The Somerset herald. [volume] (Somerset, Pa.) 1870-1936, 1882-12-20
A MERRY CHRISTMAS.
BY HELEN FORREST GRAVES.

| int, Ulu ideulOutu OnIlstiild'
weather !"
That is what Mr.. Miggles, the
tavern keeper, called it, as he stood
rubbing his bands before the blaze
ut the huge back log, that had up
held the tailest pine IN all the forest:
Ia Maine but few brief months
ago.
A philosopher might have CLEAN
ed valuable matter out of this tact
but MIR Misgles was not a philoso-
pher.
He took heavens gifts as they
came, and did not puzzle his head
as to their why's and wheretores
AMI he liked cold Wind and deep
snow at Christmas, because it was
good for business.
Dreadful weatherm the stage
driver called 1t, as he sat, drlfted
up, on his box, like polar bear in
the midst OF an avalanche his head
down, his withered hands 80 numb
that he could hardly hold the reins,
and the snow pricking and tingling
round his face, like SO mary needles
with patent points.
"Cruel weather." as the Widow
Pomeroy, who had no wood left, and
whose barrel of meal was at the low
est possible ebb, phrased it.
Superb weather !" as Miss ST.
John, up at St. John Hall, who was
dying for a good, old fashioned
coast down hill" declared.
People look at things through
such different lenses.
The stage brought in three or four
guests for the Red Owl Tavern that
night-Mr. Jessup, the drummer,
who, with his bag of samples, had
intended to make his way to War
wick, the next post Office town, but
was belated by the violence of the
storm; two ladies in the dress of
some Christian Sisterhood, who
were en- route for the new hospital at
Plumsbore' and Peleg Pepper, who
had been numbering in New Hamp-
shire, with a gang of ether stalwart
giants, and was now on his way to
spend the Christmas week at his
home, in the Maine wilderness.
Mr.. Pepper was a modern Hercu-
les, in a faded and ragged great coat,
red silk handkerchief, tied brigand-
wise over his ears, and hat that
was an outrage to civilization, so
worn. battered, and generally dilap-
ida,ed was it. He hung back sheep
ishlv from the circle around the
fire.
II amt none of your fine folk,
Squire" said he, in reply to the
landlords hospital entreaties. I'm a
backwoodsmaiI, | he I'd rather set
in the back kitchen along of the
he p. Squire no offense to you"
So honest PeIeg was allowed to
keep in the background.
Sister Serenica looked with un-
easy glances at Sister Bertina.
IL hope it is all Tight" said she.
But he has villainous face, }"
whispered Sist,r Bertha.
There were highwavmen in the
White Mountains last summer"
suggested Sister Serenica.
''On, but this is such an out-of-the
way place" urged Sister Bertina /;
''and the landlord has a good, hon.
est face
Very true,n said Sister Serenica.
"Tut the man may have confeder-
ates bid out in those hemlock woods.
I'm little uneasy about the hun
dred dollars We are to deliver TO the
head nurse at the hospital"
Dear. dear !" said Sister Bertina,
with little shudder, I'm sorry you
put the thing into my head, Seren-
lea. Now you speak of it. he has a
expression of countenance.
And do you observe how he chuck
les to himself every little while, as
be sits out in that back kitchen and
stares at the fire? You may depend
that it's because he thinks he has US
at his mercy"
Mr.. Jessup, the travelling sales
man, did not exsctly approve of the
looks of the lumberman either.
81 hope, landlord" said he. rub
bing his white, scented hands over
the fire, that our friend out there is
all right"
"Eh? ?" said the Boniface. "Why
she uldn't he be all right? He's one
o. them New Hampshire lumber
fellows. comm here to spend Christ
mas. They very often come this
way"
He looks rather shady to me-"
Jessup.
The landlord, who did not under
stand city slang, stared.
The guests were ali at supper-a
savory supper it was, too, for the |
wife was the crack cook
Of the Observation-Disclosures, in rush
I'd snow-powdered vision from the
outer world. painting and breath
ess.
Have any of you seen anything
If a little girl in a white plush dress
md blue ribbons 2" said he. The