The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1878-12-19
MRS. TIBBONs's CHRISTMAS.

afrom the ttnclnnAti breakfast Table.
Tibbons himself was not enthusiastic-
ally in favor of the idea, but as bis bet
ter-half WAS dead-set on having Christ
mas dinner, and had talked OF scarcely
any thing else since Thank sgiving, he
thought he'd better let her have her own
way about il.
About The middle of the week previous
Mrs. ribbons began cooking and max
lng preparations, and from that time on
domestic comfort was a thing of the
past. She was determined 10 have at
least five different kinds of cakes, and
there was no end to the other knick-
knacks that must be looked after. One
of the cakes, she had decided, must be
deliberately ornsmen;ed, and, unless she
got an early start on it, emergencies
and accidents might upset every thing
Tibbons had agreed to stay at home
Monday and help her with the market.
ing. About seven hips, he thinks it
was, he made 10 the market, but there
might have been one or two more, be-
sides various visits 10 the groceries for
spices, and other little ct cctcrdS that
couldn't be pct along without. He also
down town three times on various err
raEds connected with the success of the
dinner. Once, though, he forgot what
he went after, and had to 90 back home
and take a fresh start, and Mrs. lib
bons enters protest against having this
trip counted.
Well, Christmas morning finally
dawned on the Iibbons household, the
same as it did everywhere else, and
found two tired mOrtals very 10th TO
leave their bed.
The little Tibbonses were up long be-
fore daylight, skirmishing around
among their stockings to find out
whether Santa Claus had done them
justice.
Breakfast that morning was scarcely
more than a formality, for not cne of the
family did much more than taste it.
T1bons himself had seen 50 many pro-
visions the day before in an uncooked
state, and had inhaled such a multiple
ity of odors from the kitchen, that his
appetite had gone up the chimney, or
somewhere else. At all events he
couldn't find it. Mrs. Tibbons was SO
worried with care and overwork she
couldn't eat, aud the little ones were so
much taken up with their toys and
trinkets they didn't want to.
The day opened gloomily with rain,
and Mrs. TibbOns was very much de-
pressed and bowed down with anxiety
ior fear the guests couldn't come.
"After all my trouble and worry-l
declare. Hiram, it's too bad" she said
TO her husband. Don't you think it
will clear up? Is it going to rain all
day?''
"Well, my dear, it looks a good deal
like il, - replied the head of the family,
scanning the ominous sky; +" can't see
a bright spot anywhere. 1t may clear
away, though, along toward noon
There's no use o. worrying about 1t,
any how-let's wait and see"
In the course of an hour Billy Nc
Henry arrived with the cheering infor-
nation that the baby had burned its
foot and their folks couldn't come.
Mrs. Tibbons then boiled from the
room, and relieved her feelings with q
downright good cry-the first of the
morning She felt better when It was
over, and as the rain was now slacken-
ing up somewhat, began to feel heI
spirits revive little. But few min
utes later Mr.. Moffat dropped in and
stated that his wife had suffered intense
" all night with neuralgia, and as she
was feeling too wretched to leave the
house he begged that they might be ex
cused-
Hiram, this is dreadful! awfull'
said Mrs. Tibbons as Mr. Moffat went
out the gate. al declare | don't be.
heye we shall have a soul come to din
ner, and all my work and trouble gone
for nothing. Why couldn't Mrs. Moi
fat have the neuralgia some other day
Just like her, though. might hav'
had more sense than TO invite her-sh'
always was contrary piece. It's too
meant Boo-hoo-hooi" and cry No.
distorted the pretty features.
"Oh, never mind, little woman
cheer up. Don't get in the dumps Oh
Christmas Day, my dear; every thia:
II come out all right, see il it don't
There's the Jansons yet, and the Stan
berrys, besides young Mr.. Merger, s.n'
he won't dissppoint US, you can bet
even if every body else does. There
now, don't worry any more, or tn
first thing You know you'll L
the dinner spoil, and have a Who'll
houseful OF hungry people here ! cues
you'd better take look NJ the turkey
right away, too, Susan, for kind
think l smell something scorehing."
While the good wife was in the >iic
en- looking after the precious bird Nh
Stanberry rang the dOor-bell, sn can
into the hall with dripping Saie
proof, 10 say tina, it would be ] aposs
bic for them TO be on hand, IS tley ha
been surprised that morn ing, J.