Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1884-12-18
"A CHRISTMAS STORY.
How We Captured a Burglar, and
What Came Of It.

When my sisters saw me write down
the title of this story, they shrugged
their shoulders and said that it was not
good one at all.
1T isn't thrilling enough" cried
Ruth.
s.And not bit sentimental, said
Jennie.
lone can't make head or tail out Of
it - was Aunt Betsey's scathing COM
ment while mamma piped out from
her pillows, 1T really seems to me,
Edith, that you ought to make it more
striking. In my day titles were very
important. a Midnight Mystery now
would be the very thing?'
..Never mind the criticisms, Edie, -
Agnes spoke at last. II think the title
is just right.
And as Agnes was the person most
concerned in the story, 1 was willing
to ABIDE by her opinion. / don't be-
lieve l would have changed my title,
ANYHOW, for l resemble the Barclay
side of the house, and mamma has al
ways said that they are obstinate. The
Barclays are papas relatives, of course
who ever heard of Il woman, no mat
ter how much she loved her husband,
praising his folks? But both the Bar
CLAWS and the Mandells can trace their
lineage ever so far back. We have in
our possession a teapot and an old chair
both said to have been brought over
in the ..Mayflower."
(Truth compels me to say, however,
that the teapot is a dingy, insignificant
little thing with dent in its side, while
as for the chair, a more stiff-backed,
uncomfortable seat it would be hard to
find.)
We haven't much beside our good
name. Once, and not so very long ago,
we lived in luxury. Papa had his fine
horses, rare pictures and statuary;
mamma could deck herself in silks and
satins, while we children were dressed
ike royal princesses. But there came
a dreadful lawsuit, which dawdled
along year after year eating up slice
after slice of our property, and when at
last it was decided against US, every
thing had to 60. Papa was so dis
couraged-poor man!-and SO dismay-
ed at having to face the world-you see
he had been brought up in ease and was
3 dreamy scholar-that he fell sick, and
after lingering illness, died.
Everything went-house, furniture,
plate, jewels-and we had nothing left
but little, lonely place way out in the
country. An old-fashioned stone house,
with gigantic chimney and low, slop-
ing roof. The view was fine-two
great Handicapped mountains at our
back, and in front, winding, babbling
little stream and fresh, green mea-
dow. 1t was delightful place in sum-
mer. for the air was cool and bracing
and laden with the spicy fragrance of
Pine and cedar woods. The house it
self was roomy, though so low; and
after we had opened the doors and VIM
lows and let in showers of golden sun
1;oht and whiffs of odorous breezes, and
when we had given the rooms look of
comfort with the bits of furniture we
lad saved from the wreck, we all, with
nne accord, declared that sit wasn't so
bad after all.
Even poor mamma, who all this time
nod been more dead than alive, mourn
tar over her grief and our fallen estate,
Locked quite cheerful, though she muir
-onred, plaintively: We have roof to
cover us, to be sure, but what shall we
a TO clothe ourselvesP Dear me! what
~ ,,;fv that my boys were all girls!''
r esSee here.'' cried Ruth, throwing
~ her magnificent chest and holding
us.s an arm, which, although as beauti-
s es,s :. - rose-tinted marble, was as round
1 ~ e st-ong as Hebe's. .'See here! lam
S INV a. -. and well as the average young
s - y ~ thanks to my always being a
1 z,s,. b NV, So Tn going to be the man
S ~ - fsfnily! There is that patch of
z'oz In. g. hack of the house-it viii be