The Vancouver independent. (Vancouver, W.T. [Wash.]) 1875-1910, 1882-01-12
Vancouver Independent.
MADGE'S CHRISTMAS STORY.

hbtc.
Roast pork reminds me of canaries,"
quoted Harold, and there was shout at Aunt
Rates expense.
1t was Christmas Eve, and we had been sit
ting round the fire popping corn and talking
the amount Of nonsense that might be expected
from a crowd of young people at home for the
holidays.
Aunt Kate was not given to being funny, and
whom the laugh had subsidized we looked up
with considerable interest to see what mood
could have prompted this incomprehensible re-
mark.
Her face wore perfectly serious expression,
however, and she repeated the speech with con-
vincing solemnity.
Aunt Kate" cried Meg, "I am beginning
. to have grave doubts as to your sanity. Now
are you going to relieve my mind?"
''Well, my dear" replied she, :" it is long
story about something that happened years
ago-I shouldn't like to say how many-but
every Christmas Eve brings the recollection of
the one freezing horror Of my life wildly to
my mind"
We sat little closer to each other as Aunt
Kate began her story.
II was once asked to Join a party of about
twenty, who agreed to spend Christmas togeth-
er away out in the country. The farmhouse
chosen was we'll known to us all as the most
and the farmer and his wife were tie jolliest eff
old people.
The Esd of December found us muddy but
jubilant crowd at the end of the long
drive from the station to the
farm. We had never any of us been there in
winter before, and the low rambling house with
its struggling barns, sheds and stables, had
more than usually disjointed appearance. The
leafess trees looked positively uncanny, and
the old familiar aspect seemed gone from
everything, and as We stood there on the porch
looking about us at the strangeness of it all
one Of those queer inde6nable chills crept over
us. and started nervously when Daisy Nor
rison who had walked to the cor
ner Of the veranda called us to
come and see Prisoners Mountain
all on fire. This mountain rose directly be-
hind the farm, was thickly covered with brush
and received its name from the convict prison
built at its foot the other side from us, about
fifteen miles away.
We followed her quickly, and burst into
laugh at seeing the mountain blazing with
holly in the last rays Of the winter sun.
The bright little berries looked SO gay among
the evergreen, and gave such instant life and
color to the scene that our spirits, momentum
ly dampened, rose again.
Where on earth is Grandma? asked Myra.
Everybody called the little old lady Grand
ma" though she had never chick nor child Of
her own, but she was so round and comfort
8Die, Anu Sfduu-uOlu anu iONtQ Ill young
people 90 dearly.
As Myra spoke. we heard her come busting
out, and with kisses for us all-boys and girls.
she spologized for not meeting at the door.
Z" There's Hiram" she chirped ''just that
stupid he took the horses round to the barn.
and never came to say You were here, and with
the deafness being little worse this winter
didn't hear the wagon wheels, and just saw
Daisy's red bow from the kitchen window this
minute"
She hurried us into the house. helped us off
with our wet wraps and we warmed our frozen
toes at the big open fireplace while she was get
ting supper.
Did / describe the girls? Well. let me
see, there was Daisy-bright clever, fas-
cinating, and with an odd sort of beauty made
up of brown skin, wide gray eyes, and lot
Of tawny, curling hair: Myra Berger, large and
fair, with vast amount of dignity in her slow
movements, and stolid manner that she in
herited from her German father; little Carrie
Scott, white and wee and winsome; Julia Nor
rison, who was q smaller edition Of Daisy:
Rose Lester, startling brunette beauty; and
her inseparable Harriet. or. called her
Hally Gorham the Cobb girls, twins, and
like as two peas-blue eyes, brown hair and
little turned-up noses, Aunt Winifred, who
had come to chaperone us, and brought To-day
her youngest and l. Kate Steele. Our gentle
men we're all nice fellows, Of course good
looking enough and just ten Of them, a. there
II guess we won't wait for Hiram" said
grandma. You must be all hungry after that
cold ride, and he'll be dropping in now most
any minute"
30. in obedience to her suggestion and ouI
own inward convictions. we swarmed round
the big. long table. We had eaten straight
through cold ham, chicken and hot biscuits to
napjacks and maple syrup before Hiram ap-
peared, and then, greeting US with, .There
seems to be more talking than eating round
here" he took his seat at the head of the table
and beamed at grandma over the big castor
"see anybody at the station, Hiram" quer-
led grandma.
"We-e-ll, yes, did, slowly replied the old
gentleman. II saw one Of the officers from the
prison. There's been q revolt over there. he
says; night before last the jailer was shot and
some Of the convicts bolted They've got them
back. all except two,and they've dissppesred
leaving no tracks, but it's supposed they're hid
ing in the mountain"
Mercy cried Carrie, "do you suppose
there's any danger Of their coming down here?"
"Prsps they might, and then again DR. APPS
they mightnt" replied grandma oraculariy,
and Aunt winifred gathered Teddy close TO
her, with the apparent idea that il they came
81 all it would be especially to destroy her
baby.
But, grandpa laughed reassuringly, and
said: They ii keep pretty clear Of civilization
'still, he added, iii you girls 20 picking holly-
berries and greens and things, just you stay in
side the fences. don't say there's any danger
even, but thoss convicts don't like anybody
much that happens TO see EN-"
Tne gentlemen scOfTed openIv M the idea of