The Brookhaven leader., 1884-12-25

wei, L IN blessed! we re ADDING It
right up to the handle"
While sis lowered round the fire, for
fear OF an unruly coal upsetting the
cherished coflce-pOt, Joe drew from
some hidden resource a lemon and two
Jumps of sugar. After slicing the
lemon he dropped it along with the
sugar into tomato can full of water,
and having stirred the beverage with
his pcu-knife gravely licked the blade
to see if it was all right Then, as he
turned the butter-tub into table,
covering it with a piece of sacking
marked in large black letters: This
Side Up" he remarked:
There isn't another teller as I'd in
vitc to this air Christmas Eve shindy
but you, sis. There's lots on 'em as
nd be glad to come; it isn't every day
as they gifts such treat"
ooh, Joe, it's jess lovely" answered
sis, with an admiring glance at the
spread that nearly resulted in the col
lapse of the coflee-pot, which took Il
notion just then to execute a 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 4
broken bit of a blue china plate, whilst
an orange sliced into as many pieces
as possible graced half wooden but
ter platter. The chief features, how
ever. were very small plum cake and
a ditto mince pie. The cake, placed
upon the upturned bottom of a red col
lar-boX, occupied the middle of the
table, a tiny American flag stuck in its
center. The lemonade, thanked by
two oyster shells, was for want of space
consigned to the floor. while the candle
llickcrcd itself into little gullieS down
the sides of the ginger beer bottle that
did duty as a candlestick, perhaps in
its anxiety for the feast to begin.
Whether it should be a pie or cake
had been the important question, and
they had at last split the difference by
investing five of the ten cents in cake
and the other five in a pie.
1t had been a large sum for Joe to
spend in luXuries, not many tens find
ing their way to his pocket; in fact, it
was his last cent, but he was perfectly
satisfied with the result. and ! 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
Can old oyster can serving for cup),
and the great event of the evening the
cake was to be cut.
Here, sis, you cut it, women always
does" and Joe showed the pen-knife
toward his companion, and she, per-
fectly well aware of the importance of
the occasion, knit her little brow and
measured off the cake exactly with her
finger before. placing the knife to it.
Hold on, SIS, till | make a speech. y
This as sis was about to help to the
dessert. 'It's always done when they
brings on the pie and cake" So say
ing Joe reflled the oyster shells with
lemonade, and having placed the tat
tered remains of his hat firmly upon
the back of his head, he struck an atti-
tude that drew from sis lips long
drawn oh! and began with:
Ladies' and gentlemen"-
"Why, Joe, there ain none-there' s
only me and you,' interrupted sis.
at don't make no odds, they always
say it if there amt no rich round, -"
and Joe, with don't bother" contin-
ued 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 establishment
at this new accomplishment in her
friend. meekly obeyed; Joe continuing
with: (which is an out and outer, if |
do say it myself, and-and-' Here
Joe stirred the lemonade, but not find
ing an idea there, but out with, ''Oh,
I'll cut it short; here's a jolly Christ
mas and-a big hunk of pudden. -
Dropping into his seat upon the floor
he added, patronizingly, Nov, sis,
you must make a speech, too
"Oh! l couldn't, joe" exclaimed
the little girl.
Eyes, you can, too-it's easy enough.
lilly did at Jim's party, and she ain t
half as pretty as YOU replied Joe, en-
couragingly.
Did she?" answered sis. Then,
perhaps-Ill try if you promise not to
laugh
''All right, go ahead. Here, take a
sip of lemonade; it will sort of put the
pluck inter yer" and Joe pushed the
tomato can towards her.
Rising and shaking out her little
worn dress, sis placed her arms AKIN
DO. She remembered seeing n woman
doing it once, who was talking to big
crowd.
Ladies' and gentlemen" said sis,
81 am so very much glad that l was
invited to this beauter-ful treat, with
such a lovely plum cake, l hopes Joe
will have one next Christmas Eve"
Hear! hearr' called out Joe, there
by causing sis, in her confusion, to add
hurredly:
MANY happy returns of the day,
amen"
"Hurray!" shouted Joe, ''it's better
nor Tilly's ten times" at which words
sis reseated herself, blushing with pleas
ure and feeling, perhaps the least speck
pulled up at her success. Poor little
waif, it was something new for her to
receive praise.
The speeches having been given to
their entire satisfaction, Joe felt his
duty as host somewhat relaxed, and,
leaning back against the side of the
packing-cases he remarked carelessly:
What do you think of my pictures,
sis?"
They're jess lovely, Joe; where did
you get emp" replied sis, trying to sip
the lemonade from her oyster shell, Just
as she had seen ladies of her aoquaint-
ance take their saucers full of tea
"Oh, | picked EN- up round about.