The Abilene reflector. [volume] (Abilene, Kan.) 1883-1888, 1884-12-25
GRANDMOTHER'S STORY.
a Christmas in the Old Log House
Many Years Ago.

The Christmas dinner had been eaten
the afternoons frolics were over, ant
now in the hush of eventide the Daven
port family were gathered about tn,
great, open fireplace in the library
talking over the days doings; and a
Grandma Davenport put on her glasse
and glanced over her surrounding, sh,
said, with a smile and a sigh:
I'm thinking of Christmas Ions
ago"
I'm the old Iog-house?" questioned
Ethel.
Eyes, in the old Lighthouse. Thi:
blazing fire seems to stir up auld lang
syne, though to be sure, we didn't have
polished brass tenders and fire-sets, anC
.GbOny-handled hearth brushes"
Nor plaque clocks, nor brass sconces
nor hanging cabinets, nor decorated
porcelain lamps, nor portiere curtains,
nor" Mabel added.
''Not so fast, DEAR" laughed grand
ma. 1--WE did have portiere curtains,
though we did not call them by that es,
thetic name, nor were they of jute
VelourS or silk turcoman. but only OF
simple curtain calico. But they were
gay, can assure you. with red, blue,
yellow and green birds fitting all over
them. They were not put up for Orna-
mental purposes either, but only to par
-titiOn off our part of the loft from the
boys, and to shut off mothers bed
from the rest of the house"
Ibid you have pets?" asked Fred.
Eyes, dear, we had our ducks. and
chickens, and turkeys, and Nancy had
a golden pheasant. AS for the boys,
you would have liked to see their pets.
Zeke had wild rabbits, and squirrels and
wood-chucks, and Ichabod always had
some snakes shut up somewhere
mother would never allow them within
Il mile of the house-and a colony OF
frogs. Our house was in a lonely
place, our nearest neighbor being near
Iy mile away, and the little hamlet
where we bought needed articles some
times and carried our grain to the mill
was six. miles of, long, weary jour
ney when taken in bitter weather, over
drifted roads and with the help of a
slow OK team. 1t was on the Doth OF
December that father and Ichabod had
TO 90 to Lofts Corners, as the hamle;
was called, on business. Mother wasn't
feeling very well at the time, and !
could see she didn't like to have father
go, although she didn't say SO, but
looked brave and sweet as she babe
him goodbye and said: God bless you,
and keep you both, and then father
held her in his arms a moment, and
Ichabod Rugged her like bear, Zeke
said, and they were off. Those were
busy days that followed for, you must
know, our Nancy was to be married
upon the coming New Year Day. She
and mother were busy at their spinning
wheel from morning until night from
the time father left until the evening OF
the 23d. Then mother said:
"We'n spin no more till after Christ
mas"
20, how busy we were all the follow
ing day, the oath. Mother sang as she
worked, sweet old hymns, that seemed
30 lift us up some way, and kept oul
hearts light and made our souls strong
Nancy made cookies, great cookies a,
large as a tea-plate, and stamped then
with an old-fashioned picture-stamp
representing 4 fireplace, with little
stockings hung'on it; and she made
pumpkin pies and apple pies, and squars
seed-cakeS and gingerbread. Zeke die
the outdoor work, fed the cattle, thu
pigs, brought 10 the logs and made the
old fireplace roar with heat, for it wa.
q bitterly cold day, and the snow wa:
falling fast and drifting in huge banks
on account of the strong wind blowing
close up to the house. Zeke killed anC
dressed pig, too, such a fine, fat little
fellow, that SOphronia, who was an odd
child of seven. given to queer remarks
said she'd like it for plaything instead
of her old, greasy rag-doll, and tried t.
get Zeke to climb up into the loft tt
bring down the old cradle so that she
could rock it to sleep. l wasn't quite
eleven then, but my hands we've busy
too, all day long. helped mother with
the chickens and the stuffed ducks. anC
the brown-bread and about everything
else that occupied her, and noticed a,
: the short-winter's day drew to a close
she stopped entinely her snatches O
song, and once in awhile L heard he
sigh.
II say, mother said Zeke, at last
SITS about time father and IchaboC
were home. Where you 'spose the.
are?'
They'll be along pretty soon,
hope, mother said softly. Father said
If nothing prevented he'd be sure to b
home this afternoon
'''But the afternoon is about gone
now Zeke said. Wen have to ligh
the candles in a minute. If they don
hurry along, they'll founder after dark.
well, my son. said mother, look
ing up with a slightly disturbed face
we can't bring them any sooner b
worrying, and if they don't come, wei
believe that they are in Gods keepin
elsewhere.
''And they didn't come. When bed
time came we were all tired out wit
work, and mother said it would be bes
for us to go to bed, for father an
Ichabod might not come until morning
She spoke so calmly that we didn't knol
abe was so extremely anxious and di:
f<essed that she loaged to be alone
Zeke wanted to fix bed for himse
down stairs on the floor. but mothe
said: MOI and she told him she'd ca
him if father came in the night. and s
Zeke reluctantly climbed the ladder an