The St. Charles herald. [volume] (Hahnville, La.) 1873-1993, 1885-02-28

I so the smoke was not SO bad as It might
Il have been. Then sis produced. abun-
IDLE that she had Rugged carefully un-
der her arm during the long walk.
: Enrolling the Aold apron that was
wrapped around it, she disclosed to
A view small battered coffee-pot, about
an ounce of coffee and a tiny package
OF brown sugar, observing, with little
womanly gesture:
4 Il know very well that boy
wouldn't never think of that; SO
4 Begged Mrs; Dixie to give me the coffee
pot. isn't it nice, Joep and she was
a-going to throw it away and l got the
coffee of woman as | minds her baby
sometimes instead of the penny, and a
real nice grocery man let me scrape out
a sugar barrel" f-s
Here, all out of breath at such long
speech for her, sis made the coffee and
sat it triumphantly upon the fire to
boil, Joe exclaiming:
''Well, I'm blessed! we're adding 1t
right up to the handle"
While sis lowered round the fire, for
fear of an unruly coal upsetting the
cherished coffee-pot, Joe drew from
some hidden resource a lemon and two
Jumps of sugar. After slicing the
lemon he dropped it along with the
sugar into tomato can full of water,
and having stirred the beverage with
his pen-knife gravely licked the blade
to see If it was all right. Then, as he
turned the butter-tub into table,
covering it with piece of sackinS
marked in large black letters:t s'This
Side Up" he remarked: ~
'9Ihere isn't another Teller as I'd m
vite to this air Christmas Eve shindy
but you, sis. There's lots on 'em as
I'D be glad to come; it isn't every day
as they gifts such treat" es -
5. "0h, Joe, it's jess lovely" answered
sls, with an admiring glance at the
spread that nearly resulted in the col
lapse OF the coffee-pot, which took a
notion Just then to execute a dipe aAa; Sc
And Joe, himself began to feel rather
proud of his treatwhen everything was
set forth. There was an apple cut into
four quarters and arranged upon "a
broken Bit. of blue chinaplate, whilst
an orange sliced into as many pieces
as possible graced half a wooden but
ter platter. The chief features, how
ever, were a very small plum cake and
q ditto mince pie. The cake, placed
upon the upturned bottom of a red col |
lar-box, occupied the middle of the
table, a tiny American flag stuck in its
center. The lemonade, fanked BY
two oyster shells, was for want of space |
consigned to the floor, while the candle |
tilckered itself into little gullies down |
the'sides OF the ginger beer bottle that
did duty as a candlestick, perhaps in |
its anxiety for the feast to begin. 80
Whether itshould be pie or cake
had been the important question, and'
they had at last split the difference by
investing five of the ten cents in cake |
and the other five in pie.
1t had been large sum for Joe to
spend in luxuries, not many tens find
ing their way to his pocket; in fact, it
was his last cent, but he was perfectly
satisfied with the, result, and / do not
believe there were two happier children
inv New York that night than they.
when the coffee had been drunk to the
last drop and pronounced ''elegant''
IAN old oyster can serving for a cup),
and the great event of the evening the
cake was TO be cut. !
Here, sis, you cutit, women always
1oes," and Joe showed the pen-knife \
toward his companion, and She, per
fectly well aware of the Importance of
he occasion, knit her little brow and +
measured off the cake exactlY with her
niger before placing the knife to it.
''Hold on, sis, till make a speech.s"'
This as sis was about to help to the
lessert,] ''It's always done when they ,
,rings on the pie and cake.' So saw
ng Joe reflled the oyster shells with
and having placed the tat
cred remains of his hat firmly upon !
he back of his head, he struck an atti- !
ude that drew from sis lips long :
rawn oh! and began with: .@I :
Ladies' and gentlemen"-
s'Why, Joe, there amt none-there's ,
My me and YOU" interrupted sis.
at don't make no odds, they always ,
ay 1t If there amt no rich round" !
ed with: = A~s
"We've met together at this air :
reat; now, sis (this in an aside), YOU S
lust say, Hear, hear,n which order V
s, her blue eyes full of establishment t
this new accomplishment in her g
lend, meekly obeyed; Joe continuing i
18th: (which is an out and outer, if / +
o say it myself, and and :" Here d
oe stirred the lemonade, but not find G
g an idea there, but out with, "Oh, 6
IL cut it.shorts here's q Jolly Christ G
las and-a big hunk of pudden."
ropping intohis seat upon the floor e
addedy patrsnizlnglya Now, sis, b
ou mustlnakesn speech, too.n tEsi'& 2
"Oh! { couldn't, Joe," exclaimed1 n
little girl. III,
eyes, you car, too-it's easy enough. ! Ii
ily'did at Jtnes party, and she amt v
alf asipretty rs you, replied Joe, en- q
'uraginglys f.gsR s4sh K
'Did sheRi answered sis. s'Then, <
'rhaps II II try if you promise not to W
ugh.S eas ssr-lt.sG .aa4a VA hi
''All right, go ahead. Here, take a II
? of lemonade; it will sort of put the 81
uck inter yer, = and-Joe pushed the, .tr
mato can towards her. .srz r. Y
Rising and shaking out her little h,
Orn dress, sis placed her arms AKIN r
!. She remembered seeing woman