Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1877-12-21
4 MERRY CHRISTMAS.
nY nMILY nrNrINaroN MII.LER.

sled clear from Deacon Turner Wood
lot to the little tumble-down log house
by the four corners. But the children
did not mind the cold or the work
either; they were glad to have plenty OF
wood to fill up the great yawnIng lire
place, and keep the frost from cnrdllng
the air in the one room, and plnchlnS
the baby's fingers and toes rs she sat ~
her cradle.
"Therc," said Ted taking Off his init.
tens TO blow the cold, red fingers, " if
we don't have anything else for Christ
mas we've got lots Of wood, and mean
to fill the old fireplace chock full to-
morrow.
~ wish We did have something else,
though" said Matte gravely; some
thing nice for mother and the baby, but
you mustn't speak about it, Ted, not be-
fore mother, because it makes her feel
bad"
1--WE got something for baby, said
Ted, mystcriou5ly. Miss Sprggins
gave il to me when | took her work
home Yesterday" and he drew from his
pocketu little round block on which rib
bon had been rolled 1t was prepared
OH JDf tIltlb WlWI pun IhpNit "Hi pD.'i
Ted and Matte admired it very much.
How pleased she will be- said Mat
tic. care you going to hang up your
stocking, Ted%
Course am" said Ted. Some
thing might ,happon, yon know; and
anyhow likcto pretend I'm expecting
lots of things"
The two children went into the house,
where their mother was sewing ~ the
last light of the short winter day, while
the baby ant in the cradle playing with
Il string Of spooIs. The mother was
paic and thin, and looked, oh 50 bud
and tired but the baby was as fat, and
round, and rosy rs a nice plump apple,
and didn't look rs il she knew amy
thing about the bard times that bad
come to the. little log house when the
father died, just about the time she
first opened her wondering eyes to the
world
"Tho wood is all in the she'd, mother
sad Matte, - nice big pile Of il; and
when thut is gone Deacon Turner is go
ing 10 draw us u load himself; Inc said
so this afternoon
"And to-morrow'll be Christmas
said Ted, "and Is'posr III better catch
TINT turkey before dark. "
The mother smiled NJ merry Ted, and
Matte drew out the small table and
spread their sinplo supper Of brown
brcnd and milk. The children ate with
hearty appetites; and though they
sometimes felt 4 little dissatisfied with
their plain fare, got the milk was sweet
and rich, and the bread wholesome, 80
they were IN 10 danger Of suffering.
After supper the lamp was lighted,
the small room made us neat MS could
be, fresh wood heaped upon the fire,
and, after lrolc with baby, Ted and
Matte crcpt up to their bed III the loft,
while their mother sat down again TO
her sewing, She had sud thoughts for
company that Christmas eve and she
sighed u good deal Us she piled her
needle, ghncing sometimes NJ tho bnby
in the cradle, and sometimes ut tho
three little stockings hanging there by
the chimney, They were good deal
worn, those little stockings, and Mattic's
careful fingers had darnod them here
and there, Dear, patient, helpful
little fingers how ready they had been
TO take up the burden of lifc--how the
mothers heart longod to fill them with
good gifts this blessed Christmas; but
nlns! she had nothing to give She was
not even 40 rich Ms little Ted who had
squeezed his precious block into the
baby's stocking, and gone to bed happy
II was almost midnight before the work
was finished, and already the baby was
stirring uneasly in her cradle, and once
or twice the mothers heart was startled
into quick throb Of terror III hearing
her hoarse, threatening cough
Dear heart said tho mother any
ionsly running to the cradle, :. if she
should have the Group again, and not 4
thing i'll the house to give her
Half M hour more, and the little
creature was gaspng and struggling
with dark rings about her pretty
blue eyes and IN ashy Wilderness
around her mouth.
Run for the doctor called the
mother, and Matte never stopped to
think of the night or the cold, rs she
tied on the old blue hood, and wrapped
herself in her thin, worn shawl, and
battered away down the lonesome road,
lust rs the clock struck Il. dare say
the doctor was tired and sleepy, and |
do suppose that doctors need rest rs
much rs other morluls but Matte
never could have guessed, b. any word
or look Of Dir. Ashlcys, that il was not
the most delightful thing III the world
To him to got up ut midnight and 50
half mile to see sick baby, with no
earthly prospect Of amy fec, ! said no
earthly prospect, but | make no doubt
that good many Of DIR. Ashlcy's bills
were kept safely for settlement by-and-