The Pulaski citizen. [volume] (Pulaski, Tenn.) 1866-current, 1880-12-23
A Christmas TabIeau Vivant.
BY WILLIAM II. BUSHNELL
"JerusalemI''


1t was a favorite expletive of good
Deacon Parks when excitement got the
etter of his usual placid way, and his
ife looked up in establishment as he
came stamping into the house, slammed
the door after him and stirred up the fire
ntil the hickory blazed and roaTed like
incipient volcano
"Graciuusl What is the matter now,
Job?" she exclaimed, pausing in her
baking operations, wiping the -four from
her hands upon her huge apron and
lowering her glasses from her forehead to
her nose to obtain a better look at her
husband and satisfy herself that he had
not suddenly lost his wits
"Why, day after tomorrow is Christ
masl'
Gas if 7 didn't know thatl Haven't !
been making preparations for it for
more than a week? Catch me without
mince-pies and fried cakes and cranberry
jelly and great, bouncing turkey?" and
she smiled complacentlY at the thought
of the good things already prepared
'And 1 never thought of it until just
now-been so busy, you know" he
apologized, as if in reality he had been
guilty of some great crime
"Well, it don't matter, Job; and /
wouldn't worry about it, for have taken
care of everything for the blessed day
and Minerva will be home from teaching
school. Poor child, how she must suffer
this weather, sleeping in cold rooms
and like as not without a feather-bed
and"
''It's all her own fault, Hannah. The
good Lord knows we have plenty for her
and half dozen more, and if she Will
persist in wearing herself out in teaching
other peoples brats, then"
''What them? questioned a merry
voice, as a pretty, rosy piece of mischief
came bounding into the room, shaking
the snow from her long, golden curls,
and running up to her father, fairly
smothered him for moment with kisses
and then darted away, laughing, to her
mother, twined her arms about her neck
and greeted her as warmly.
'JerusalemP' exclaimed the old man
as soon as he could regain his breath,
though with his honest face flushed with
Joy and his lips quivering with emotion,
for his daughter was indeed as the apple
of his eye and the one thing upon earth
altogether lovely.
"My dear, precious lamb" whispered
the fond mother, through tears of happi-
ness, as with busy fingers she removed
the jaunty little cap, furs, cloak and
gloves, ''to think you have come safe
ly back to me once more and"
''Now," interrupted thegirl, 81 should
like to know what father was talking
about when 1 came in. >"
$50 unexpected" said the mother.
owe did not look for you until to-mor-
row night"
''Oh, I had a chance to ride home, q"
replied the girl, blushing, ''and got per
mission to let out school But you were
talking about me, father?"
"Well, yes, he answered, with mer-
ry twinkle In his eyes, "and I was about
to say when you came rushing in like a
young bear-about to say, though mind,
l didn't-that if you kept on teaching
other peoples brats you wouldn't have
strength to teach your own-when YOU
get them, " and he laughed loudly at the
changed expression of her face.
"For shame" responded Minerva.
''But llPay Soufor that, father. Re-
member, L am a young lady now, and you
can't Joke with me with impunity, as
you once did"
ga young lady? Whewl And L sup
pose some young gentleman put him
self to immense trouble to bring you
home through the cold and storm and
didn't forget to collect toll at all the
bridges. Aren't your bps sore, daugh-
ter?"
The girl colored still more deeply, and
hustled around to help her mother set
the table for dinner, that she might es-
cape the teasing; but her father enjoyed
it too much, and asked:
"Who was it, child? Some of them
scape-grace clerks from Beaverton, I'll
be bound.
'You know I never associate with
them" she responded Indignantly. ''Mr.
Frank Emmons brought me home"
"O-h?" with a low whistle. eyes,
he is a nice and proper young man, and
has such pretty black hair and eyes, and
teeth and moustt.che, and such white
hands, and sings like half a dozen angels
and walks so gently" and the old gentle
man arose and strutted mincingly around
the room in burlesque imitation of the
attendant of his daughter.
Minerva could not but laugh, yet pre-
tending to take no notice, glided about
arranging the dishes, and her mother
asked where the young man was.
81 know, said her father, answering
the question for her ''Our daughter
has tolled him up IN pink cotton and
sprinkled him with cologne and put him
in bandbox for fear he will get mussed. l."
"He will be here Christmas Eve" in
terrupted Minerva, with a strong effort
at sobriety; che and number of others.
L knew you would not care, father, if l
invited them"
'DNot /, >" answered the old man heart
lily, and taking the curly head between
his broad palms he drew her tenderly to
him and kissed the rosy and dlmpled
cheeks. " You are truly our one lamb,
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 ta6Ieascr
viUarts, and one of them will surprise
you, 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
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: