The Cecil Whig., 1885-12-26
CHRISTMAS ON THE NORTH FORK
BY WILLIAM o. STODDARD.
PART III.

after their breakfasts, but they had put
up the tree the day before. There ii
stood on the platform, and all that they
could do with it now was to turn ii
around and back again, and guess which
way it would shine the candles best.
The planks across the bench backs
that were to serve as tables were all in
their places, but there was nothing upon
them until after the people began to ar,
rive. 1t was not until after that, more
over, that Miss Hopkins had blankets
and coverlets enough to darken the win
dows. or sheets to finish the great cur
tain across the room in front of the plat.
form.
"Anyhow,' said Joe, eve can make
the old stove red hot, and we can keep
the dogs from fighting on Christmas
Day"
1t was great, and everybody said SO
when the tables began to stop looking
so bare and planky and hungry. Miss
Hopkins was looking at them, wher
Peddy Nudge said to her:
"There's nine prairie chickens already
and there's more a-coming, besides the
other chickens and the rabbits, and d
whole bag of apples and some dough
nuts
There was something or other the mat
ter with Miss Hopkins. Her face was
pretty good-looking at any time, but il
seemed particularly rosy that morning
and her mouth was all one ripple O
smiles
"None Of us boys and girls must touch
anything on the tables till after the cur
tain drops" said Jerusha Langworthy
They're beautiful now. Just look a,
them"
SO they were, for they represented the
very best that the new settlers on the
North Fork could do for the great Christ
mas at the school-house. There was a
great plenty Of corn bread, but not any
thing like enough butter
The rope across the room in front OF
the platform was now all hung with
sheets, pinned together at the edges and
ii made the best kind of curtain. No
body could guess what was going on be-
hind it, and Miss Hopkins had promised
there would ne real Santa Claus. Some
people said it was going to be Joe Hell
delberg dressed up, and now he was
suddenly called for and disappeared be-
hind the curtain. Then they heard him
say, ooh, my " and cough and chuckle
as though he was half choked.
Hes eating something nice" said
Jerusha Langworthy. land it isn't fair.
| wish was in there"
'lt's time for me to go in, said Peddy
Nudge. They want me-"
Her face was red and pale, both, and
she crept under the curtain with her
mouth and eyes wide open.
"Children, suddenly shouted Deacon
Graham, "all of you that can sing, let us
sing"
Everybody began with him. and you
could not even hear the plates clatter
while that hymn was going on.
"Now, BOYS" called out Miss Hop
kins, from away in there among the mys-
teries and Bob Langworthy at once ex-
claimed:
THAT means to darken up the win
dows. It's a-coming boys! Christmas
is a-Coming.'
'We're going to have one this time,
sure"
Nobody knew Just why, but Deocon
Graham was starting another hymn, and
a loud one, at the very moment when
there came sound of sleigh-bells, going
around the school-house to the platform
end Then the door at that end flew
open, and gust of cold air almost blew
down the curtain. 1t was awful to be so
nearly in the dark in the daytime when
such things were going on, and some of
the people found it very hard to sit still.
Right between two of the stanzas of that
hymn everybody heard Peddy Mudge's
voice again and again and it sounded
good deal as if she were trying to crow.
Miss Hopkins is lighting the candles
now,' whispered Jerusha Langworthy.
"There won't be anything else except
them on the tree, but it'll be splendid"
Boys" rasped out Billy Graham
look at the stove ! The red-hot's going
on up into the pipe"
'IHush !" said his mother. Miss Hop
kins is saving something in there" "
Even Mrs. Graham herself did not
know that her husband was under in
structions to keep them singing hard
all the time
During all that time there had really
been great deal going forward upon
and around the platform. The Christ
mas tree reached to the very ceiling, and
its branches were uncommonly wide,
and there was perfect extravaganza of
half-candles tied 10 them everywhere.
There was nothing but halt. candles until
after the sleigh bells came jingling around
the house, and Peddy Nudge and Joe
Heidelberg were called in to help Miss
Hopkins Four other boys and three
4i4l2 bad to be sent out, and neither of
them heara Mss Hopkins say to herself:
"Peddy can keep le. mouth shut, and
C, can Joe but not one of them cOuld
for minute"
Deacon Graham struck up "Old Hun
dred tremuously. Then everybody stood
up, and at the end of the last line they
heard Peddy Nudge say:
Now, Miss Hopkins, if it doesn't
break down"
Ready, Joe ?" said Miss Hopkins, very
loudly "All ready, Peddye Now, one,