The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1880-01-03
..Anv obiectionr, mo indeedr,

delighted to hear it"' from all sides.
And. while the Summer baby crowed
itself to sleep in its mothers arms, and
the rosebuds, on the floor at their ia
theirs feet-each with her new doll
clasped to her breast-drooped their
shining heads until they sank upon the
pillows Mamie had thoughtfully placed
near them, the chairs in the half circle
were drawn closer and all eyes were
fastened ON the Widow Winterpippin' $
sunny face.
III went to bed last night began the
widow, in low voice, every tired"
81 should think So" said every wom-
an listener.
"And l began to dream directly.
And everybody in this house was in
that Dream" the widow went on.
Eyes, children and all. thought it
was Christmas night, just as it is now,
and Mamie and / were waiting, just as
we did tonight, for the company to ar
rive. And they began to arrive as the
clock struck seven. First came Mr..
and Mrs. Rose and the rosebuds, look
ing so smiling and happy that l said at
once: You have good news to tell
me-
"'Mrs. McChilly-dear, kind Mrs.
McChilly-(Mrs. McChilly sat bolt up
right in her chair and closed her lips
firmly as her name was mentioned),
has paid the doctors BILL Mrs. Rose
began. And promised, she having so
many business acquaintances, to look
out for situation for me- said MIR.
Rose. And she says to-day is tbs,
birthday of the Savior and He dearly
loved little children, and she is going
to love us for his sake and be our friend
always as long as we are good said
the children, beginning to sing the
Sweet By-and-By so loudly that we did
not hear Mr.. Aubrey come in; but there
he was, his face glowing and his eyes
sparkling (Mr. Aubrey was the grand
son with whom Mrs. McChilly had quar-
reled); and he cried out: God bless
her! my mothers mother, knew she
couldn't stay mad long. She's forgiven
me and kissed Alice! (Alice was the
young girl with whom he had fallen in
love without the old lady's permission).
"And all of a sudden there was Mrs.
McChilly among them, being well
coined with loving words, and hugs and
smiles--the eldest rosebud had glass
of lemonade ready for her-and saying,
Dear, dear, what is little money ID
gratitude and affection like this?'
"Nothing,' answered Mr.. Summer,
who was there all of sudden, too,
with his wife and the baby, looking as
handsome as he did when 1 first saw
him nearly two years ago, and as for
Mrs. Summer, her eyes were like stars
and her cheeks like roses, and she stole
softly to my side, while he was tossing
the baby and singing merry song to
it, and whispered: "A promise has
been my Christmas gift, a promise
worth all the gold and jewels in the
world And then Susie Bracket danced
in and slyly held up letter from some
body far away, that l might see and
rejoice with her. And Nathaniel
what ridiculous part of the dream
that about Nathaniel Bracket was.
Really, don't think | can tell it,
go, but you must" l cried.
Indeed you must" they all cried.
"Well, if 1 must, must" said the
widow with sweet, little nervous
laugh. 81 thought Nathaniel followed
me into the dlning-room, where / had
gone to take last look at the supper
table-oh, it's too ridiculous.
"Nothing of the Sort" said Mr..
Summer. 81 don't believe it. live
no doubt it was the most sensible thing
Nathaniel ever did-in Dire am.''
"And please go on" begged his
wife.
"And he took nv hand" the widow
went on, d" and said-oh! l can't tell
you all l dreamed he said, but he ended
by saying: And. so, of course, l must
think of you no longer-a poor,
crippled fellow like me- And 1 said"
" What did you say?" cried Ma
thaniel, springing to his feet and look
ing eagerly toward her, totally forget
full of the rest of the company.
" Nathaniel Bracket, you're an idiot"
"Just as I expected" murmured
poor Nat, sinking into his chair again.
"' If you have lost your arm-your
right arm,'" the widow calmly pro-
ceeded, "'you haven't lost your head,
and that head, as 1 happen to know,
contained the usual, perhaps little
more than the usual, amount of brains,
and if, as l hear, thousand or two will
give you an interest in Tom Allen
business, why what is to prevent me,
having little money at my command
and no one to take care of bat myself,
lending it to you-for the sake of your
sister, of whom am very fondP Or,
if you won't look at it in that way, why
can't 1 become partner, very silent
one, and you manage for me, taking a
fair equivalent for your servicesp And
that's the end"
"Neverr' shouted Nat, springing
from his chair once more and taking a
few steps toward her, "the dream
never ended in that way. Nathaniel
made some further remark, I'm sure he
did,"
81 believe he did," said the widow,
knitting her pretty brows, though in
thought, while rosy blush overspread
her face, but dreams grow shadowy
at the last, and this became so very in
distinct after had spoken of going into
the printing business myself that | can
scarcely remember"
THAT Nat Bracket said," prompted
Nathaniel, "' God bless you for dar-