The Abbeville press and banner. [volume] (Abbeville, S.C.) 1869-1924, 1884-01-02
! old maid, Do YOU think that we can

Ola malu. 10 YOU .lliilh VIA W. "a
do better han to eat our Christmas tur-
key together2'
i'm mortal glad to see ye." said the
old woman, her toothless jaws working
with satisfaction. "And that's q fine,
fat bird, if it amt so extra large. Gram
berries, too.-and q loaf o company
| cake, declare to goodness | don't
know when I've tasted cake before!
And l smell real %Gunpowder tea; and, rs
1 live. and there's a paper o block
sugar; But p'raps, my dear, if you'd
put a log on the fire, | shouldn't feel
quite so chill and creepy along my poor
old bones"
And Ruth Harper built up the fire.
brushed the hearth. and went out into
the woods for branches of cedar, and
spruce, and hcmlock, which she disposed
over the shrunken d%oorways, and above
the mantcl, and around the window
castings. until the drcary little room
looked like a forest bower in a trans
formation scene.
She put on the little pipkiu of cram
berries to stew, and busted herself IN
preparing the turkey, with plenty OF
THYME and bread-crumb stuthng, for the
oven. while old Mrs. Capped kept up a
| ccascless stream of talk. How badly the
world in general had used her; how
| careless the Widow Perkins was Of her
wants. although the town allowed her a
dollar Il month for excepting an eye on
the solitary inhabitant Of the mountain
cottage: how her nephew Isaac, to
whom she had caused the Widow Per-
kins to write, volunteering a Christmas
visit, had speedily sent back word that
every gucst-chambcr in the house was
occupied, and that her visit would be
highly inopportunc, and how Bill Rls.
lcy's wife, her cousin once removed. had
taken no sort of notice of the letter
which had been dispatched to her, ask
ing for five dollars to buy Il new winter
shawl
s.Nobodv cars nothing about me no
more" said Mrs. Capped, sorrowfully.
but | care" said Ruth, softly. Here,
indeed. was some one forlorncr and more
| solitary than hcrself-some one for whom
she. powcrless as she was, could help to
make a Merry Christmas! at is as easy
to me to 90 back and forth to the factory
from here as from Mrs. Liffcrts. | will
come and stay with you, Mrs. Capped.
And | have a very nice gray shawl which
| do not often wear. | can do very well
with my f~ur-edged sacque, if you will
take the shawl. And you don't know
what a good cook l can be. May come,
Mrs. Cappcl!"
.sMy dear" said the old woman, with
tears in her pleased eyes. Il do believe
the Lord Almighty has sent You to me!
| was lust beginnin' to despair, but now
it's all right again"
Christmas came, all wrapped and man
tied in pearly snow; the mountain ridges
were softcncd into shining alabaster, the
somber pine thickcts were matched with
frinccs of swansdown. and Mrs. Cappcrs
lonely cabin was all glowing with flre'
| light and warmth, while she herself. in a
| clean cap, trimmed with black ribbons,
sat basking before the blazing logs, and
Ruth Harper, with a bunch OF scarlet
bittersweet berries pinned into her black
hair. was dishing up the Christmas din
ner, when she glanced out of the Win
dow. and gave a little start.
'sSome one is coming" she said,
quickly.
Mrs. Cappc1 stretched her neck to see.
well, i DECLARE" said she. My
old eyes isn't as good as they used to be,
and the sun on the snow makes a dread
full glare, but l do believe that's our
John, He's come back from the West.
He's made his fortune. Our John, my
son Martin only boy, as we all s'poscd
was dead and buried long ago"
She began to tremblc all over; her
ewes filled with tears.
Don't leave me. Ruth" she faltered,
keep hold of my hand. For I'm very
old. and all this seems like a dream"
In another minute John Capped dashed
into the room. his heavy boots soddcncd
with melting snow, his brown, bearded
face flashed with the exercise of climbing
the mountain-side.
Don't be frightened, granny" said
he, checrily; Its only me! And I've
fancicd how this bright Preside would
look all the way up the mountain. Why,
glancing around him, 'this is Christmas
cheer, indeed. And here is Ruth Harper
with you, looking exactly as she looked
ten years ago. -,
"Have YOU made your 1ortune! said
Ruth. irving to smile as he wrung her
hand.
Not a bit of it," said John, with a
great, breezy laugh. "But I've come
into a little heritage of common sense.
I've decided to leave off mining and pros
pecting, and to come home to work
Granny Cappel's farm among the null
leins and hardin Of the mountain
pastures. How say you, Ruth-is it
wise or not?'
every wise?n said Ruth. ''Only is it
not rather late to arrive at such a on
lusion?"
SIS it," said Capped, wistfully. els it
too late to start the world anew! Too
late to ask you, Ruth, if you will stand,
shoulder to shoulder. with me in my bat
tie with fate? Look into my eyes, Ruth,
and answer me-"
"Dinner Is ready" said the factory
girl, shyly.
''But YOU must give me my reply first
insisted Capped, rclentlessly, holding both
her hands in his.
What shall I tell him, grandma3'
said Ruth. laughing and coloring, yet
making no attempt to withdraw her
hands.
Tell him yes" said Mrs. Capped.
And what could Ruth do but obey
this double behest?
Ruth Harper did not 90 back to the
Bcnticld factory. She was homeless no
longer. They built an addition to the
little cottage, and began life as farmer
and farmers wife. And all things pros
oered with them. \ slick quarry was
started in the rocky ribs Of the noun
tain, a railway strobe, with sevcn-lcagued
boots of iron, across the south end of the
farm, and in ten years John Capped was
a rich man.
lit was all my luck getting such a
Wife" said he. cXultingly.
1T was our good luck in. becoming
engaged on Christmas day said Ruth.
And of all the holidays that stud the
wear, as diamonds flash along the golden
band of Il bracelet, Christmas day is,
with the Capped family, the brightest and
| the bcst.-Llem Forrest Gwres.
WISE WORDS.