Thomas County cat. [volume] (Colby, Kan.) 1885-1891, 1885-12-31
UNDER THE SNOW.
The Queer Way in Which a Fam.
lily Spent Christmas.

"And don't forget the Christmas din
ncr, papa" said Willie.
Especially the chickens for the pier'
put in Nora.
AN the raisins," piped up little Tot,
standing on tip-toe to give papa a good
bye kiss.
Il hate to have you go, George said
Mrs. Barnes, anXiously. ut looks to
me like a storm"
20, guess it won't be much" said
Mr.. Barnes, lightly, land the young
sters must have their Christmas dinner,
you know
'Wcll,' said Mrs. Barnes, ''remem-
Der this, George, if there is a bad storm
don't try to come back. Stay in the
village till it is over. We can get along
alone few days. Can't we, Willie?'
turning to the boy, who was giving the
last touches to the harness of Old Tim,
the horse.
20, yes! papa, I can take care of
mamma" said Willie, earnestly.
'.And get up the Christmas dinner
out of nothing?" asked papa, smiling.
Il don't know" said Willie, hesitat-
ing, as he remembered the proposed
dinner in which he felt deep interest.
What could you do for the chicken
pie?" went on papa, with a roguish
look in his eye, ''or the plum pud-
ding?'
Or the raisinsr' broke in Tot, anx-
iously.
Tot has set her heart on the rails
ms" said papa, tossing the small
dropping her all laughing on the door
step, land Tot shall have them sure,
i: papa can find them in s.. Now
grod-byc all! Willie, remember to take
care of mamma, and l depend on you
to get up a Christmas dinner if l don t
get back. Now wife don't worry!'
were his last words as the faithful old
horse started down the road.
Mrs. Barnes turned one more glance
to the west, where a low, heavy bank
of clouds was slowly rising, and went
into the little house to attend to her
morning duties.
Willie" she said, when they were
all in the snug little log cabin in which
they lived, I'm sure there's going to
be storm, and it may be snow. You
had better prepare enough wood for
two or three days; Nora will help
bring it in"
Me, tool" said grave little Tot.
Yes, Tot may help, too" said
mamma.
This simple little house on the
prairies away out West was busy
place, and soon every one was hard mt
work. 1t was late in the afternoon be-
fore the pile of wood, which had been
steadily growing all day, was high
enough to satisfy Willie, for now there
was no doubt about the coming storm,
and, being but few days before Christ
mas, it would probably bring snow, no
one could guess how much, in that
country of heavy storms.
Il wish the village was not so far off.
so that papa could get back tonight y
said Willie, as he came in with his last
load.
Mrs. Barnes glanced out of the win
dow. Broad scattering snowflakes
were silently falling, the advance
guard, she felt them to be, Of a numer-
Gus host.
$50 do l." she replied, anxiously, "or
that he did not have to come over that
dreadful prairie where it is so easy to
get lost"
''But Old Tim knows the way, even in
the dark" said Willie, proudly. II
believe he knows morn some folks"
mo doubt he does about the way
home" said mamma, land we won't
worry about papa, bui have our supper
and 90 to bed. That'll make the time
seem short"
The meal was soon eaten and cleared
away. the fire carefully covered up on