South Branch intelligencer. [volume] (Romney, Va. [W. Va.]) 1830-1896, 1880-01-16

customed to cook simple breakfast by
this fire every morning. But for two
mornings pas; there hal been no fra
grance OF beefs' eak and coffee. or any
goot thing coming through tho cracks
Of the nailed up door that led from her
pantry into their room, aud the widow
could not help fearing they were living
very frugally.
So. on Christmas morning Mrs. Lcnox
went with her children to bill she neigh
bors Merry Christmas. and when the
Wilson's door opened, one quick glance
showed her that no Cooking had
been done that day. nor was likely to be
The husband sat by tho window looking
out. while she was sewing near q very
small, Carefully built fire.
Both responded politely to her greet.
ing. bu. they looked pale and sad.
The artist hurried hack TO her room
and wrote friendly little note inviting
them TO share her Christmas dinner. be-
cause her other friends we're not com.
ing, and she did no, like TO dine alone.
But they returned delicately.w orded.
friendly refusal, on the ground of their
preierring To spend their holidays with
each other only.
The kind little woman sighed but
went on with her preparations for din.
ner. while her cai!dren enjoyed the pref.
ty gifts that had made them happy since
morning. By-and by she wrote anoth-
er note, which read,
Don't be annoyed, dear Mrs. Wilson.
il j beg YOU TO accept one little dish
from my table since you prefer to re-
main At home, because | am dreadfuliy
superstitious, and believe in the old
Saxon proverb: The family whose
Chris mas dinner is unshared, will be
unlucky all the yea Sd please TO
taste a nOrscl, just to save me from
misfortune
Yours trucly,
Kate Lenox,'
Then on n china platter she arrang-
ed most appetiz.Dg little tillc;. tender
and brown and jdcv, fanked by sliced
potatoes brown in gravy, amber-likc
bits of CARO-, tender a. Jelly, sipoets of
toast, amt over The whole gravy that
would have compelled the praise of a
ttenchman. All around these she plac.
ed tender hearts leaves of lettuce, and
pus the dish on pretty tea-,ray with
u saucer OF cranberry jelly beside it aud
her little note edgwIse betsecn them,
anJ gently opened the Gocr and looked
| out.
No one in the hal, so Mrs. Lenox
noiselcssiy pat The tray close at her
neighbor door, raped loudly, and in
stantly darsed swiftly back 10 her own
room. softly shutting herscli in. The
with her children sie enjoyed just such
n dinner rs she had given her neighbor
There came no sound from the adjoin-
ing room, for the walls were thick e.
noush TO muiile ordinary noises, and
Mrs. LenoX did not know if the Will
sons were pleased or not, but solacei
hers"if with saying. no news is good
news and took her children out for a
walk.
That evening when the little ones
were asleep, ami tile artist in her pref
W studio recilned on The sofa enjoying
book. she heard timid rap, and Mrs
wilson came quietly i'll. She tried 10
speak, but could No, her checks grew
crimson an1 her earnest eyes sparkled
with moisture; ten as Kate Lenox
rose TO receive her nci shboi with Pleas
ant smile OF welcome, the young wife
fell into hes arms s,obing.
oh, YOU angel. Col bless your
The artist felt her own eyes grow
dim, but endeavored to speak lightly
as she drew her guest TO sit by her ON
the sofa, saying
You are very good not to be vexed
with me for wanting you to taste my
lillet. Do you know | rather pride my.
sell on my cookng?'
An God bless you You saved us.
We were hungry!
Hungry ! cried Kate L,nox, lorrifi =
cd, 'Hungry on Christmas dayr
Mrs. Wilson could only nod rcpfy.
FOR her sobs came faster. The two la
q es sat claSping each other, and Ka,e
LeEoX kissed her ne;ghbor and com for
tel her by repeating holy words Of
promise; while her own tears fell fast
and her heart stopped beating for a mo-
mept at the thought. what if my own
dariings should ever be hungry
Mrs. wilson was not n weak Young
woman only unnervcd just then by
excitement; she composed herself soon
aud explained. Yes she said in low
thrilling tones, we had only a loaf of
bread and bit Of che sc all yesteT--
day. and to-day only few biscuits,
until you placed that delicious dinner
at our door. On it was like tue heav-
emily mama. When was eating /
thought 1 was no longer IN this world.
4 am 80 glad tina: you were not an
CRY with me-
Harry was angry at first. lie wished
me to carry 1t back at once, and when
) l implofed him just TO taste a little, he
said we we're not begzars. and ordered
me to return it! jhink lac was really
out OF his mind, he went on dreadfully
AMI reminded me OF my promise 70 die
with him tonight
/ Oar
! 'Ah, wee, don't eondemnus too severe.
/ ly. He has been sick and out OF work
we have been poor q lo1g time. All