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

ooh, of coursels said May, "else how
could it be a Christmas -tree?"
Sure enough!" said Mr.. Stanley.
May now went up to the tree and
took down first pretty necktie for
Will made ont of some of her bits OF
silk.
why, that is just the very thing
want, said Viii, amazed. "How did
you know that, you witch? and who
made it,"
Jeanne and T. said May.
NO May made it most every bit,
said Jeanne. Il don't know how"
Next came pair of warm red mittens
for Harry.
Jean made these said May. q
can't knit"
Well, 50 they went on. Mrs. Stanley
had pretty pin cushion for her bureau;
Mr.. Stanley a reat bag for tobacco:
Johnny a pair OF wristlets TO keep his
wrists warm. Each of the children
had a little bag of nicely cracked
hickorE-nuts. beautiful rcd apple
and a few sticks of molasses candy.
The girls had nothing; they had been
so busy they never thought OF them,
selves.
When the presents We're all distrib-
uted, and the children were busy eat
ing nuts and candy, and having merry
time naming apple-seeds, and doing
other things that May taught them,
Mrs. Stanley stole ont, and went back
to the kitchen to her dish-washing.
But something was the matter, for she
moved more slowly than ever before;
she let the water run over, put the
soap into the milk cup, and made vari-
GUS other blunders. She was thinking.
And when all the family were in bed
that night, and she and Mr.. Stanley
were sitting alone by the fire, she spoke
her thoughts.
John, that tree has set me a-think-
ing. We amt doing Just right by our
children. It's all work and no play,
and their growing old and sober before
their time We're forehanded enough
now to let up on them little"
you're right. mother sail Mr..
Stanley. I've been thinking the same
thing myself That little gal, with her
pretty, lady-like ways, does make me
think SO much of her mother, only t
want natural to her to he SO down
hearted as the little one has been. But
see her tonight! Ideclare I'd 10 any
thing almost to keep that happy face
on her. What shall We do, Sally?"
well, said Mrs. Stanley, her face
unwontedly bright with new thoughts,
"it isn't $ o'clock yet, and I've been
thinking if you d go to the village and
buy few things to put by their beds
for Christmas it would be good. Chill
dren think SO much of such things" she
added, half apologetically.
SO it would and I'll do it, wife"
said Mr.. Stanley, taking his boots ont
of the corner, and Fastening to put
them on. Make out your list, and I'll
go down to kenedy's. He don't shut up
till O."
Kenedy's was country store, where
you could buy everything, from a nee
die to threshing- machine, and about
8 O'Clock Mr.. Stanley came home with
a market-basket full of things. There
was a gay merino dress for Jennie, a
pair of skates for May, a new knife for
Will, sled and a picture-book for each
Of the boys.
There was, beside these, a package
OF real store candy, some raisins. and
down under tie whole, where Mrs.
Stanley could not see it, a neat dark
dress for her, which Mr.. Stanley had
bought to surprised her.
Well, everybody was surprised the
next morning, you may be sure, and
after the breakfasts of which little was
eaten-Will went out and killed a tnr
key. Jeanne and May put on bic
aprons and helped; VIII chopped
stuffing and suet; and, for
the first time in their lives the children
had a real Christmas dinner-pium.
pudding and all.
That was the beginning Of new life
in the plain farmhouse Little by lit
tie, books found their way to the table,
an easy chair or two found their way
into the rooms, pictures made their APP
pearance on tao walls, and, in time,
wing was added to the house After
awhile neat-handed farmers daughter
came to help Mrs Stanley Shrubberv
came up in the yard, vines be-
gan TO grow over the windows, and
the fence had new coat of paint Now
that she was not always tired out, Mrs.
Stanley began to go out among her
neighbors; friendly visits succeeded,
then a tea-party. VIII joined the book
club in the village, and Mrs. Stanley
invited them to meet at her house in
turn, and, in fact, some innocent pleas
ures came into these Woodworking
lives, and all owing, as Mr.. Stanley
would say, holding the bright, happy
May on his knee, TO this little girls
Christmas tree"
----------=