The Republican. [volume] (Oakland, Md.) 1877-current, 1884-12-27
A GREEN CHRISTMAS.
A Red-Letter Day in the Life of
AbsaIon Strong.
Its terrible, isn't it?''

cts ter bic, isn't it?"
Old AbsaIom Strong stood in his shed
door and looked out into the falling rain.
As he had said, it was indeed disagree
able, chat is if the quantity of rain could
make it So The month of December
was wearing away and with it was van
ishing the signs of winter. The snow
had come early; the ground had been
previously well frozen; the sWamps filed
with water and everything indicated Il
regular old-fashioned New England
winter
Absalom Strong had contracted to
haul large quantity of hemlock bark
to tannery number of miles away,
and from all appearances would have
made an excellent thing out of it had
1t not been for the sudden collapse of
all these fairy air-castles, or rather frost
castles, for spite OF the aforesaid favor
able representations, the chilling breath
of winter had given place to almost
Sprlngllke mldness, and AbsalOm
Srong's hauling road, which led across
a long stretch of DOGGY land, became
suddenly impossible, and his horses
munchcd their hay and oats in idleness.
Rainstorm followed ranstorm, and now
rs Christmas time drew near the snowy
landscape had given place to bare
ground, slush and ice
This pesky rain want needed an l
cant tell fer the life O me why come, :"
said the sharp voice of Mrs. Strong, as
she came and stood with arms akimbO,
beside her lord and master in the wide
door of the shed.
Absalom was exceedingly well-to-do
and much of their prosperity, so the
neiGhbors asserted, he owed to his care
full, saving, scrimpiuG helpmeet, who
toiled early and late, and whom he
almost invariably consulted on all bust
ness matters, though for once in this
bark-hauling arrangement he had neg
lected to do so.
You'll lose money on this spec, any
way" continued Mrs Strong, or Aunt
Polly as she was generally called. EFF
you'd a asked me Ida told We betterns
to take the job so cheap
81 thought sure, Polly" answered
Mr. Strong, in as plaintive a voice as he
could command, 'that I'd make a good
thing out of it, but"
But, " snapped his amiable partner,
this ere talkin' about ifs and butts and
all sech like don't do no good. I've
told ye, time an agin; to arays leave a
little leeway, a sorter margin; same's
when ye start load in the snow We
want chance to rack the sled. |
shouldn't be surprised eff we died in the
poor-housc."
Absalom WINGED and looked furtively
at his wife, who had assumed an orator
ical attitude and was swinging her bony
right arm in rather dangerous proximity
TO his prominent nose. Then he turned
his wriukled face toward the watery
outlook again.
AT this moment half-grown boy,
bearing q strong resemblance to Absa-
lon, came hurrying into the shed, shak-
ing the moisture from his clothing like
a huge dog just emerged from bath.
''Nell. " sa'd both parents, in breath,
81 thoUghtye was helpin' 81 Wallace
finish oil his tie-up."
so | was" returned the youthful
Strong. "But We see the Wilder
Nason'S COW slipped on the ice an hurt
her so S SIZE couldn't get up, an ST. he
went an helped get her into the barn.
There want any money in it, an so l
am bone. Guess she'll lose the cow"
'"Massy sake; it's all the COW they've
got. Wh&t'Il she do now" said Absa-
1om as his son ceased speaking.
"Taint nothin to you how she gifts
along, Alb Strong" broke in Polly with
considerable show of shirt s1Ef Won 10
agoin to carry all their burdens where
do We s'pose well end our days?'
Il h1in't carryin their burdens, am
IP" ro!ortad Absaiom. Cant be
sorry Il they're in troubled"
"0i course y can be sorry, but y're