The Kimball graphic. (Kimball, Brule County, Dakota [S.D.]) 1883-1905, 1884-01-04
Mrs, Daffydown's Dinner.

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meagre pocket book and cast a longing
look at a plump, fat turkey in the village
store.
"To-norrow's Christmas day, to be
sure, but l reckon I'll hev to get along
with chicken this time, fur / must git
sugar an currants fur the mince pie, All
cranberries fur sauce. Thank goodness,
I've got potatoes and t%urnips, anyhow,
and thatll do fur me and Gilly."
Gill was a neighbours little girl, who
stayed with the widow to help co the
chores, etc.
81 would ask Samantha Jane to din
ner," pursued Mrs. Dafydown, as she
trudged home with her purchases, ION
ly she'd sniff at hevin' chicken fur din
ner; but goodness knows, I'm thankful
to get that"
The chicken was duly inspected by
Gilly, who soon got over her disapoint-
ment at not having a real turkey, and
the widow was busily seasoning her
mince-meat, preparatory to making her
pies, when Farmer Mugford hitched his
sorrel team at the front gate and came
in. .
"I've brung we a letter. Mrs. DaGy-
down." he explained, fumbslng in the
pockets of his butternut overcoat.
"Thar! Mebbe it's from some O. yer
folks i'll the city," and he strobe off.
Mrs. Dafydown broke the seal in sur
prise.
'sSure enough" she exclaimed. cts
from my Aunt Mariar ID st. Louis. Il
want YOU to come an spend Christmas
with me- she says. 'Sence the bank
busted up with my none in it, l hain't
seen hide no. taller of my kin folks, an
l feel kind of lonesome like. l wunt
promise you turkey fur dinner; But eff
you kin take pot luck, come along. I've
asked Samantha Jane, too
"Win yon go?" asked Gilly.
Coarse | will! AM I'll take the roast
chickin and mince pies along an q bone
o. light bread ton. Goodness knows [
don't want to be no expense to Aunt
Marian. I'll borrow Mrs. Mugford's
split basket to carry ZEN in. Poor Aunt
Marian! | reckon she does want to see
some of her own kin, an I'll go, if she
did git mad as hops at me fur marryin'
Tom ms cad of Cousin Bartholomew Dill
dock. l'H show her Pm willin' to let
bygones be bygones, end make up
friends a'gin."
And while Gilly ran over to borrow
the covered basketthe widows thoughts
flew over the by-gone days.
II might have married Cousin Bar
tholomew. and been happier than l
was with him, too, If l hadn't made him
jealous just for fun, an thengot too
spunky to own up. Well, we'll! what's
done can't be helped noH," and the
widow sighed az she turned to haste the
browning chicken, and showed a haky-
crusted pie into the oven.
She was q good looking woman still,
with plump, rosy cheeks, and eyes as
black as sioes.
81 wonder, now, if Samantha Jane III
go?" she ~soliloquized. Reckon I'll jest
run over an take her that sage she
waited fur seasoning an find Quit she's
a-goin'."
Samantha Jane was the widows cou-
sin.
"Nov' she snapped, biting a raisin in
two as if she was comforting q favor on
it. 81 amt a goin a step. Aunt Marian
never Ike, red to see her kin-toiks wher
she was well off, and now It she's poor
they don't keer to see her. An fur my
part" added Samantha Jane, 81 sham
never forgive her, anyhow, fur maxim
trouble a-tween me an Cousin Barthol
omew. Iii hedn't a.been fur her We
might a-married long ago."
Usual at this assertion, for she knew
Cousin Bartholomew had been her lover
but when Samantha Jane took n notion
in her head, "all the kings men" couidn'
get that idea out again.
F.. Samantha was undeniably an Ole
maid, but the widow had serious doubts
as to whether Aunt Maria had any hand
in shaping her adverse destiny.
Christmas morning dawned bright
and clear, but'cold as blue blazes,, al
Farmer Mugford said, as he stitched hi.
sorrels at the cottage gate once more
and went in to warm his hands and wait
for the widow, who waa 10 ride to the
station with him.
"Want this here split basket tucl
,along?" ne asked, good naturally. while
Mrs. Datydown settled her "beau catch
ers'' and added a little starch to he!
face to hide the faint traces of crows
feet that lurkeI at the corners Of he
"La, yes!" returned the widow ane
'tripped out to the wagon, while her es'
cort followed with the basket.
-a
An old lady in a neat and faded dres!
SIT looking eagerly from the window O
a tenement house in st. Louis.
.'I do wonder if tbeyll Gomez" she
muttered uneasily to herself. 81 thinl
Samantha will. She allus seemed font
of me; but Felicia had a temper of he.
own, and as fur nephew Bartholomew
~ofcourse he'll never forgive what | said
to him when he was so contrary"
ooh, yes, he will, Aunt Maria" criei
a hearty voice, as Bartholomew himsel
burst in, eood-natured and manly, anc
quite youthful looking for his forty. ode
Years. ..And pve saved up a little
money, too, aunt; so you shan't eve
know want again, ifyou have lost you
fortune. And here's my vile, that is t.
be-" he added, leading ina plump
checked, rosy women. in q MotheI
Hubbard cloak and q poke bonnet, witt
aiWhy, it's-it's Felicla!" graspec
Aunt Maria, astonished, while the wild
ow's black eyes danced with delight.
"Of course its Felicia" explained
Cousin Bartholomew. s. met her on
the train, and she's got the Christmas
dinner along, already cooked. We are
iii going to eat it right here, and the1
have the wedding AID goa house hunt
mo afterward. For this house is rathel
small. for two families" he added, will
. Glance at the barely furnished room.
7.But there is an need of house-hunt-
inc y smiled Aunt Maria. my carriage
viii be here before long. and my house
is big enough for us all"
It was the VISITORS turn to be aston
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