The Somerset press. [volume] (Somerset, Ohio) 1873-1977, 1878-01-10
OUR STORY TELLER.
A CHRISTMAS DINNER.

TibbOns himself was not enthusiastic
ally in favor of the idea, but rs his bet |
ter-half was dead-set on having Christ |
mas dinner, and had talked of scarcely |
anything else since Thanksgiving, he |
thought he'd better let her have her own |
way about it.
About the middle of the week previous
Mrs. Tibbons began cooking and making
preparations, and from that time on do
mestic comfort was thing of the past.
She was determined to have at least five
different kinds Of cake, and there was no
end TO the other knick-knacks that must
be looked after. One of the cakes, she
had decided, must be elaborately orna-
mented, and unless she got an early start
on it, emergencies and accidents might
upset everything.
Tibbons had agreed to stay at home
Monday and help her with the market
ing. About seven trips, he thinks it
was, he made to the market, but there
might have been one or two more, be-
sides various visits to the groceries for
spices, and other little ct ceteras, that
couldn't be got along without He also
wishes it understood that he went clear
down town three times on various er-
rands connected with the success of the
dinner. Once, though, he forgot what
he went after, and had to go back home
and take fresh start, and Mrs. Tibbons
enters protest against having this trip
counted.
Well, Christmas morning finally
dawned on the Tibbons 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 formality, for not one of the
family did much more than taste it. Tib-
bons himself had seen so many provis-
ions the day before in an uncooked state,
and had inhaled such a multiplicity of
-odors from the kitchen, that his appe-
tite had gone up the chimney, or some
where else. At all events he couldn't
find it. Mrs. Tibbons was so worried
with care and overwork she couldn't eat,
and 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
for fear the guests couldn't come.
After all my trouble and worry-l
declare, Hiram, it's too bad," she said tc
her husband. "Don't you think it'll
clear up? Is it going to rain all dayP p
"Well, my dear, it looks good dea
like it," replied the head of the family
scanning the ominous sky; "I can't se'
bright spot anywhere. 1t may cleal
away, though, along toward noon
There's no use O. worrying about it, 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 it
foot and their folks couldn't come. Mrs
Tibbons then bolted from the room, ant
relieved her feelings with a downright
good cry-the first of the morning. Sh
felt better when it was over, and as tn
rain was now slackening up somewhat
began to feel her spirits revive little
But few minutes later Mr.. Mota
dropped in and stated that his wife ha,
suffered intensely all night with neural
gia, and as she was feeling too wretche,
TO leave the house he begged that the
might be excused.
InlS Is
said Mrs. Tibbons rs Mr.. Moffat wen
out at the gate. al declare / don't be
lieve we shall have soul come to dir
ner, and all my work and trouble gon
for nothing. Why couldn't Mrs. Moffa
have the neuralgia some other day? Jus
like her, though. / might have ha
more sense than to invite her-she a
ways was a contrary piece. It's to
meant Boo-hoo-hoow and cry No.
distorted the pretty features.
"Oh, never mind, little woman; chee
up. Don't get in the dumps on Chris
mas day, my dear everything I'll com
out all right, see if it don't. There
the Jansons yet, and the Stanberrys, b,
sides young Mr.. Menger, and he won
disappoint us, you can bet, even
everybody else does. There now, don
worry any more, or the first thing yo
know you'll let the dinner spoil, an
have a whole houseful of hungry peop
here. guess you'd better take loo
at the turkey, right away, too, Susal
for 1 kind o. think / smell somethin
scorching." .
While the good wife was in the kitche
looking after the precious bird, Mr.
Stanberry rang the door-bell, and can
into the hall with dripping waterproof
10 say that 1t would be impossible II
them to be on hand, as they had bee
surprised that morning, by couple
Mr.. Stanberry's relatives who had wri
ten aweek before to give notice of the
coming, but the letter hadn't turned II
"Bring them along with you, by 9
means" said Mrs. Tibbins coming out
the door at that moment.
ooh, no-couldn't think of it for Il
world" protested Mrs. s. f" knew you
have houseful of folks, 50 / start
George out TO get turkey, and we
manage to pick up dinner at home.
couldn't bare the thought of intrudil
our company on you, and then you kno
they couldn't feel exactly right about
themselves. Very sorry, Mrs. Tibbor
but then under the circumstances "
really must excuse u.s." and picking
her umbrella she splashed homewa
through the drizzling rain.
"There, now, Hiram, what did t,
your said the agitated little woma
leaning against the banister, with ey
almost swapping fire; for by this time s
had passed the crying stage of emotio
and felt a good deal more like usi
big words and breaking up the furnitul