Morning journal and courier., 1884-01-07
HIS CHRISTMAS GUESTS.
BY EFSA MANSFIELD. Written for the JOURNAL AND CoURIER. All rights ressrYed
IOONOLUDED. ]


 Fiske was not jubilant the next morning but he did feel more buoyancy of spirit shal he had been accustomed to in his later years and 30 he was not at all disposed when he arose to leave his good resolutions on hi pillow. On the contrary, he set himsel about putting them into execution with tb, same persevering energy and determination that he had in carrying out his business plans.
 On going down stairs, his first step was tt summons his housskeeper to his library anG hold 8 consultation with hsr. Mrs. Capwel had been in the family ten years and had al ways given Fiske and his mother entire sat isfaction and so Fiske never had misgivipg when he unexpectedly took . friend home tc dinner. or to spend night. He knew that his table and beds would be satisfactory tC the most fastidious. It was not his way to make many preliminary remarks. Direct ness WAS his forte.
 II think, Mrs. CapweH," he said, stthat you have sometimes had your sister here to assist you when you have had extra work tc do Do you think that ahs would como and help you to-day and to morrow?"
 Mrs CapweN was a quiet, lady-Iike person and it was not her way to show much sur. prise at anything, but she did open her eyel little wider than usual when her employer asked that question. In all the years she had lived there Fiske had appeared to her, OF Christmas days. as if they were fast days in- stead of feast days But she quietly replied T presume. sir, that my sister would come if I needed her, but all the house is in good order, believe. and Bridget and I can get along easily with the work, unless we have more to do than VIC usually have on Christ mas week ''
 ''That is just it. Mrs Capven I intend to have more done than usual. In planning for our Christmas dinner wish you to make calculations for one dozen guests, and de sire you to get as good dinner as possible regardless of expense. So as soon as con- venient send Jake ovSr for your sister"
 Mrs. Capwell opened her eyes little wider than she did before when he spoke of . dog en guests, and she asked: ''Ars your guests order for t@elve people ?"
 Probably not, madam. The fact is, l don't know yet who my guests are to be, but in one way and another I wish to give as much happiness to as many people as can So ve will prepare the dinner and tr1st to the Lord for the guests
 '1ll do the best that I cR3, sir," Mrs Cap, well replied with whole souledness in heY voics that showed she cordially entered into his plans.
 ''Thsn we shall bs sure of good dinner, madam, " he piled, s-bGt I want so much done you will not be able yourself to do much more than oversee the work; 50 get all the help you need. I an quito sat on send ing good Christmas dinner, all prepared for the table, down to Parson Jsckson's to- morrow. He's the colored preacher. you know. If you will see to it that turkey is cooked for him-his wife is rather feeble; doubt if she is abl0 to do it-and will make him one of your capital pupdings, will try to obtain what pastry want to send him szd other families at the bakers. By the way, think that we have the remains of half Q dozen different sets of crockery slowed somewhere in the house, haven't we? It's a good time now to give them away. I doubt if the Jacksons could raise sufficient dishes to set table comfortably for half dozen people. and they may desire to invite Q few friends to partake of their dinner. I shall tell him that if he wishes to do SO, food shall not be lacking. So let Bridget pack that mulberry set into basket, and will carry it down myself after I have taken Gordon to the depot.
 Before ten o'clock that morning Flake had consulted his honsekeeper, breskfasted and taken his friend to the cars, exacting a prom ise from him before they parted that he would return, if possible, eA the first train the next morning and spend Christmas with him; seen his agent and requested him to have all the mills closed at noon that day, telling the operatives that he had ordered 1t done so Rs to give them little more tinae to prepare for Christmas, and that they should De pau IoE a AuA udy 5 NoEki tAASn eae names Of each man in his employ who was the head of family, and then driven to the market to see if he could obtain as many turkeys as he had names on his list, and af- ter that called on the Jacksons.
 When he gave them that basket of crocke- ry, and told them what he had planned to do for them on the morrow, the tears ran down the faces of the good old couple, and Jack son said ferVently: "God bless ye, n1srsa, an make ter-rnorrer de bery happ;ast day dat yer ebsr seed in yer hfe," and his wife added a hearty ''amen.''
 During that day Fiske heard many fer- vent "God bless you. sir, - from other needy people; for he spent the remainder of the day in learning who the poor and suffering ones were, and in calling upon them himself and taking to them such things as he found