Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1886-12-25
CHRISTMAS PUMPKIN.
BY WADE HHfPPIE.

Darby, as she stood In her old-fashiontd
kitchen. literally hedged about with evil
deucss Of preparation for a country Christ
mas feast; .'on'y think Of IL! Here's Jessie
Towner come over with a punkin for my
Christmas, an bor foxes 80 poor that their
bread wouldn't know butter without helm
introduced"
"Giving awav asparrow 10 catch a goose,
no doubt" was the comment 81 Sister Jane.
who bad Just entered the hallway, and. IN
silk and seal-skin. halted AZ the dOor-sill.
evidently dreadIng closer contact with tue
attributes Of the kitchen.
Mother Darby temporarily relieved disc
Of pIe.crust from the eare-ses d a rolling
hin. and as she lifted the latter to a mote
convenient attitude for graceful emphasis
she replied:
"Janc! II you on'y spent as much time
drcssin' yer thoughts as you do in dressn'
yer body You wouldn't De likely 10 say
such rash things a. that. The TOwnef's
don't 20 enough in fashionable society T.
know how to do any toadyin', an they've
Just got enough Of ginoOine natur' In ZEN
TO 'preciate the Bible senterment bout lis
bcln' better TO give than receive"
sister Jane brushed a grain or two OF
dust from one OF the surplus waves OF her
maroon bOnnet-strngs, and turned TO go
out the aFea-way as she replied:
"lt seems 10 me, however, that poor
people can little afford 10 demonstrate any
,uth sentiment as that
..But povcf;y can't crush ont their
ratral instinct. an deny 'em the right to
obey their hearts promptin's once in
While" shouted Mrs.. Darby a, the retreat
ing figure disappeared.
Sisser Jane was quite regular in her
Christmas aitendanceS at Mother Dlrby's
country home. Having very little in CON-
mon, they nevertheless had, a. sisters,
,ome interest in preserving family ties, and
q, Mother Darby was too constant worker
to find any avenues ofloi,ure through which
TO visit sister james city home. the latter
responded TO the plea, Of affinity, and
brought Der Christmas appetite t.
participate IN the investigation Of the
Darby turkey. A. remarked above,
the sisters were very unlike; MO,ber
Darby was plain. frank, unceremoniou',
and Benevolent; her sister naughty, art
Wl. conventional. and somewhat selfish.
Mother Darby's life and training had been
! Of a sort b establish her faith that ,de was
doing the most good 10 herself IN dong
thc 0,t good to others: sister james had
been such Us 10 establish 2 conviction thu;
-lot.a, most bcrcGiing other, in benefit
rg herself. The latter creed bad accu-
uulatcd for her more tangible evidences u
worldly prosperity, but the diamonds 81
charitable decd, flashed u brightly IN the
heart aud consciousness 81 Mother Darby
., did the dazzling jewels u The mine at
| tlc ears and throat Of her fashionable sister.
"Its just too bad that Jane can't have q
bare III thi, pleasure tOo,' said Mother
Darby" when the shund u retreIting foot
.icr, wa, no longer heard. II do really
fencyc thatd ,bc could once get interest
"a in briehieniu' mp needy household,
with little evidence, 81 rem mbrJuce, an
SEQ how fully The Lord pays for such ats
Mro' the eyes an hearts Of the grateful
loor. That she'd enjoy il o. much - me.
| lie, me-, II d1a't try 10 coax her down
here 10 give ne @ i.ft Win these pie
Mother Darby had Just finished working
come -towod pumpkin through The cjlanltr
a. she said TIL, and placing the hug bowl
| tl.t l.id The golden mass ont Of harms way,
| -Ircugli mp Der long apron in tie 1puF'
..ir,l hands. aud hurried no stars.
There Va~ sound 81 Conirndine voice,
! .,r awhile. the most cmplluc intervals o..
| which bore 10 the intelligence @ refrain
81 hich sounded lkc, "Weil. dJ make %
M.ftyr az yourself Tor once aud then
}o'lcr Darby returned 10 work, followed
,Dfy .lrrflg by Sister Jane. cl.tlm' ~
iIo latter v1- hardly DO keeping "iti t.r
surroundings. uulc>, her -kirt of Waiare1
lib mI-lf lc sail % be- suggestive ~
au'L"a possibilities, 2ad her crimson ] ioIt
indicative Il ihc blush the IOulT! might
have Shown FOR Der II possessed ~ H. ante
norton vitality. 4 place convenient 20 The
direction of tlc master hand was made for
the nov conner. and hardly bad she satisfied
herself that she bad become Cu-rOuc- al with
Cgt auriron from 'Lc DXpcctcd aIXiiiIIi, ,
I the cook -tuil,, than Mother Darby
deposited the bowl OF -tcwed pumpkn in
l,r lag, aud fhIustia.a large wooden spoon
flo Lcr good ri-it band started her with:
"NQw cpcr-izc you, Y. Jane u y!V
ship tia. m!Xlur' o. lively a, TIE heart Of
tie poor viii pit.pat With gIaJness wien
they ct What o., coin' TO make. i'm Doe
'lc pTlic-t p1nuyramcr y0u ever got
SIMILAR NTH. That joWolry you've got Oh
Amt hall ~ gorgeous a- the clint ~ that
!uml hin, for That, 2oin' - carry sun.iine
20 -.Uc YGy needy people. ana %, FAR Us
but Do! bow Won ,patt,r
sister Ja.c seemed 10 appreciate t'a ~
rfnVriatCuc,~ ol chi. conclusion, Tor .he had
already Begun to cu,icc some u iIr ochrc
overflow lIou The ,h'rrcd veins OF her
.,,r.L.rf. and. d;.'rlueht n fine inllti,tic
.,.ff,r.vorE ,h, lad done. va holding She
nom ISL, rao,.,,,. ir,r, r,t,et yrftf Iaro.-u
.r,'..,- ,..f frl Gould 80, a.. I'm.
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l..-.,..r-. Tie wrinkle. I'm her c.,-,.f.tiry
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..HLlr,. f1 fou g.. Tie i-.ofrii..g %
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Darby. " from tlukin' % ,out the good it,.
..iu.io do. from q sort q , fe.liu' f,fflr
L0rIl4. APPOINTED me I... agr,t 10 D. 70 .Ie
shadow i1'i, .oupiOdy'~ nf.. an ult.-
-,.r. o...ltunitv for l.t sometime, wlpu
..l.t' lu,.. H."
ooh. Wolf" eycI4fmcI .'.I.r J,u.. 81
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