The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-12-23
A Christmas Tableau Vivant.
BY WILLIAM II. BUSHNELL.


"Jerusalem!"
1t was favorite expletive Of good
Deacon Parks when excitement got the
etter OF his usual placid way, and his
'lfe looked up in astonishment MS he
came stamPiro ,.to the house, slammed
the door after im Ind stirred up the fire
ntll the hicko ~ blazed and rOared like
incipient volcano.
Gracious! What is tho matter now,
Job?" she exclaimed, pausing in her
baking operations, wiping the flour from
her hands upon her hugo apron and
lowering her glasses from her forehead to
her nose to obtain better look at her
husband and satisfy herself that he had
not suddenly lost his wits.
"Why, day after tomorrow is Christ
mas!"
GAS if didn't know that! Haven't
been making preparations for it for
more than 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 lust
now-been 80 busy, you KNOW" he
apoclogized, as If in reality he had been
guilty OF some great crime.
wei, it don't matter, Job; and 7
wouldn't worry about it, for T have taken
care OF everything for the blessed day
and Minerva will be home from teachirS
school. Poor child how she must buffer
this weather, sleeping in cold rooms
and like as not without feather-bed
and"
"It's oil 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 then?' questioned merry
voice, as pretty, rosy piece of mischief
came bounding into the room, shaking
the snc- from her long, golden curls,
and running up to her father, fairly
smothered him for o moment with kisses
and then darted away, laughing, to her
mother, twined her arms about her necI,
and greeted her US warmly.
''Jerusalen" 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 npnle
OF his eye and the ono 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 jnanty little cap, furs, cloak and
gloves, ''to think you have come safe
ly back to me once moro and"
"Now," interrupted thegirl, sI should
like to know what father was TALKING
about when L came in.'
$50 unexpected" said the mother
1--WE did not look for you until to-mor-
row night" ~
ooh, I had chance to ride home"
replied the girl, blushing, "and got per-
mission TO let out school But you were
talking about me, father?"
"Well, yes" he answered, with q mer.
ry twinkle in his eyes, ''and was about
to say when you came rushing in like a
young bear-abont to say, though mind
dldnt-that il you kept on feachin9
other peoples brats you wouldn't have
strength to teach Jour own-when Won
get them, and he laughed loudly ut the
changed expression Of her face.
"For shame" responded Minerva.
But LII pay you for that, father. Re.
member, am young lady now, and you
cant Joke with me with impunity. as
you once did, -
young lady! Whewl And I sup
pose some young gentleman put him.
sell to Immense trouble to bring Won
home through the cold and storm and
didn't forget to collect toll at all the
bridges. Aren't your lips sore, daugh-
ter?"
The girl colored otin moro deeply. and
bustled 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, Ill
be bound" F
"You know I never associate with
them, sne responded Indignantly. ..fHfiTT Iii.
Frank Emmons brought me home"
"O-h?" with q low whistle. s'Yes.
he Il nice and proper young man, and
has such pretty black hair and eyes, and
teeth and moustache, and such white
hands, and sings like half dozen angels
and gssll-s &c gently and tI.e cla gestle-
man 'arose and striitted mipcingly around
the room i'll -burlesqne 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.
II know" said her father, answering
the question for her. "Our daughter
has rolled him up in pink cotton and
sprinkled him with cologne and put him
in bandbox for fear he viii get mussed."
''He will be here Christmas Eve" in
terrupted Minerva, with n strong effort
Mt sobriety; che az l q number Of others.
l knew yon would not caro-, father, i'll
invited them. N'.' '.H-
"Not l." answered the old rann heart
lily, and talzing the curly head between
his broad palms he drew her tenderly to
him and kissed the rosy and dimpled
checks. =. You are truly our one lamb.
and everything win some day be yours.
Yes. you did phtfectly right, and It viii
be pleasant to have tho house filed with
young folks and have q TonaiuR. merry
time. That is how Christmas ought to
be haS,i-"
eve are going to have tableaur
virdnts, and one Of them win surprise
you, father"
He was that already, and had about as
much conception Of what was intended
as of tho lucid (i) explanations of Her
bert Spencer of the Darwinian theory.
and for him TO have repeated the words
with the French accent given by hig
Child would have been an inter ;:nI,aSai-
bility, so he pretended knowledge, ahook
his head sngely, gave q vpry knQMin4