The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1880-12-17

cheeks " You are truly our one lamp,
and everything will some day be yours.
Yes, you did perfectly right, and it will
be pleasant to have the house filled with
Young folks and have rousing, merry
time. That is how Christmas ought to
be kept"
eve are going to have tabieaur
viva,lts. and one of them will surprise
yon, father"
He was that already, and had about as
much conception of what was intended
as of the lucid CD explanations OF Her
bert Spencer of the Darwinian theory,
and for him to have repeated the words
with the French accent given by his
child would have been an utter impossi-
bility, so he pretended knowledge, shook
his head sagely, gave very knowing
wink, but kept silent and soon found
that pressing business required his alb
sence.
But the doting mother was taken into
full confidence and she and Minerva had
a long, earnest and apparently deeply
interesting conversation upon the sub
ject-one that continued for over an hour;
indeed it had not concluded when the
old man returned, for he caught the
name of the minister and asked
"What are yon going to have Domino
Martin here for, child?'
"Oh. Just because like him, and his
wife is such dear old lady, and they
will be very lonely on such day, with
their children all married and away from
home. So thought you would like tc
see them, and if he is here everything
will be sure to go right, and it is Christ
mas, you know, and"
Hold on, for mercy's sake!" ex-
claimed her father, "or you won't have
breath enough left to eat your dinner,
and that would be very bad"
"But you wanted to know, and"
"You have told me sufficient to satisfy
any reasonable mortal man., he said as
he took his place at the table and began
loading her plate as if she had been in
danger of starvation for month.
Dinner over-it was one of the sub
stantial, old-fashioned kind, though the
mother had added the richest of dessert
delicacies to tempt her child, as if there
was no such thing as dyspepsia in the
land-and the Deacon took an easy chair
by the broad hearth, lighted his pipe,
and between the curling clouds of smoke
resumed the subject of the morning con-
versation.
"How many are you going to have,
daughter?" he questioned.
"All the boys and girls"
'.Boys first, every time with your sex,
and girls with the other" he laughed,
''but all means how many?"
well (refectively,) from fifty to sew
enty-fve."
"Gracious! the old house will scarcely
down with their romping. But what
does mother say?'
t"Oh, she is perfectly satisfied, aren't
you mother, dear?" and a look of under
standing passed between parent and
daughter.
"Then all have to do is to help the
riot along, for riot it will be with so many
youngsters together But what was it
you said you were going to have?"
GA tub'lo vevang," was answered with
the broadest possible French accent
alton
'Ah, yes, 1 remember, and no doubt
it will be grand"
81 think you will find it solemn,
father"
eyes, yes" and fearful she should see
how much he was puzzled, he instantly
changed the subject and continued:
"Well, it will take lot to feed so many
boys and girls. They are always hungry,
and can devour more than so many
wolves. So, Hannah, fear you haven't
provided one quarter enough"
"You are right" responded his wife;
'since our pet told me about her plans
and how many would be here / have
been calculating.
"Well, they shan't go away hungry,
if there is enough in the land to feed
them. I'll have Mike kindle fire under
the big farm kettle, and kill lots of chick
ems and turkeys, and send him for Mrs.
Smith to help dress them, and when |
go over to town tomorrow I'll bring
home some oysters and-well, any thing
else you need TO have good time.
''Oh! how much / thank you, dear
father, said Minerva, impulsively spring
ing to his side and kissing him. "You
are the kindest and best father in all the
world"
Cali talk" he laughed, though rare
pleasure was visible in his face, "and
you'll get married some day and forget
all about me"
Married! y exclaimed the girl, sud-
denly growing ashy pale. 'FNeverl I
mean," she continued, with her face
flushing to the deepest crimson, II mean
that I'll never forget you"
''Whew," he whistled, 81 never saw
the wind chop around more suddenly.
Catch a girl saying she'll never get
married. They would as soon think of
not being handsome and having pretty
dresses. But you needn't blush so. It's
all right and proper, and the natural con-
dition of womankind."
''Then," asked she, archly an coquet-
ishly standing before him with one little
finger thrust between herred lips in mock
modesty and bashfulness. "You wouldn't
object to my getting married."
"No, not to good, honest, Industrious
man. Why should L? A human heart,
and especially of your sex, without love,
is as good as wrecked. No, my darling;
find good man whom you can love with
your whole heart, and who loves you the
same, for am old-fashioned enough to
l. 4 4. T.