The Highland weekly news. [volume] (Hillsborough [Hillsboro], Highland County, Ohio) 1853-1886, 1880-12-23
the morning con


d" All the boys and girls. -
''Boys first, every time with your. sex
and girls with the other, he laughed
''but all means how many?"
''We1 collectively, from fifty to sew
enty-fYe."
'iGraciousI the old house. viii scarcely
hold them, and viii be certain to be tori
down. with their romping., But wha
does mother say?p .E -a
t"Oh, she is perfectly satisfied, aTen'
youmOther, desT ?" and look Of under
standing passed between parent anC
daughter. -e --t
Then all 7 have to- do is to help tht
riot along, for riot it, viii be with sOman7
youngsters together. But what was
you said you were going to have"
a tublo= veYang, " was answered witt
the broadest possible French accent
alton. GIG ar ,f
sAh, yes, I remember, and no doub
it wiz be grand 7" ~ 49, =
q think you win fnd it solemn
Eyes, yes, p and fearful she should SCI
how much he was puzzled, he instantly
changed the subject and continued
''Well, it viii take a lot to feed so many
boys and girls. They are always hungry,
and can a6levOUr more than so many
wolves. So, Hannah, I fear you haven't
provided one quarter enough, 80 .-.--'
'sYou are right, 7 responded his wife;
''since Our. pet told me about her plans
and how many would be here I have
been calculating" -
re- a''WelL, they shan't 90, away hungry,
Il there is enough in the land to feed
them. III have Nike kindle fire unde1
the big farm kettle, and kill lotsof chick
ems and turkeys, and send him for Mrs.
Smith to help dress them, and when ]
go over to town tomorrow I'll bring
home some oysters and-well, any thing
else you need to have a good time.
"0hl how much I thank you, dear
father, said Minerva, inpulsivelyspring-
ing to his side and kissing him. 'You
are the hndest and best father IN all the
world. -.-7gs Hra
CAL talk, he laughed, though rare
pleasure was visible IN his face, ''and
you'll get married some day and forget
all about me,
Married p exclaimed the girl, sud
denly growing ashy pale. sfNeverl /
mean, " she continued, with her face
flushing to the deepest crimson, 81 mean
that I'll never forget you
'FWhew,p he Whistled, "I never saw
the wind chop around more suddenly.
Catch a girl saying she'll never gel
married. They would as soon think Of
not being handsome and having pretty
dresses. But you needn't blush so. It's
all right and proper, and the natural con
dihon Of Womankind.
'gIhen, asked she, archly an coqUet-
ishly standing before him with one little
finger thrust between herred lips in mock
mOdesty and bashfulness. You wouldn't
object to my getting mRrred?"
'tNo, not to good, honest, industrious
man. Why should I? A 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 I am Old-fashioned enough tC
believe in such things, and III not only
give my consent but my blessing, some
thing worth having FOR a start in life, and
such Q wedding as viii make the old
rafters ring.
And suppose, father, questioned the
blooming girl, ha3 way between smiles
and tears, suppose it should happen tc
be Frank-BIr Emmons, L mean?"
'Humphl I don't know. He is"
Just as nice a young fellow as evel
lived. interposed his wife.
''Yes, yes. Ican't say aught againsf
him, but.
81 know, laughed Minerva at his con.
fusion, f'when you really come to think
of giving me up it IS too much, That's
'I believe you are right, child. But
must go and see about an extra supply o.
provisions. Gracious! it viii be fOrtu.
nate if we don't have a famiue.
He wiped away the mist from his ole
eyes, brought there by the thought bis
daughter had suggested; tried to whistle
bravely down the very situation he haC
with the touch Of rugged eloquence de
Tended, and hastened to call his man-Of
aIl-work and give him instructions. "N1i
nerva has come back, Nike, he saiC
"and is going to have some kind of {
blowout on Christmas Eve, She callsiti
tabler vevaught, or something Of the
kind.
ga fwhat % questioned the Irishman
scratching his head In the most puzzled
manner.
'That's what sticks me, Nike, thougl
I did not let her know it. Anyhow ther
is to be some kind Of female circus, anC
the animals VIII want plenty to eat
Blessings on the bright eyes Of her
and its ivrything on the old farm I'll kil
if she wants it, the daTln.
"Yes, I believe you. That girl seem
to have a faculty Of twisting every on
around her finger, and"
''Divil q won more thin her Ould fayth
er, said Mike as he proceeded to ODE,
the orders he had received, can muthe
Iashins Of poultry" well knowing tina
his share Of the feast would be no stintet
one.
To a late hour the making ready wa
continued, and all went to bed tired bu
happy. And the next day was a cOn6nua
hustle. Extra help was summoned, an,
the kitchen fires roared, and the i'm
mense Dutch oven glowed and plent.
ruled triumphant, while the old deacoI
was In his glory bringing supplies from
town and making himself useful as wei
as most provOkngly oficious.
So the day passed and the night caml
with everything ready for the grand
time.
Early the house began to be filed will
a merry company, and were welcomed b.
father, mother and daughter, the latte
resplendant in robes Of feecy white
abundantly trimmed with soft, floating
laces and IOOped with artificial flowers
while natural roses, fringed with myTtl,
and smilax, were half hidden amid he
golden hair and pulsated upon her Joy
Ously thrObbing bosom.
For an hour there appeared to be
ceaseless Ginning Of sleigh-bells, anC
rosy, laughing loads deposited at the
door. Indeed, so many we're the team
that Mike was frantic to know what t.
| do with them. But the Deacon believed
In ''the more the merrier'' principle, anC
kept every one busy and contented. Ye
for all the gaily dancing and singing
company, a shade Of perpleuty now ant
/ then crossed his face. He had not sOlveC
the mystery Of the tGbyeal5, and it hunt
| upon him as a troublesome nightmare
For hours the house rang and tremble'
upon its strong foundation. 1t was
veritable beehive of fun and frOlic, anr
many soft cheek took on deeper rose
from stolen kisses; many an innOcen
heart bounded more swiftly from the en-
circling arm and many pair OF ear
tingled from the slappiEg Of white hand
in payment for saucy jest or plfere'
caress.
But good, buxOm dame Hannah ha'
almost as much pride In her cooking a
in her one dear lamb, and when tn