New Ulm weekly review., 1886-12-22
y Poor Moses Happy Thought.
A Christmas Tale.

cabin; Eph and I, the twins, twelve
years old; Nose, who was not bright,
just ten; and last but not least, Mehi-
cable. The latter was only eight
months old, but she ruled the family
and we all loved her sweet tyranny.
No queen upon her throne could have
been more loved or admired. We con-
sidered her the most beautiful baby in
the world, with her dimpled cheeks as
delicate in hue as the fairest rose
petal, with eyes as blue as the loveliest
summer skies, and little short rings
Of gold, covering her round head.
No one manifested more love for the
baby than poor Nose. Mother trust
ed him with the care of her with per-
feet confidence. For poor Nose, who
went about with a perpetual smile on
his thin, homely face, was invariably
gentle, and cared for the "little queen"
as tenderly as If she was some rare
bric-a-b -brac that a rough shake would
utterly demolish.
Those were troub1ous times, then,
away back over hundred years ago,
and though we had as much fun then
in our way as boys do nowadays we
had more excitement of acertain kind;
an anxious, 'blood-curdling kind, that
often made our hearts beat like trip
hammers while our hands grasped
our muskets.
The day before Christmas was a
busy one in our log-cabin The big
fireplace 'glowed, and the hugh iron
kettles sputtered away as they cook
ed savory nesses for the morrow's
dinner. Eph and I picked chickens
and ducks, while mother baked huge
loaves of white and brown bread,
doughnuts and pumpkin pies, Nose,
meanwhile, watching dear little Mehi-
table. The little witch would persist
in creeping toward the andirons on an
exploring expedition, to get nearer
view Of the sizzling tea kettle or of our
pals OF hot water in which we dipped
our ducks, or in attempting other
venturesome journeys. Poor Nose,
how patient he Was, how untiring
In the middle Of the afternoon,
mother sai4 "Now, boys, take the
basket of provisions to old Eben Har-
ter's- You must hurry, too, so that
you can get back before night"
We did hurry, but such basket,
packed full to the brim, with bread,
cakes, roast chicken, spare-rib, and
who knows whatelse! Didn't our arms
ache when, at last, after wading
through snowdrifts and climbing over
lce-barriers, we reached the little hut
OF Eben Harter and delivered up our
burden! Eben Harter was an old
man, SO helpless that it was with DIFF
fculty that he could hobble around his
one small cabin room. The other mem
bers OF the family were his feeble, aged
wife and a young granddaughter.
'Iour folks are soskind, and you
boys SO good to cometo US through
the stinging cold that 'twould be
selfish to ask more, but"-
''What is it, Mrs. Harter?" asked
Eph, quickly. eff there's anything
we can do for you, we'll do it,
"Bless your dear heart!" was the
fervent response, IL feel dreadful fear
some tonight, somehow; s'pose on
account of the doin's OF them savages
at the corner. 'Twould be somethin'
to be forever grateful for if we could
have one,o you stout lads here all
night"
stWe'll get mothers consent, then,"
Eph said, and in another minute we
were on oAsr way ,homeward. Mother
willingl ly gave permission, SO we trudg-
ed back to the Harter's, carrying ap-
pies and corn which we roasted and
popped while the old.nan told stories
OF our childhood In the morning we
hurried homeward, wondering if there
were any gifts for us; but when we
reached the place where there had
been a little unused hut halfway be.
tween the Harters' and our house, all
thoughts Of gifts,was lostlin fear, for
only the ashes remained OF the hut.
20, Eph, the Indians must have
been here. S;posing they've been to
our house."
Eph's face blanched, but;he said re-
asuringly, "1f they've been there, faith
er's managed Them"
We raced on toward home, upon
reaching which, father said, in a voice
heavy with emotion, ,"Mehitable's
gone.''
"My baby's killed." ,sobbed ,mother.
Nose lifted his terrified eyes to our
faces, his hands working convulsively.
''Tell us, quick, what oyoumean?"
begged Eph, dropping on his knees be-
side mother. I'm hroken words moth
'er told us the narrowing tale, how she
and father had been called away in
the night to- go ITO Uncle Hiram's,
whom they Thought dying. There
was, no other way but to leave Mehit-
able in Moses care, and so they did,
with .slnany injunctSons ITO ''let no
harm come to the precious baby" AT
four o'clock, Uncle Hiram being con-
sideredput Of danger, our folks had
returned. When they saw the ruins
Of the old cabin they We're greatly dis
treSsed, and upon reach1ng home thew