Connecticut western news., 1883-12-19
VOL. XIII.

uuuGE u COuVeuloub hA-AO4O, SO Oh0 smoke was not so bad as it might have been. Then Sis produced bundle that she had hugged carefully under her arm during the long walk. Enrolling the old apron that was wrapped around it, she disclosed to view small battered coffee-pot. about an ounce of coffee and tiny package of brown sugar, observ- ing, with little womanly gesture:
 II knowed very well that a boy wouldn't never think of that; so I begged Mrs. Dike to give me the coffee pot. Isn't it nice, Joe ? and she was goiog to throw it away and got the coffee of woman, as I minds her baby some- times instead of the penny, and real nice grocery man let me scrape out sugar barrel. ''
 Here. all out of breath at such long speech for her, Sis made the coffee and sat it triumphantly upon the fire to boil, Joe exclaiming:
 "Well, I'm blessed we're doing it right up to the handle"
 
 fear of an unruly coal upsetting the cherished coffee-pot, Joe drew from some hidden resource lemon and two Jumps of sugar. After slicing the lemon he dropped it along with the sugar into 8 tomato can full of water, and having stirred the beverage with his pen-knife gravely licked the blade to see if it was all right. Then, as he turned the butter-tub into table, covering it with piece of sacking marked in large black letters, s'This Side Up," he re- marked:
 "There isn't another feller as I'd in- vite to this air Christmas Eve shindy but you, Sis. There's lots on 'em as 'ud be glad to come; it isn't every day as they gifts such treat"
 "Oh, Joe, it's jess lovely" answered Sis, with an admiring glance at the spread that nearly resulted in the collapse of the coffee-p which took 8 notion just then to execute dip.
 And Joe himself began to feel rather proud of his treat when everything was set forth. There was an apple cut into four quarters and arranged upon 8 broken bit of blue china plate, whilst an orange sliced into as many pieces as possible graced half of wooden butter platter. The chief features, however, were very small plum cake and ditto mince pie. The cake, placed upon the upturned bottom of red collar. box, oc- cupied the middle of the table, a tiny American flag stuck in it's centre. The lemonade, fanked by two oyster shells, was for want of space consigned to the floor, while the candle fickered itself into little gullies down the sides of the ginger beer bottle that did duty as candlestick, perhaps in it's anxiety for the feast to begin.
 Whether 1t should be pie or oaks: had been the important question, and they had at last split the difference by investing five of the ten cents in a cake and the other five in pie.
 It had been a large sum for Joe to spend in luxuries, not many tens finding their way to his pocket; in fact, it was his last cent, but he was perfectly satis- fled with the result and I do not believe there were two happier children in New York that night than they, when the coffee had been drunk to the last drop and pronounced "elegant" Gan old oyster can serving for cup), and the great event of the evening the cake was to be cut.
 "Here, Sis, y ou cut it, women always does," and Joe showed the penknife to- ward his companion and she, perfectly well aware of the importance of the oc- casion, knit her little brow and measured off the cake exactly with her finger be- fore placing the knife to it. "Hold on, Sis, till make speech. " This as sis was about to help to the dessert. 'It's always done when they brings on the pie and cake" So saying Joe reflled the oyster shells with lemon ade, and having placed the tattered re- mains Of his hat firmly upon the back of his head, he struck an attitude that drew from Sis's lips long drawn oh ! and began with:
 "Ladies and gentlemen"-
 ''Why, Joe, there ain't none--there's only me and you" interrupted Sis.
 ''It don't make no odds, they always Say it if there ain't no rich 'round," and Joe with, "don't bother," continued with:
 "We've met together at this air treat; now, Sis (this in an aside), you must say, Hear, hear," which order Sis, her blue eyes full of astonishment at this new accomplishment in her friend, meekly obeyed; Joe continued with "which is an out and outer, if do say it myself, and-and-" Here Joe stirred the lemonade, but not finding al idea there, burst out with, "Oh, I'll cut it short; here's a jolly Christmas and big hunk of pudden." Dropping into his seat upon the floor he added, patron izingly: 'Now, Sis, you must make { speech, too."
 ''Oh I couldn't, Joe," exclaimed tht little girl.
 "Yes, you can, too-it's easy enough lilly did at Jim's party, and she ain half as pretty as you be-" replied Joe encouragingly.
 "Did she ?" answered Sis. "Then perhaps-I'H try if you promise not t. laugh"
 "All right, go ahead. Here take sip of lemonade; it will sort of put tn pluck inter yer," ard Joe pushed tn . tomato can toward her.
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