The Cambria freeman. [volume] (Ebensburg, Pa.) 1867-1938, 1880-12-24


, will get mussed." "
He will be here Christmas Eve" inter
. TEpted Minerva, with strong effort at so
briefly; 'he and number OF others knew
you would not care. father, II Invited them. ''
Not !, ," answered tbs old man heartily,
! and taking the curly head between his broad
palms he drew her tenderly to him gnd kiss
ed the rosy and dimpled cheeks. you are
truly our one lamb. Yes, you did perfectly
right and il will be pleasant to have the
house filed with young folks and have 3
rOusing, merry time. That is how Christmas
1 ought to be kept
''We are going to have t1blea,s1 uiuaHts, and
one OF them will surprise you, father
He was that already, and had about SIS
! much conception Of what was intended IS OF
I the lucid % explanation Of Herbert 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
I impossibiiity, so he pretended knowledge,
shook his head sagely, gave very knowing
I wink, but kept silent and soon found that
: pressing business REQUIRED his absence.
But the doting mother was taken into full
! confidence, and she and Minerva had long,
earnest and apparently deeply interesting
/ conversation upon the subiect-Ohe that con-
! tinued for over an hour; indeed it had not
! concluded when the old man returned, for
/ he caught the name Of the minister and ask
( ed:
/ ''NYhst are you going TO have Dominic Mar
tin here for. child ?''
7 "Oh, Just because like him, and his wife
I IS such dear old lady, and they will be very
lonely on such day, with their children all
! married aud away from home. So l thought
: yos would ike to see them, and if he is here
. everything viii be sure to 20 right, and IL is
/ Christmas, you know, and"
! Hold on, for mercy's sake ~ exclaimed
/ her father, cor you won't have breath enough
Left TO eat your dinner, and that would be
! very bad
But you wanted TO know, and"
'4 on have told me sufficient to satisfy any
reasonable mortal man, lie said as he took
his place at the table and began loading her
/ plate as II she was in danger OF starvation for
: month.
Dinner overt was one Of the substantial
old-iaSnloned kind, though the mother had
added the richest Of dessert de!icacies to
tempt her child, as If there was no such thing
as dyspepsia in the land-Rnd the Deacon
took sn easy chair by the broad hearth, light
ed his pipe, and between the curling clouds
ot smoke resumed the subject Of the morning
conversation.
How many are you going to have, daugl-
ter 90 he questioned.
''Al the boys and girls
Boys FIRST, every time with your sex, and
girls with the other he laughed, "Dut ali
means how many
We'll ireilectiyoly,) from fifty to seventy
five"
Gracious the old house viii scarcely hold
them, and viii be certain TO he torn down
with their Tomping. But what does mother
say2"
'Oh, she is perfectly satisfied, aren't YOU
mother dear 2" and look Of understanding
passed between parent and daughter.
Then all / have to do is to help the riot
along FOR riot it viii be with 50 many young
. sters together But what was 1t you said you
were golnS to haye?"
"A tub'lO venang." was answered with the
broadest possible French accentation.
'Ah, YES, l remember, and nc dou5tit will
be grand.
Yes yes and fearful she should see how
much he was puzzled, he instantly changed
the subject and continued "Well, it will
IA ke 2 lot to feed 50 many boys and girls.
They are always hungry, and can devouT
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 calca-
latinC.'
well, they shan't 20 away hungry, II there
is enough in the land to feed them. I'll have
Mike kindle q fire under the big farm kettle,
and Kill lots OF chickens and turkeys and
send him for Mrs. Smith TO help dress them,
and when 80 over to town tomorrow III
bring home Suue oysters and-wsll, any thing
else You need to have good time
"Oh how much thank You, dear father
said Minerva impulsively springing to his
side and kissing him. "Y on are tins kindest
and best father in all the world ~
Cali talk, =" he laughed, though rare pleas
ure was visible in his face, ''and You'll get
Married 90 exclaimed the girl suddenly
growing sshv pale. "N ever I meRn,' she
continued, Win her face flushing to the deep
est crimson, u mean that III never forget
"Whew," he whistlcd, Il never saw the
wind chop around moro suddenly. Catch
girl saying she'll never get married They
would as soon think Of not being handsome
- In
blush SO. It's al right and proper, and the
natural condition Of w0mankind."
''Tben, asked she, archly and coquettishly,
standing before him with one little finger
thrust between her red lips in mock modesty
and bashfulness. You wouldn't object TO
my getting married? :"
''No, no. to a good, honest, industrious
man. Why shouldI? 4 human heart, and
especially Of your sex, without love, IS as
good as wrecked No, my darling find a
good man whom you can love with your whole
heart, and who loves you the same, for ! am
old-fashioned enough to believe in such
: things and III not only give my consent but
my blessing, something worth having for
start in life and such wedding as will ma ke
the old rafteTs ring
And suppose, father" questioned the
blooming girl, half way between smiles and
+ tears, suppose it should happen to be Frank
-Hr. EUmonS, l mean?''
"Humph l don't know Re is"
/ Gust as nice young fellow as ever lived, ~
inteTpOseu his wife.
+ Eyes. yes. l can't say aught against him,
( ! know" laughed Minerva at his confu-
sion when you really come to think Of Civ
( ing me up, il is too much. That's 1t.
! al believe You are right, child. But must
+ 60 and see about an extra supply OF prOvis-
+ ions Gracious it viii be fortunate If we
/ don't have famine"
lie wiped away the mist from his old eyes
! brought there by the thought his daughter
70 10 lr-1v
( the very situation Ee had with the touch of
/ rugged eloquence defended, and fastened TO
/ call the man-of-ali-w work and give him instruc-
tions. Minerva has come back, Nike" he
said "and is going to have some kind Of =
J blowout on Christmas Eve. She calls it a
/ tabler veyaught, or something Of the kind.
/ "a fwhat 90 questioned the Trishman
scratching his head in the most puzzled man
ner.
"That's what sticks me, Nike though I
did not lst her know *. Anyhow there is TO
/ be some kind Of female circus, and the an
imals will want plenty to cat"
Blessings on the bright eyes Of her, and
/ its ivrything on the old farm I'll Kill il she
+ wants it, the daTlin'" "
Yes, 1 believe yOu. That girl seems to
have faculty Of twisting every enc around
/ her finger, and"
"Divil a won more than her ouId fsyther, "
said Mike as be proceeded to obey the orders
/ he had received, "an' III murther lsshuns OF
/ poultry" well knowing that his share of the
feast would be 10 stinted one.
/ To i late hour the making ready was con-
tnued, and all went TO bed tired and happy.
And the next day was a continual hustle
/ Extra help was summoned, and the Kitchen
/ Ares roared and the immense Dutch oven
glowed and plenty ruled triumphant, while
/ the old deacon was in his glory bringing sup
/ plies from town and making himself usefu
as well as most pToYokingly ofncious.
So the day passed and the night came, with