Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1883-12-20

The out-room, you must know, VISA a
roughly-built room. little apart from
the house. It had a big open fire place
and huge kettle, and when there was
any big work, like making up the years
soap, or putting down the years supply
of salt pork, great fire was built there
and the out-room came into use.
WELL" said May, refectively, i
guess we can do it; we can trim il up,
you know"
How" asked Jeanne, to whom all
Christmas ways were unknown mys.
teries.
"Oh, I'll show you. We can gel
evergreens in the woods, and oh, some
of that lovely bitter-sweet, and l can
make paper flowers" May went on en-
Enthusiastically, as ideas rushed into hel
mind. I'VE can have it real pretty
but don't let's tell anybody a thing
about it. =
The next week was very busy one
to the two plotters. Every moment,
when out Of school, they were whisper
ing in corners, or engaged in some
mysterious work, which they would
hide if any one came near.
Mrs. Stanley was glad to see the first
cheerful look on the face Of the orphan,
and did not interfere SO long as the
girls kept out of her way. The boys
of whom there We're two younger and
one older than Jeanie were very Gu
rious, and Will-the older one-rather
teasing about it but ON the whole May
and Jeanne succeeded very well in keep
| ing their secret.
Two days before Christmas, Jeanne
followed her father as he started off in
the morning to the barn to feed the cat
tie. How she managed her teasing /
cannot say, but in short time she came
into the house radiant, gave mysteri-
Gus nod to May, and they at once dis
appeared upstairs.
Soon they stole down the back way,
armed themselves with brooms, mate
rails for a fire, and big nail with which
to lock the door, and slipped into the
| out-room.
1t was not a promising-looking place,
but they were young and enthusiastic
so Jeanne went to work to build up a
roaring fire, and May began with the
broom.
Well, they worked all day, harder
than ever before in their lives, and all
the next day, and when at last the
room was ready for company, it really
looked very pretty
The bare walls were ornamented
with wreaths of the gray bitter
sweet and evergreen boughs,
frightened by an occasional rose or lily
neatly made by May, of thin white
paper. The big kettle was transformed
into table by means of board or two
across the top. and white sheet spread
over all The two windows were cur
tanned with old newspapers, concealed
by branches of evergreen. In the CEN
ter of the room stood tub, and braced
up i'll it by stones and sticks of wood.
hidden by sprays Of green, stood very
nrattv evarcrreeO 4raa TTI,o,., ,,,,,,, -,
candles on it, for the united wisdom Of
the workers had not been able to COM
pass that But the bright Pickering
light of the fire was enough, and in
fact made just the right effect, as it did
not reveal too much.
On the tree were hung bits of bright
ribbon and other pretty things out of
Mays trunk-keepsakes from her old
playmates. These We're used just for
decoration. There were long strings
of popped-corn besides. There were
festoons about the branches, and among
them present for each one of the
family.
All this time, one of the girls had been
obliged to stay in the out-room every
moment to keep the door locked. for
the boys were Just wild to find out the
mystery. Mrs. Stanley had stopped in
her dreary round of drudgery-for this
home, you must know, was the temple
Of work-to ask what all the fuss was
about. But Jeanie told her that her
father said she might use the out-room
and she was too busy and tired to feel
much interest, so she said, well, she
didn't care so as they didn't do any
mischief
On the eyentful night. when
called to supper, May went into
the family-room, for Jeanne could
not tear herself away from contempla-
ton of the wonderful tree. To her it
was the embodiment Of everything
beautiful and enchanting in the world.
With no books but school-books, no
pictures, no papers, nothing beautiful
to be seen in that little grinding
prairie home, she had never even con
eeived of anything so lovely.
When at last they rose from the
table, May stopped at the door.
Aunt, she began timidly-for she
was rather afraid of the hard working
woman, whose sharp gray eyes seemed
to look through her, and whose thin
lips never opened but to make some
practical remark will you come over
with uncle and see our Christmas tree ?
Come, boys and she started off.
$50 that's what the young ones have
been up to, is it?' said Mr.. Stanley.
lighting his pipe. Come, mother, let's
go over and see what they've got. That
Nays the beater for plans if ever / SEE
one"
wall, said Mrs. Stanley, pushing
back the table that she had already
cleared, Il don't mind if | step over a
minute before | get out my dish-water
| never see Jane so took up as she has
been this week"
They went over to the out-room. The
boys were already there staring IN be
wilderment of wonder. May leaned
against the unique table, very tired, but