle with the cold. The
snow looked colder and the ice in th e
meadow bluer and smoother. There
was not breath of air stirring. The
smoke rose straight from the CHM
neys, and the half-dozen withered
leaves that still chung to the scraggy
limbs of the naples in Deacon Wash
burns door-yard hung as still as if
they were only parts of a painted
picture, and had never moved at all.
On the front steps of the Washburn
mansion stood sturdy little fellow of
four years, MISUNDERSTANDING the lower
panels OF the door and endeavoring by
shouts to attract the attention of the
inmates. He was well protected
from the cold: his warm fur cap and
heavy woollen comforter showing
hardly more than the tip of his little
nose, which the sharp air had painted
a bright pink color.
Gimme, come in 'Emme, come
in 2 he shouted impatiently, as he
ceased kicking for a moment to rattle
the door knob.
The door suddenly oDene6.
Now, Taffy White, go right
away from the front door, this
miuute. Your feet are all over snow,
and | amt going to have you tramp
ing through the front entry all day.
There's enough to do in the kite hen,
without keeping girl to run round
after you with a broom. If you want
to come in, 90 round the other way.
But | want to come in this door,
Gran'ma Was'burn. l got some bust
ness.
your business amt very driving, |
guess. Why don't you go and stay
with Silas, in the back kitchen !? It's
nice and warm there, and maybe he'll
Tell you a story
4 don't want any story. | want to
come in the front door, and | want my
papa's letter.
'Bess the boy said Mrs. Wash
burn, impatiently, 'he will have his
own way, and there can't any of us
help it. Come in, then, and don't
keep me standing in the door, with my
bare arms, all day
raffy's point was gained, and he
marched behind his grandmother into
the kitchen, conscious of having
achieved q signal victory.
Such n delicious Whit of mince-
meat, and spices, and plumb cake,
and hot pies, and doughnnts as salut-
ed his nostris as he entered the room!
There was flour over every thing,
raisn stems aud apple bearings were
scattered about and paper bags,
with MYSTERIOUS contents. fresh from
grocery, filed the side table. Piles of
plates stood in the chairs, and the
great brick oven sent forth its hot
breath every time it was opened for
the inspection of its contents.
There said Mrs. Washburn, wip.
ing the floor from her fingers on her
apron and taking down letter from
behind tie clock. There's your let
ter. And now what are you going 10
do with ftp
Keep it, replied Taffy.
But Won can't read it. | should
think you would want to keep it nice,
to show to papa, when he comes.
| want YOU to read it to me, them
Eve read it to you over and over
and so has every body else in the
house. | cant spare the time Go
and get Silas to read it
I want you to read it, and Tafy's
chin quivered, and his voice grew
loDder.
Don't cry. Mercy on us, child,
don't YOU see how busy every body is!
Your papa'll be here 20 morrow, per
haps, and that'll be ever so much bet
ter than your letter.
But Taffy insisted.
well, then, do read it to him, Jane,
It's the quickest way to get rid OF
him. We shan't have any peace till
you do
So Jane stopped chopping nince-
meat for a moment. leaning on her
knife while she read the letter aloud
Nv Dear Little Boy Il shall leave
California by the first of December
and hope TO be with you Christmas.