The new dominion. [volume] (Morgantown, W. Va.) 1876-1904, 1878-01-19
? OUR STORY TELLER.
A CHRISTMAS DINNER.


Tibbons himself was not enthusiastic
ally in favor of the idea, but as his bet
ter-half was dead-set on having a 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
nestle comfort was a 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 deliberately 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 err
rands connected with the success of the
elmer. Once, though, he forgot what
he vent after, and had to go back home
and take fresh start, and Mrs. Tibbons
enters q 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 knocked state,
and had inhaled such a multiplicity of
doors from the kitchen, that his appe-
tite had gone up the chimney, or some
where else. At all events he couldn't
ind it. Mrs. Tibbons was so worried
with care and overwork she couldn't eat,
md 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-I
declare, Hiram, it's too bad" she said to
her husband "Don't you think it'll
clear up? Is it going to rain all day."
Well, my dear, it looks good deal
like it," replied the head of the family,
scanning the ominous sky; ~ can't see
bright spot anywhere. 1t may clear
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 its
. foot and their folks couldn't come. Mrs.
sTbbons then bolted from the room, and
relieved her feelings with downright
good cry-the first of the morning. She
felt better when it was over, and as the
rain was now slackening up somewhat,
began to feel her spirits revive little.
But a few minutes later Mr.. Mof.at
dropped in and stated that his wife had
suffered intensely all night with neural
agia, and as she was feeling too wretched
to leave the house he begged that they
might be excused.
Hiram, this is dreadful! awful!"
said Mrs. Tibbons as Mr.. Moffat went
out at the gate. declare don't be-
lieve we shall have soul come to din
ner, and all my work and trouble gone
for nothing. Why couldn't Mrs. Moffat
have the neuralgia some other day? Just
like her, though. i might have had
more sense than to invite her-she al
ways was contrary piece. It's too
meanl 1Boo-hoo-hoow and cry No. 2
distorted the pretty features.
rs Oh, never mind, little woman; cheer
up. Don't get in the dumps on Christ
mas day, my dear; everything III come
out all right, see if it don't. There's
the Jansons yet, and the Stanberrys. be-
sides young Mr.. Menger, and he won't
disappoint us, you can bet, even if
everybody else does. There now, don't
worry any more, or the first thing YOU
know you'll let the dinner spoil, and
have whole houseful of hungry people
here. ] guess you'd better take a look
at the turkey, right away, too, Susan,
for kind O. think / smell something
scorching."
While the good wife was in the kitchen
looking after the precious bird, Mrs.
Stanberry rang the deor-bell, and came
into the hall with adripping waterproof,
to say that it would be impossible fer
them to- be on hand, as they had been
surprised that morning, by a couple of
MIR. Stanberry's relatives who had writ
ten aweek before to give notice of their
coming, but the letter hadn't turned up.
Bring them along with you, by all
means" laid Mrs. Tbbins coming out to
the door at that moment.
On, no-couldn't think of it for the
world" protested Mrs. S. 4" knew you'd
have a houseful of folks, so / started
George out to get a turkey, and we'll