The home journal. (Winchester, Tenn.) 1858-188?, 1880-12-22


daughter had suggested: tried to whistle
brayely down the very situation he had
with the touch Of rugged eloquence de-
Tended, and fastened to call his man-of-
nll-work and give him instructions. mi
ncrya has come back, Mike" he said
"nnd is going to have some kind of n
hlow-ou on Christmas Eve. She calls tia
taber yeyaught or something of the
kind.
"a fwhat? ?" questioned the freshman,
scratching his head in the most puzzled
manner.
"rhats what sticks me, Mike, though
/ did not let her know it, Anyhow there
IS to be some kind OF female circus, and
the animals will want plenty TO eat
BLESSINGS on the bright eyes of her,
and its iyrything on the old farm I'll kill
ii she wants it, the darlin'.'
YES, believe you. That girl seems
to have faculty of twisting every one
around her finger, and
"Diyil a won more thin her ouId iavth-
or, said Mike as he proceeded to obey
the orders he had received, IAN muthcr
lashins Of poultry" well knowing that
his share Of the feast would be no stinted
one.
To n lNto hour the making ready was
continued, and all went to bed tired but
happy And the next day was n continual
bu,lIo Extra help was summoned, and
the kitchen fires romed, and the i'm
mouao Dutch oven glowed and plenty
ruled triumphant, while the old deacon
was in his glory bringing supplies from
town and making himself useful as well
as most proyouugIy ollicious.
SO the day passed and the night came
with everything ready for the grand
time.
Early the house began to he filed with
merry company, and were welcomed by
father mother and daughter, the latter
resplcndaut in robes of flcccy white.
aMmdmtly trimmed with soft, floating
Mcos and Topped with artificial flowers,
while natural roses, iringed with myrtle
and smilax, were half hidden amid her
golden hair and pulsated upon her joy
ously throbbiug bosom.
For an hour there appeared to be n
ccusrIoss Ginning Of slcigh-bcIls, and
rosy, laughing loads deposited at the
door Indeed. SO many We're the teams
that Mike WAS frantic TO know what TO
Ito with Them Butthc Deacon believed
in "thc more the mcrrier' principle, and
kept every one busy and contented. Yet
for olI the gaiiy dancing and singing
company, shade Of perpIcXity now and
then crossed his face. He had not solved
the mystery Of the mbiCaU. and it hung
upon him as Troublesome nightmare.
For hours the house rang and trcmblcd
upon its strong foundation, II was n
| workable beehive of fun and frollG, am,
many soft check took on deeper roses
from stolen kisses; many IN innocent
heart bounded more swiftly from the en-
cIrclmg arm and many pair OF ears
tingled from the Shaping of white hands
in payment for saucy Jest or plIIcrcd
CUTeSS,
Gut good. buxom dame Hannah had
almost as much pride Ill her cooking as
in her one dear lamb, and when the
ancient clock made its huge, heavy,
colm-Iil,c case tmob with the ringing Of
ten. she whispered tohcrhusband good,
prudent soul that she was, that 'the
children must be getting hungry, and
she was going to SEQ about the tables. "
In response to her suggestion, he
sollght their daughter and told her they
were going 10 have supper, and that the
Young folks had better stop romping and
cool off. or some Of them would be GER
tain to take their death.
"Ycs, father she answered; "but We
must have the "bicaV first, and sho
looked up, flushing more deeply than u
damask rose in June into the face OF Mr..
| Frank Emmons, upon whose arm she
happened to he leaning,
"All right responded the old man
with sigh of relief, for the burden would
soon be lifted from his soul, 30 you
want me to help you?'
"No; but tell mother please, | want
her" And Miss Minerva dartcd away
| to her own private room, while the old
man told the hddlers to adjourn to the
kitchen and make themselves comfortable
until wanted again.
Evidently some of the girls understood
what was going on, il the Deacon did not,
for they cleared one end Of the hall,
| hung great patchwork bed.quiIt across
and mmshalled the company into some
thing like order. Then, after Il brief
pause, in which there was much wins
perng, tho improviscd curtain was drawn
aside and disclosed Miss Minerva stand
ing hand in hand with Mr., Frank En-
mons, with a young lady and gentleman
as supporters, and the old minister be-
fore them.
Amazed. but silent, the Deacon looked
on. He did not comprehend the affair
at all, had no practical knowledge o
charades. but when certain words haC
been spoken and Il ring passed, sud
den light broke in upon the darkness o
his understanding, and he exclaimed
with an eaincstness that startled all:
| Gt"Je-ru salem II looks like a mar
riage!'
The hearty laugh that followed sulicet
for a full explanation and it needed no
the assurance of the minister to convince
him that his daughter was honestly ant
legally married to the man of her choice
And yet at first he was disposed to be an
CRY. Then he saw the foOlishness o
such q proceeding, especially as he ha'
previously given his assent to the sc
lection of his daughter, and entered
heartily into the laugh against him
self
Chats what you call a-Jerusalem
7 can't speak the new tangled name-i
it? Yet it wasn't hardly fair to fool tn
old man so, Minerva. 1 did expect yol
would find something in your stocking
tonight, child, but not great, live man
However it is all right anything sh
could have done would have been sol AM
well make the best of it, and your moth
er and l will have plenty to do in gettint
things ready to fill the little stocking
} that"
A soft white hand stopped his words