The Anderson intelligencer. [volume] (Anderson Court House, S.C.) 1860-1914, 1880-12-23
A Christmas TabIeau Viyat.
BIZ WILLIAM Il. BusHNK1n.

Il was favorite expletiye OF good
Deacon Parks when excitement got the
:etter of his usual placid way, and his
life looked up IN astonishment as he
came stamping into the house, slammed
the door after him and stirred up the fire
mil the hickory blazed and roared like
IN incipient volcano. $50 p
: ssGracious! What is the matter now,
Jol, Pr 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 Q better look at her
husband and satisfy herself that he had
moi suddenly lost bis wits.
9-'sWhy, day sitter o.morrow is Christ
mas" e;
GAS Il I didn't know that! Haven't I
been making preparations for. it for
more than q week? Catch me without
miI.ce-pies; and fried cakes and cranberry
Jelly and great, bouncing turkey" and
she smiled complacently at the thought
ofthe,good things already prepared
slAnd never thought Of it until just
noyr-been so busy, you know" he
apologized, ,as il in reality he: had; been
guilty of some great crime.
sfWell, It don't matter, job; and I
wouldn't worry about il, forI have taken
care of every thing for the blessed day
and Minerva viii beihome from teaching
school Poor child how she must suffer
this weather, sleeping in cold rooms
and like as not without 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
seWhat thenY questioned 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 r,stwimeds herr arms about her neck
and greeted her as warmly.
stJerusalem!" exclaimed the old man
as .so0n 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
A'Ssfsns :Msl lssa, precious lamb, whispered
the fond otha, through tears 81 happi-
ness. as with busy fingers she removed
the jaunty little cap, furs, cloak and
gloves, seto think you have come safe
" back to me once more and"
esNow, interrupted the girl, sI should
like to know what father was talking
about when ] came in."
$50 unexpected" said the mother.
'eWe did not look for you until to-mor-
row night" 81 j,
"Oh, I hnd q chance to ride home, !"
replied the girl, blushing, land got per-
mission to let out school. But you were
talking about me, father?"
'sWel, yes" he answered, with mer-
~ twinkle in his eyes, "and I was about
to say when You came rushing in like q
young bear-abont to say, though mind,
+ 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 I'll pay you for that, father. Re:
member, I am young lady now, and you
can't joke with me with impunity, as
you once did"
ga young lady? Whew! And I 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 lips sore, daugh-
ter?"
The sirl 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:
sWho was it, child? Some Of them
scape-grace clerks from Beaverton. I'll
be bound"
s.You know I never associate with
them," she responded Indignantly. s'Mr.
Frank Emmons brought me home"
"O-h?" with q low whistle. 'Yes,
he is 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 walks 80 gently" and the old gentle
mansaross and srutted 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.
sI 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 will get mussed.." ."
.He will be here Christmas Eve" In
terrupted Minerva, with a strong effort
at sobriety; she and number of others:
I knew you would not care, father, II 1
invited them"
"Not T." answered the old man heart
ily, and taking the curly head between
his broad palms he drew her tenderly to
him and kissed the rosy and dimpled
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 filed with
Young folks and have rousing, merry
time. That is how Christmas ought to
be kept"
"We are going to have ta6leauz
vivants, and one Of them will surprise
you, father
BE 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, 80 he pretended knowledge, shook
his heed sagely, gave very knqwina