Savannah morning news. [volume] (Savannah) 1868-1887, 1886-12-19
7ANNAH PAGES

so Lord! chile" said Mrs. Dennier,
''don't yo' stop TO tink bout dat. Dem
chillen's we'll keerd fur an don't need
nottin" Ps gwine make some hoo cake
and kill dat lame chicken for dinner"
"Dat chicken amt so very big"
ventured Irving, "when dere's nine OF
u.s."
"Now, don't yo' fret honey" said his
mother, soothingly. "Yo' go on to yo'
work, and see what dar is when yo' git
home"
Sne pushed him out Of the shanty door
and watched him as he went up the hill
through the snow with as loving smile
on her old black face as any white mother
ever had.
"Come in moment, Irvingw called
May from the sitting room door as lrV
passed on his way to the stable. When
he stood In the bright warm room before
Mrs. Pipps he was very much surprised,
| tor Dan climbed upon chair and pulled
warm cap over his woody head, while
! May endeavored to adorn his bare black
| hands with pair of bright blue mittens.
"And get into this, old fellow" said his
master, coming into the room with half
worn overcoat which his wife had made
! little smaller. THAT will fit you next
! year and be warm in the meantime"
"WhaJ a queer boy Irving is?' said
May when he had gone out arrayed In his
new possessions. "See, papa, how he is
| crying"
Mr.. Pipps laughed and said. at must
! be darky's way of taking things" but
Dan put on his cap and went out to COM
| fort him. Irving was in the coal shed
| filling the scuttles, and only stopped now
| and then to brush away the tears which
| May had spoken Of. whats up?' said
| Dan, thrusning ME hands into his new
| knickerbockers ard looking very sympa-
| thetic for his 7 years.
"Nottin'" said MS companion, ashamed
| to be seen crying, and bending lower over
| the coal.
Then what you feeling bad about?
| Don't you like the thingsW continued
Dan, sitting down on an old bench with
view to solving the mystery.
course l does," answered Irving
| quickly. "Wha keers fO' is dat de res
of de chilin' amt got nottin' am rs got so
| much"
What children do you mean, Irvw
| questioned Dan, thoughtfully.
"Mammy's chiIlens, denis what's to
home; der's eight of u.s."
"And have they had no Christmas pres
ents?"
"We don't have no Christmas at our
| house," said Irving simply, ''but I'd like
| to give dem little pickanninies a treat
Dan thought of his box Of candy in the
| house, but reflected that 1t would 90 no
ways at all among so many as there were
/ at Dennier's house, and he whistled alb
stractedly as he followed Irving to the
kitchen. Sally was very busy getting
| dinner; the table was all ready for TWEEN
| ty-six, and most of the company had
come. POlly's ill-humor had not improv-
| ed apparently, for her voice rose loudly
and harshly from under the shawl on
the cage, and quite filled the room
with noise. 80 myW said Sally, stoop.
ing before the hot oven and basting the
great turkey that was browning within.
| Polly makes my headache, for not
minutes peace has she given me this
morning, and II she doesn't keep still |
don't know what to do, with all the COM
| pany coming into the dining-roOm and
such noise going on" Jpn tell you,
| Irving" said Dan lingering at the door,
as Irving started to water the plants in
the little greenhouse at the end of the
yard. "There doesn't seem to be any.
thing for the children, unless it would be
Polly. suppose it would be a great
treat for them to see her and hear her
talk, and she is so awtully bad to-day that
[ think we would be glad to get rid of her
| till tomorrow" Irvlng's eyes
sparkled at the proposition, for
of all things those ''chillen" loved to
hear him talk about was the wonderful
| pun phIIOb az apps ~ near Ghlh
would be great treat to them and make
it seem like Christmas. "Y0 NAV won't
give Polly away, but mebby she'll low
me to borrow her," said Irving after due
reflection. "Well, Pll ask her about it -
suggested Dan. "You stay in the green
house till | come back" But Dan did
not have the opportunity he desired, for
Mrs. Pipps was busy entertaining her
company, and dinner was about ready to
be served. 1--WE really cannot allow Polly
to disturb us at table," said Mrs.
Pipps, II think we must send her
down to the greenhouse; it is warm
there and she may scream to her
hearts content. Danny, run out to the
green house and tell Irving to come and
get Polly" Dan in his excitement over
the dinner had forgotten all about mis-
promise to Irving. He flew down the
walk, and thrusting his head in at the
door shouted his mammals order, SIR
wing, mamma says to come and get Pol
| ly." In another moment he was back in
the dining-room, watching with May
to see where they were 10 sit, uncOn-
scious that he had made very great
blunder in his errand. take her out
| quickly, sir" said SalIie, giving the
mashed potatoes an extra pat with
the spoon and placing great lump OF
| butter in the middle; "and don't you
teach her anything bad after the missis
being SO kind to you.