The Princeton union. [volume] (Princeton, Minn.) 1876-1976, 1878-04-03

pr separations the day before Christmas,
| when Prue. came in, all in a flutter,y hel
checks crimson. .,sfss, $500
GIVE fairly run away" she exclaimed
laughing. "Aunt had accepted an invi
tatien for us all to spend Christmas al
old Mrs. Doane's house; and she was fu-
rious when insisted on keeping my pre-.
vious engagement. I'm going to stay
until she gets over it. / told Julia tc
send me word"
II have looked for you ali the morning.
said Rosamond, with kiss OF welcome
Here's your room all ready for you; and
you can sit in the parlor and read the
magazines or you can come out into the
kitchen with me and the children, i
must go right back there, because there
are cookies in the oven" ..sYe sea,
"Ill 60 with YOU" said Prue; and she
went. Seating herself in one of the ki'ch-
en- chairs, she watched all the perform
ances with deep interest, and even went
so far as to stone raisins and pare apples
to help Rosamond. 4 q & q a e
"You've done good deal since / was
here" she observed: How pretty that
broad window looks, with all those plants.
And do you mean to say you hang pic
lures like those on your. kitchen ,walls?''
"Yes, indeed" said Rosamond. "This
is one Of my sitting rooms; and you don't
know how pleasant it is in here when the
work is done. And it is so warm and
comfortable, and a nice place to have the
children's playthings around" Tr.
And you arc perfectly happy, perfect
ly satisfied, and glad you married Phil
lip?' asked Prue, wistfully. ----
"Perfectly happy, perfectly satisfied,
and glad every hour Of my life that I
married Philip" :. Rosamond replied
picking up her baby with an air of tri-
1sumph and leading the way to the parlor
i They had merry, busy afternoon to-
Egether, weaving wreaths and crosses of
evergreen for the Windows and pictures
while little Phil and Rosy decorated
every figure in the carpet with the clip
pings. 1t grew dark early; and as soon
las possible after that the children were
! coaxed to hang up their stockings and
go, to bed. Then as soon as they were
asleep out from drawers and closets came
| the delightful packages that had been in
hiding, and everybody played Santa
Clau: and helped fill the stockings.
90 II 90 hope there WON'T be fire to
burn the house down before morHing. be-
fore the children see their presents" said
Rosamond, as she carefully planted the
feet of a lovely doll in among the bon
'bons in the baby's stocking.
1t took all the rest OF the evening to get
the wreaths and crosses up, and then tired
and happy, the little housewife went to
bed. - III
The next morning Prue was awakened
by the sound of Christmas carol, which
Philip. Grey sung as he built the fire; and
not long after she heard little Phil tum.
bling cut # bed and his shouts of delight
over his stocking. The horn began tc
toot, the whistle began to blow, the toy
cat squealed, the woolly dog bow vowed
and the children held regular revel. -.-
"What good times they do have !!
thought Prue, as she hurried out to joir
in the fun.
That clear. cold Christmas Day was
different from any Prue had ever known
before. To tell the truth, a good part q
it was passed in the kitchen, for Rosa
mond had announced her intention tt
have regular genuine Christmas dinner
and Prue borrowed an apron and wanted tt
help. She chopped bread crumbs, washed
celery, grated cheese, and did anything
she was told D.; and Rosamond said it seemed
quite like old times, when they we're girls
and always together. Phil raced up ano
down the rooms on his hobby horse, anc
Rosy, trotted after him on broom, enter
tanning themselves so we'll that theil
elders paid them but little attention.
There was one tremendous moment
though when, in the very midst of stuff
fing the turkey, Rosamond turned he1
head and saw her baby on the top of the
stationary tubs, holding in her hand the
reservoir of oil from the student lamp anG
alternately shaking it ovor the water
pitcher and the teapot. 4ss 80 au /.
"Dont you wish you could keep {
nurse?' asked Prue, as Rosamond flush
ed aud hurried, stopped to scald the tea
j pot. A*..-@ -@# p
"No, don't" said her friend, un
dauntedly. II feel through and through
my heart, that, when get to be an Ole
woman and look back on my life, tn.
very sweetest part of it will be the time
had my little children around me anc
took care of them. And think Rosy i
fully equal to Helen's Babies, dom
you?" ,.,T1.a ,aE .:9g aiaEag #.@ f.sa
The turkey Drowned famouslv. and al
the various articles stewing and boiling
on the stove did their best, when, at !,
quarter of three, Prue, who had no NOR,
to do, thought that she would take the
children tc the parlor and tell them
story. Suddenly the door bell rang.
THAT must be the man with nuts;
said Rosamond; s:and I don't possibly
see how can leave the gravy. I wisi
Philip was here" ~. ~ 49,. 4ssT4 .s.
"Ill 60 to the door," proposed Prue
l l. "Ifyou really don't mind, . began Res
amond; but Prue was already out in thu
hall. She ran light-heartedly dowr
| the stairs, opened the door, and met
Harr,x . ~.} ..' ~ az .&5s5 " :
=. Phillip had fallen in with him, dow1
town, invited him to dinner, and then
having to stop on the way home, hac
sent him on alone. Prue 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 anc
entered the little parlor now peltec
bower with its Christmas greens.
He sat down before the glowing fire
and look o6 about tho roru, f4 l4.s.5s = s5.s.'