Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1884-12-26
SALLY'S S'POSEN.
A Fright Regular" and "Truly.
uly" Happy New Years Day.

a RlPhC Regular ana truly
uly" Happy New Years Day.
1t was the night after Christmas.
The dear parents, who had expected to
be at home several days before the
blessed Christmas eve, were yet detain-
ed away; and the children had hung up
their stockings and taken them down,
too, for the first time in their lives, with
no loving parents smile of surprise,
sympathy and joy to enhance the value
of each Christmas favor.
at must have stormed furiously up
there; and papa and mamma are snow
bound very likely" said Gcorgie, as he
filed the wood-box behind the kitchen
stove. +" In that case, they may not
get away from the mills for another
week.
"Ohr' cried both the twin pairs.
at will be Happy New Year before
that time. They hare to come home.
Merry Christmas hasn't been half
merry; and Happy New Year won't be
nuPPy ~ "ii "i'hoee hiiih" "nu
George and Mary exchanged glances
and smiled. They felt rs the twins
did; but they forebore to say so.
:" 1t is turning colder" Mary said,
presently. Did you split a good lot
of wood, Georgie?''
=" Yes; and you burn two or three
good lots. We must let the dining
room fire go out and contrive to eat in
the kitchen. Can't wep'
II suppose we Il have to" said Mary,
with faint sigh. 1T is growing cold
er every hour. Hear that dismal blast!
We must all be rs brave rs ever we can
Oh! hope papa and mamma are not
worrying about us.
Bud and will go to the timber to-
morrow, and drag up big lot of fag-
OTIS" said Bile. Bud and Bile were the
ten-year-old twins. Mrs. Mason
doesn't get any wood but fagots, She
says they burn capital. She and Neddy
drag them up with a rope"
Mary smiled.
"They live so near the woods, little
boy,n she said. .'Yet you may try to
get one load tomorrow; for | am sure
/ shall need much firing. There, Bile,
don't crowd the yeast jug so, or you'll
tip it over, and we'll get no light broad
tomorrow. You're copying after jim,
cuddling down in corner for nap.
Hop up. Let's have our Bible reading;
and then Wen cover up the fire and go
to bed"
Don't get the blues, Molly" sard
George. "You never care to go to bed
before nine O'Clock, unless you're blue
over something. Papa and mamma are
able to take care of themselves. You
know papa said that was rough coun-
try and the travelling accommodations
were almost none, even in good wealth
er. Now, it must have stormed up there;
and they can't get any one to convey
them over to the stage. think l see
just how it is"
$50 do /" said Mary. "But it is per-
picking. wish they were here. If they
shouldn't get home by New Years Day
"You oughtn't to cross BRIDGES be-
fore you come to 'em" said Bud, sage
ly. as Mary paused as ~if impressed
with the measure of discomfort con-
tanned in the implied possibility of that
small "g"
'Nor sup sorrow through long
tube!" put in Bile.
George and Mary looked at the twins
in amazement, for moment; and then
both laughed heartily.
"You little Solomons," said Mary
"Where did you get so much wisdomP',
"Mrs. Mason" replied the twins,
gravely. "We told her the split wood
was most gone, and may be if George
couldn't chop faster, and papa and
mamma didn't come home pretty soon,
we'd freeze to DEATH.
"Oh, you horrid youngsters" said
George, grimacing at Mary.
"And she said then we ought to be
very good, SOS to be prepared to die if
we had to; but that the timber was chock
full of fagots, and we could all turn
out and drag, same as she did; and we
oughtn't to cross bridges before we
come to 'em, and nobody but fools would
choose to sup sorrow through a long
tube"
GOOD for Mrs. Mason'' said Mary.
"Let's profit by her wisdom. Surely
we're not fools; SO we'll sup no more on
fools diet. And we won't cross our
bridges before we come to them, shall
we, Georgiep" Well do our very best,
and thank God for His blessings, and
even if 1t comes to keeping our New
Years Day without papa and mamma,
well do our best toward that. Won't
We little onesp'
And the little ones being all wide
awake now the Bibles were opened and
the reading and the prayers were offered
rs their evening service to the good God
in whose care the little family was left;
and at an early hour they were all
soundly sleeping.
For three days and nights the snow
fell steadily. On the fourth day o
furious wind heaped and piled and
tossei the snow into drifts. Then the
wind shifted and fell. and the fierce
bitter, singing cold came down.
On the first day, holding Mary to he,
promise. the twins had worked heroic
ally, and though the snow almos
blinded them as they toiled in the teetf
of the storm over the half-mile of oper
road that stretched between them ant
the timber, they accomplished a might,
work, and brought load of fagots lha
delighted Mary's eyes.
The little lads were dripping will
perspif.itioa, however, and Mary woull
nnt let them make second trip
/. oueli they begged Justify, but mad,