The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1878-04-04
and happy, the little housewife went to

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bling out # bed and his shouts Of delight
over his stocking. The horn began to
toot, tho whistle began to blow, the toy
cat squcaled. the woolly dog borrowed,
and the children held = regular revcl.
"What good times they do havev
thought Prue, as she hurried out to Join
in the fun.
That clear, cold Christmas Day was
different from any Prue had ever known
before. To tell the truth, good part Of
it was passed in the kitchen, for Rosa-
mond had announced her intention to
have regular genuine CHRISTMAS dinner,
and Prue borrowed an apron and wanted to
help. She chopped brcad-crumbs, washed
celery, grated cheese, and did anything
she was told ) and Rosamond said it seemed
quite like old times, when they were girls
and always together. Phil raced up and
down the rooms on his hobby horse, and
Rosy, trotted after him on q broom, enter
tanning themselves so we'll that their
elders paid them but little attention.
There was one tremendous moment,
though when, in the very midst of stuff
fling the turkey, Kosamond turned her
head and saw her baby on the top of the
stationary tubs, holding in her hand the
reservoir Of oil from the student lamp and
alternately shaking it ovor the water
pitcher and the tea pot
| "Don't you wish you could keep
nurse?' asked Prue, rs Rosamond flush
ed aud hurried, stopped to scald the tea
pot.
"No, I don't,' said her friend, un-
dauntcdly. II feel through and through
my heart, that, when I get to be All old
woman and look back on my life, the
very sweetest part of it will be the time
l had my little children around INC and
took care of them. And think Rosy is
fully equal to 'IIclen's Babies, don't
you?"
The turkey Drowned famously. and all
the various articles stewing and boiling
on the stove did their best, when, at a
quarter of three, Prue, who had no more
to do, thought that she would take the
children tC the parlor and tell them a
story. Suddenly the door bell rang.
THAT must be the man with nuts
said Rosamond; :and I don't possibly
see how can leave the gravy. / wish
Philip was hsrc.'
an go to the door," proposed Prue.
I" If you really don't mind," began Res
amond; but Prue was already out in the
hall. She ran light-heartedly down
the stairs, opened the door, and met
Harry
Phillip had fallen in with him, down
town, invited him to dinner, and then,
having to stop on the way home, had
sent him on alone. Pruc gave him swift
glance, saw that he looked care-worn,
but the same dear old love was shining
in his eyes, they assembled the stairs and
entered the little parlor now perfect
bower with its Christmas green's
He sat down before the glowing fire
and looked about the room
"Phillip's lucky fellow" he said, with
a sigh.
Prues heart beat rapidly, for new,
brave thoughts were finding their way in
to it; but she SAID nothing. only stroked
Harrys hair with lingering to.ch
! Rosamoud came in now with a welcome
and, few minutes later, Phillip Gray
arrived, blithc and cheerful, and, with a
child on each shoulder, was quite ready
to lead the " y to dinner.
Such merry Christmas dinner as it
was! Harry grew gay in spite of him
self, and Prue was as sweet as little car
nation pink. Philip and Resamond did
the honors finely, and the fact that they
were a. little pinched for dishes made
them all the merrier. Prue got the cup
that was cracked; but the tea was from
IIinodi's, and delicious. The turkey was
splendid, and all the side-dishes were
nice as any lady in the land could have.
When it was time for desert, little Phil
could not keep still in his chair, and had
to be reproached for telling the guests
beforehand that they were going to have
plum pudding. Rosamond was a little
slow about bringing it; but when she
did come, holding it on platter, it made
sccsation; for she had finished it off in
old English style, so that it seemed to be
On fire with blue flames.
Dinner over, they adjourned to the par
lor, and tossed nutshells into the fire to
make pictures there for the children. The
happy day waned away, and at last it was
; night and bedtime for Phi. and Rosy
} Their mother sang them to sleep with
carols, and came back into the parlor in
time to hear Harry say:
II suppose housekeeping is twice as cx-
pensive as boarding. isntit, Gregg"
"Well," said Philip Grey, serenely, "as
you are 4 novice, don't mind throwing
a little light on the subject. Rose, darling
where's our account boOk?"
leosamond found it, and her husband
ran over the items aloud. Rent for ono
month, so much; marketing, so much
coal, so much; washing, sundries, etc, 50
much; and then footed it up
"Something like sos in all this month,
perhaps" he said. "When we boarded
we paid one hundred a month. So you
see, my boy!'
Harry was surprised and silent in a
sort of breathlessness. 1t seemed as il in
the high walls around Eden he had sud
denly discovered a gateway he had never
dreamed of, where even he might pass.
But, no; it could not be. He felt that i'll
the next instant, Prue, his dainty little
love, never could undertake the care 1t
was too much to ask Of girl like her.
''Lct me read you poem Of Brown
ings," said Rosamond, taking up book
and turning the leaves. "lt's about two
young people who loved each other, but
were too poor to marry; so they waited
ON and on, and finally gave it up. The
girl married a rich old Lo,d. Here's
what she says at the end:
each life's unfulillcd, you see;
It hangs still, patchy and scrappy;
We have not sighed deep, laughed free,
Starved. Toasted, despaired-bccn happy
Sand nobody called you duncc,I
| And people suppose me clever;
This could but have happened once:
And VIC missed it, lost il forever"
! Prue's little hand stole into Harry's rs
Rosamond read, and when she glanced
up from her book she saw them gain
into each others eyes with look that
was pledge.
"Well try it," said Pruc, turning
round toward her friends with bright
smile.
! And they will. May God bless them
and all brave young hearts who are will