The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1883-11-17


both alone in the world--widow and
Old maud. Do you think that we can
do better than TO eat our christmas
turkey together2''
I'm mortal glad to see ye." said the
cid woman. And that's 4 fine fat bird,
II it aia't SO extra large. Uranberries,
too, and loaf O. company calkel 1 de-
clare to goodness l don't know when
I've tasted cake beforel And I smell
real gunpowdor tea; and as 1 live,
there's a paper o. white loaf sugar.
But p'praps. my dear, If you put log
on the fire, l shouldn't feel quite so
chill and creepy along my poor old
bonesl
And Ruth Harper built up the fire,
brushed up the hearth, and went out
into the woods for branches of cedar,
and spruce, and hemlock. which she
disposed OF over the shrunken door
ways. aud above the mantel, and around
the wlndow-castings, until the dreary
little room looked like forest bower in
transformation scene.
She put on the little saucepan of cram
berries to stew, and busted herself in
preparing the turkey, with plenty of
thyme and bread-crumb stufflng, Tor the
oven. while old Mrs. Capped kept up a
careless stream OF talk.
How badly the world in general had
used her. How careless the widow
Perkins was Of her wants although the
town allowed her one dollar and a
quarter a month for excepting an eye"
on the solitary inhabitaut of the noun
tain cottage,
How her nephe y, Isaac, to whom she
had caused the widow Perkins to write.
volunteering Christmas visit, had
speedily sent back word that every room
in the house was occupied, and that
her visit would be highly inopportune.
How Bill Risley's wife, her cousin
once removed, had taken no sort of
notice of the letter which had been dis
patched to her, asking for something to
buy new winter shawl.
Nobody cares nothing about me no
more" said Mrs. Capped very sorrow
FULLY.
'But I care" said Ruth softly.
Here, indeed, was some one more for
lorn and more solitary than herself
some one for whom she, powerless as
she was, could help to make merry
Christmas.
cit is as easy for me to go back and
forth to the fac DRY from here as from
Mrs. Liffert's. will come ana stay
with you, Mrs. Capped. have a very
nice grey shawl which L don't often
wear. l can do very we'll with my fur
edged sacque, ii you will take the shawl,
Aud you don't know what good cook
l can be. May 1 come, Mrs. Cappel2"
My dear, said the old woman, with
tears in her pleased eyes, 81 do believe
that Heaven has sent you to me, / was
just beginnin' to despair, but now it's
all right again.
Christmas came, all wrapped and
mantled in pearly snow, and Mrs. Cap
pePs lonely cabin was glowing with
freight and warmth, while she herself,
III clean cap trimmed with black rib
bons, sat basking before the blazipglogs,
and Ruth Harper, with bunch of scar
let berries pinned into her black hair,
was dishing up the Christmas dinner,
when she glanced out OF the window and
gave little start.
'Some one is comingl' she said very
quickly.
Mrs. Capped stretched her neck to
see.
"Well, 1 declare" said she. NY
old eyes isn't as good as they used to
be, and the sun on the snow makes a
dreadful glare, but believe that's our
John. He's come dack. He's made his
/ fortune. Our John, my son Martins
only boy, as we all s'posed was dead
and buried long ago."
She began to tremble all over. Her
eyes filed with tears.
Don't leave me, dear Ruth, " she faIt-
cred, keep hold of my hand. For I'm
very old, and all this seems like a
dream"
In another minute John Capped dashed
into the room, his hesUy boots sodden
with melting snow, his brown, bearded
face flushed with the exercise of climb
ing the mountain-sIde.
Don't DE frightened, granny" said
he, cheerlly; ''it's only me. And I've
fancied how this bright fre-side would
look all the way up the mountain.
why" CHANGING around him, "this
is Christmas cheer, indeed. And there
is Ruth Harper with you, looking exact
ly as she looked ten years ago."
"Haye you made your fortune2" said
Ruth, trying to smile as he wrung her
hand.
mot bit of it." said John. with a
great breezy laugh, "but I've come in.
to little learning of common sense. ]
decided to leave off mining and to come
home to work granny Cappe's farm
among the mountain pastures. How
say you, Ruth-is it wise or not?"
Every wise, said Ruth. "Only is n
not rather late to arrive at such a con.
clusion?"
lis it2" said Capped wistfully. SIS il
too late to start the world anew Toe
late to ask you, Ruth, if you will stand
shoulder to shoulder with me in nv
battle with fate? Look into my ewes.
Ruth, and answer me-"
DINNER is ready" said the factory
girl shyIy.
"Bnt you must give me my reply
hrst, insisted Capped relentlessly, hold.
ing both her hands in his.
What shall tell him, grandmaP
SAID huthi laughing and cCloring, VET
making no attempt TO Withdraw her
hand.
Tell him yes, " said Mrs. Capped.
And what could Ruth do but obey
this nouble behest?
Ruth Harper did not go back to the
factory, She was homeless no longer.
They built an addition to the little
cottage and began life as farmer and
farmers wife. And all things prospered
with them; and in ten years john Cap.
pei was a rich man.
ut was all my good luck getting suct
a wife, said he exultantIy.
at was all our good look In becom
ing engaged on Christmas Day" sale
Ruth.
And OF all the holidays that stud tn,
| 90 ls,A