The Milan exchange. (Milan, Gibson County, Tenn.) 1874-1978, 1879-12-18
A CHRISTMAS STORY.
The widow Winterpippin's Wonderful


but very nice one-on the Christmas
Eve before that Christmas night.
In the basement the three little chill
dren of Mrs. Rose, the janitor's wife,
were quietly playing with their dolls for
the first time in several weeks, having
been sick nigh unto death, and their
poor, tired mother was lowering about
them, her thin, pale face lighted up with
thanbfulness and Joy, albeit a cloud did
fit across it, every now and then, as she
thought of the debts contracted during
their sickness-debts which at the pres
ent moment-Mr. Rose having been out
of work for three long months-she had
but the fintest hope of ever being able
to pay.
On the first floor Mrs. McChilly-old,
obstinate and-well, to speak plainly
StSqgy Mrs. McChilly- spectacles on
nose and head held close to the lamp,
was looking over for the fiftieth time the
bonds, willed her by her brother, who
had lately died in San Francisco, and
received by her few days before, max
ing her already in comfortable, Uery
comfortable circumstances-what in our
sphere of life would be considered rich.
Her girlish-looking granddaughter, by
marriage, was darning the old lady's
Stockings, and thinking of the dear,
merry, Young brother-in-law, banished
from his home half q year ago-a home
which had never been so sunshiny since
because he had dared to fall in love
without his grandmother consent, and
the boyish-looking husband of the grand
daughter, by marriage, was writing a
.baa,.ft,1 ..e4a.fig,,ass, Ha+Aar 20 4ha ha
ished one, under cover of the daily ac-
cOunt-boOk.
On the second foorpretty, grayed-eyed,
brown-haired Mrs. Summer was hush
ing the baby TO sleep, and dropping
tears on its little, golden head when
ever, which was very often, she glanced
at her husband who lay snoring on the
lounge, having left a. cornwall party
late that afternoon to stagger home, as
he had done many times during the last
unhappy year, with aching head and
empty pockets.
On the third floor jolly, plump, black
eyed, rosy-cheeked, generous (out of
her income of a thousand a year she
gave away at least one-eighth) Widow
Winterpippin was calmly sleeping in her
bed, thoroughly tired out by hard
days work, and Mamie, her little maid,
with the cat in her lap, was doing in a
spasmodic manner in a rocking-chair by
the kitchen fire. .s..
And on the fourth floor brother Ma
thaniel and | were taking late supper
because had been obliged to remain
longer than usual at the store where
was clerk, it being the custom of our
an,,,lpr-av- 70, eoy-x-1ns oil holt
day week without, however, thinking it
necessary to requite such service with
extra pay), and dear Nathan whom
there never could be kinder brother
would not, though he might be ever so
hungry, eat supper until | was there to
make and pour out the tea. " 1t tastes |
so much better from your hand, Sis" |
he used to say.
Nathaniel was printer, and had been |
a fine, stalwart, singing, whistling fell |
low until that dreadful day in Septem-
Der when he met with the terrible acct |
dent which resulted in the loss of his |
right arm.
Since then he had been on the invalid |
list, and sang and whistled and joked no |
more. We had, fortunately, some mon |
ey saved when this misfortune came |
upon us, but il was now almost exhaust |
ed. And Nat began to worry about |
that, among other things; but ! never |
lost heart. Why should |? | had |
youth, health and strength, and twelve |
dollars week. And we could manage |
not to starye or freeze, on twelve dol |
lars a week, and Mats oyercOat and my |
cloak could both be turned, and-Some- |
bod H4-.e n,,,,inCr homo Snpn
Widow Winterpippin-God bless her!
proved an angel of goodness during
our trouble, coming to sit with Nat her
self, when his arm was at the worst; q /
had 10 20 70 the store, after the first I.
few days, or the salary would have I
ceased-though, they did, fora wonder, /
give NE an extra half-hour at noon 1
when | went home to lunch), sending /
Mamie to wait on him when he was !
getting better, and making all sorts of
nice dishes to tempt his appetite, and
lending him all the incest books, and
keeping the room bright with beautiful
flowers. But it wasn't this kindness
that made Nat fall in love with her.
Oh, no, for he had fallen in love with
her long before, and was on the point
of telling her so when that cruel ma
chinery grasped his arm.
e " But must give her up now, SUSIE"
he said to me-we had no secrets from
each other" though l love her more
than ever. 'Twould have been no
match, in worldly sense, for her be-
fore "a printer with only what he
earned from week to week, and pretty,
Young widow, owning houses and lands
sufficient 10. give her an income of a
thousand q year-but now it is simply
impossible Disabled for life, I must
make up my mind to be a burden on
YOU. and see her marry
You'll do no such thing, Nathaniel"
cried ]. "What has come over YOU?
1t seems to me that the people who are
the jelliest when they are Jolly are the
blueSt when they are blue. One would
think vou'd lost both arms and legs to
hear you talk. DO you forget your ia
vorite motto, Mi desperadum, to say
nothing of Up, guards, and at emp y
Bnt Nat continued very low in his
spirits, all | could do or say. And this
is how affairs stood in our house the
Christmas Eve before that Christmas
Day. AaE .lt
The kettle had just began to boil next
morning, and l had Just called out
& Merry Christmas to Nat, hearing
him stir in his own room, when Widow
Winterpippin's blue-eyed little maid
knocked at the door, with " Merry
Christmas" a giggle, and a note from
her mistress. The note read:
:. Wmifred Winterpippin sends her
love to Susie and Nathaniel Bracket, and
bees that thew will, as 3 great favor, give