South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1877-12-14

Inuecu ne mas, saul tue wifc, land
I'd rather have Sarah than dozen Jeru
sha Perkins. even if they had whole
heaps o money.
Time slipped rapidly away. as it al
ways does, and tho holiday season was
fast approaching. Who is there that
does not look forward with JOYOUS anti
cipation TO the advent of Christmas and
New Years. and the intervening days
(which are almost as bright. and Deacon
Greenbush's family were like the rest of
mankind, not only looking forward with
genuine pleasure to the coming Of the
holidays, but were also actively engag.
ed in making preparations for their due
observance. Pigs were killed, turkeys
fattened. mincemeat manufactured, and
never hal Mrs. Grecnbush realized the
true value OF her new danghter-in law
till the multitudinous cares and labors
which pressed npon Der at THAT busy
time were lightened by her thoughtful
ness and ready assistance. IL was
/ something to which she had not been
accustomed TO hear Sarah say f: LET
me do that mother, and You sit down
and rest awhile; - or, Let me lift that
mother; IL is too heavy for YOU" And
so 1T came to pass that the kindness and
affection, not to speak OF tho untiring
industry OF Ezekicl's wife, gradually
won tho love and esteem OF her preiu.
/ diced mothcr.in law. Christmas morn
/ ing dawned bright and beautiful. The
warm sun shone with its cheering light
into the windows of the old farm house.
and made every one feel happy within
1t. 1t was busy morning. OF course.
but after a,l the preparations for dinner
were completed. and the turkey was
slowly cooking in the oven. Mrs. Green.
bush put on her faded silk dress, and
sat down liz the arm chair to wait until
dinner was ready. She was just med
itating upon something which had puz-
lied her considerably of late. For tile
last few weeks Sarah had been accus-
toned to steal away and spend an hour
or two of every day in her own room.
and her mothers curiosity had been iuE.
! ~ aroused. But on this glad Christmas
morning al! was to be made plain
just before dinner, Sarah came down
stairs with a beautiful. new alpaca dress
on her arm, and with bea,ning face
went mp TO her mother saying pleasant.
~, Here's a little present for you moth
er. Your old. best dress is getting fad
ed and worn, so thought. perhaps, YOU
would be pleased with new one VIII
you accept it?" Thank We Thank We -
cried her mother, springing 10 her feet
and taking the coveted gown in her hand
Isn't II beautiful Look here Hezekiah
what Sarah's given me. isn't it lovely
How good and kind she is - and the old
lady burst into tears OF JOY and graft
tuda.
The secret OF Saralfs retiring to her
own room every afternoon was unrayeI
ed. She had been busily engaged in
making up the dress for her mother
and her self sacrifice was fully appreci-
ated By the recipient. That was hap.
py day at the old farm. house. every yes
tige OF prejudice and dislike towards
her daughter had vanished completely
from the mothers mind, and the union
Of loving hearts made the hours speed
away rapidly and joyously, indeed and
when the shades of night deepeped a.
round the old homestead they all felt
they had spent truly happy Christmas.
! When Mrs. Greenbush retired to- rest
that mght sheffield het husband that all
her ideas about Sarah dressing too gay.
~ bal disappeared. She was worthy.
she said to have the best clothes in the
land. and dress like n queen. To all of
which Mr.. Greenbush warmly assented,
for he had even higher opinion OF his
new daughter than bis wife.
In due course OF time that event hap.
pened which always causes a thrill of
/ JOY in every household. a little stran-
/ ger came 70 bless the occupants Of tho
/ old farmhouse with its presence. aud
iniuse fresh JOY in their hearts. OF
\ course it received q hearty welcome from
the dotine papa and mama, and the old
/ folks were not AZ all behind in their
/ manifestations Of pleasure at its arrival.
and IN addition they declared H. was the
I finost baby they hal ever beheld since
+ the birth OF their son Ezekiel. and that
was saying a good deal. you know. The
/ old cradle which had been hidden away
/ in the loft and covered with cObwebs
and dust Of many yeRrs-thc very one
in which Ezekiel had been rocked was
brought down stairs. cleaned and pol
ishcd up, and once more held smiling
. little cherub as OF yore. The old peo-
. pie seemed 60 take new lease Of life as
ihcy gazed upon its chubby, smiling
face and watched It's innocent winning
ways, for truly. as Upper says. ~
babe in the house is we'll spring OF
pleasure And as the old clock chimed
forth Gas IL had done for over century,
the ileeting. Joyous hours It's silvery
tones fell upon. the cars 81 as happy a
household 90 could DO found in the land.
for Ezekiel's wife had we'll mcrited the
encomiums passed upon her by her
mothor-in-law, aud proved herself TO be
worth her weight IN gold. - Philadel.
phU Weeks.
GSA boy came along to one or our
neighboTs houses holding = very dirty
do. 81 n.L-a IL. .....l----.-- IL -.