The Worthington advance. [volume] (Worthington, Minn.) 1874-1908, 1884-01-03
ALL TuRuUGH A CHRISTMAS Dim. II

ALL THROUGH A CHRISTMAS DlAAln
Mother. dear. will you grant ne favorl
Daisy is away, so she can't laugh at me even
Il do make mistakes.''
Edith Nelson was The speaker. She was
a pretty, delic ite- looking girl of sixteen,
whose white hands showed that labor as vel
had been thing unknown 10 them.
| can answer you better, Edith, when
hear what the favor is to be-"
want to practice cooking to-day in
stead OF my music. Let me prepare that
nice little turkey you bought for poor old
Sally's Christmas dinner
! Mrs. Nelson's face expressed her sur
prise at Edith's sudden fancy, for Daisy
| had always been the notable one of the
two, while Edith had been the book.
| worm."
Certainly will say :yes,' vas her an
| swer, although you will have to work nm.
der difficulties. I shall be busy and so
shall Bridget. and Daisy won't be here to
show you. But what has put such an idea
in my little dreamer's heaS?"
Edlth's eyes answered her mothers loving
glance with one equally tender.
| i've been thinking what drone I am
in the family hive. I couldn't keep house
| BIT nicely If you should he taken sick or
should be called away from home suddenly,
and Tn ashamed Of myself"
Mrs. Nelson smiled. but We are not
ashamed Of you. dear"
| know il, mother; aud I'm going to de-
| serve to have you proud of me- that is of
my hardness, as you say of Daisy"
| But why undertake SO much the first
tlme! It requires some experience TO pre-
para and reast q fowl"
| But shall all the time be thinking of
! how Sally will enjoy eating it, and so that
Will keep me from getting out of conceit Of
NY new employment, Then, too. to-mor-
row we don't have dinner until late, and
| roast her some of those nice sweet-potatoes,
so that she can make believe she's again in
her dear old home in the south."
| We'll, Edith, this is an odd streak, 10 he
sure. But I wish you success, and a good
| appetite for your own dinner when you come
back. wonder if Clitford's college friend
will accept his invitation und accompany
aim home?"
| II hope SO, if he's nice. Daisy will en-
Joy entertaining him. She's getting to be
!uch young lady. She's real pretty, too;
don't you think so, mother"
| I'm afraid I'm poor judge about my
children's comliness. I'm too partial. But
you We no time to spare. Run and get
ready for your work. i suppose you mean
to cook the turkey to-day, and let Sally
have it cold to- morrow"
ayes; didn't say SO? meant it, any,
WY. You see don't want any but par
tiar Witnesses of my crude. first attempt in
the culinerv line.
| Some hours later Daisy arrived, flushed
and beaming from her drive with the young
divinity student who had come home to
spend Christmas with his family, and who
had thus far spent more of his time hover
ing about the charmed SPOT which held the
fair young sister of Edith, the newly in
dustrious.
Da;sy's bright eyes opened wide.
| Edith Nelson, is the world coming to IN
end? You! and in the kitchen!"
| yes; and see there! fixed every bit of
it with my own fingers, and Edith threw
open the oven door, and pointed with proud
exultation, to the beautiful brown Of the
roasting fowl.
but it isn't half large enough for our
family. 1t won't go moo than third
round"
ats for old Sally"
That's different thing. But what'put it
into your head to invade my rightful do
] u4tSA4S uAA VIC uoCAuA uAuSACC4y 0uu NOU u
better be careful or I'll be jealous and send
you back to your books.
Daisy's merry eyes and smiling face con-
tradicted her words. So Edith's conscience
felt no qnalms as her sister ran away with q
gay song upon Ter lips, to take of her
| wraps.
The next day bright and early, Edith filed
a basket with eatables provided by her
mother for the crippled old woman, and
coaxing her young brother to carry it for
her, started for the tumble down cottage
which gave poor Sally shelter.
"Good morning, Sally. I've come to
spend the morning with you and you
must let me get the dinner. 1'ro growing
50 smart want to be appreciated"
The old woman's black face Yves study
as she listened to Edith.
"Lor' Dress tho sweet chile! She's agoing
to burn her lily fingers a-working for ole
Sally! but I guess not, it allus takes two to
make trade, and We amt two on that
question-we's divided"
"But always have my owa way, Sally.
So you inst sit down in that chair and look
It me. I'll 20 home if you DON'T"
| While Edith spoke she was busy with the
contents of her basket. First came the
nicely Drowned turkey, then mince pie
covered with powdered-sugar. White
grapes, raisins, and nuts followed. Then
came two parcels,
(which will you have for dinner? coffee
or tea? I've got some condensed milk if
you want coffee
"Sure as the sun shines then, ole Sallyll
have coffee, missy. But it make the tears
come to see such tahlcful of things. 1t
makee ME think of ole Vireinrv. and of
n.assa and missus, and Mas'r Harry. He
/ 0YUovo q hrsnrinry bic ola
and sweeties."
You didn't mind being slave, did you,
sally?"
Bless you, chile, freedoms sweet, even
1t one has good masea and missus. I'd
have mover come north though and left
them hadn't my boy come fust. I follered
| him, but it was only to see him die. If
he'd lived wouldn't have been like this, >
and for an instant the old woman rocked to
and fro absorbed in her grief for her
boy.
Don't cry, auntie, l oughtnt to have
asked you such question. I want you to
be happy to-day. That's why came to
! you myself"
You're a Dressed angel, chile, and I'll
J try not to feel bad Just to please YOU"
While Edith talked, she was busy at her
unwonted work. and her flushed cheeks
/ e@AA~ OAAtsAs Oyco MAuc huCu ulueEcuCe III
her looks, that Sally noticed it and com.
| mented on the change in her own way
! Laws. chile she said, admiringly, Il
never knowed that cooking made folks
han dso,re. I declar' to goodness you look
ssthough you d been painted. and your eyes
shine as bright as that coffee pot"
| Edith laughed.
| They must be bright then. But, come,
dinners ready. You sit down and I'll
wait on you. I'm in love with house,< rk.
! Tn going to practice every day. See il l
| don't win as many golden opinions hence
| forth as our Daisy does"
| just as Sally was comfortably fixed at the
| table, 1T undering knock came 1T the door,
and when Edith opened it, che was caught
in her brothers arms
"Halloo, Puss, I've found you at last!"
he exclaimed. Il couldn't wait till you
came home. This is my friend, Harry
Clement. You've heard all about Fuss,
Harry, and she's heard all about you, so
you needn't be so stiff, aud play tina. you