West Virginia argus. [volume] (Kingwood, W. Va.) 1877-1946, 1886-01-08

iety, and his ncws first made her LAUGH
and then cry. But after a few moments
given 70 hey long pcnt-up tears he felt
much better and entered into his plans
heartily.
The two captivos up in the attic
were 10 be Christmas presents "a the
1 girls, and the rabbits were 10 maLe the
long-anticipatcd pie. As for plum-pud-
ding, Of cour.c that couldn'tGc thought
of.
But don't you think, mamma said
Willie, eagerly, "that YOU could make
some sort of n cake out Of meal. and
wouldn't hickory nuts be- rood in it2
You know have some Left up i'm the
attic, and | might crack them softly M
there, and don't you think they would
be good'' he concluded. anNiously.
"Ncll. pcrhap- 90 said mamma.
anxious to please HIM aud help him i'm
his generous plans. ~ can try. Ill
only had some ,gE.,- but seem, TO me
| have heard that snow beaten into
cake would make i, ligAt-md there's
snow enough. I'm sure she added.
with u faint smile, the first Willie had
seen for three days.
The smile alone nc felt to DC a great
achievement. and hc crcpt carefully up
the ladder. cracked them to the last
one, brought them down. aud mamma
picked the mcat7 out while he dressed
the two rabbits which had come so op-
portuncly TO bc their Christmas dinner.
wish You Merry Chri,tmgs!" he
called out 10 Nora and Tot when they
walked. See what Santa Claus has
brought YOU
Before they had time to remember
what Il sorry Christmas il was to be.
they received their presents. a live bird
to each, "a bird that was never To b..
kept in a cage, but fly about the house
tlll summer came, and then 20 20 away
if it wished.
Pets were scarce on the prairie. and
the girls were delighted. Nothing papa
could have brought would have given
them so much happiness.
lhcN thought no more OF the dinner.
but hurried 20 dress and feed the birds.
winch were quito tame from hunger
and weakness. But after awhile they
saw preparations for dinner. too. Mann
ma made q crust and lined % deep dish
the chickcn-pic dish; and then she
brought a mysterious something ont OF
the cupboard, all cut up so that. it
Ioohcd as II 1T n.lght be chicken. and
put IT I'M he dish with other things. and
then She tucked them all under "a thick
crust, and set il down in a tin oven be-
fore the lire 10 bake. And that wa, not
all. She got out some more corn-meaI
ana made a batter, and put i'm some
sugar and something else which She
slipped in from q bowl. and which
looked in the batter sometime like
TvI-InAs md ~ fl. l,.t 'xtF.1r.
brought her g cup OF snow. and She
hastily beat it into the cake or PUDDING
Whichever YOU might call it., while
the children laughed at the idea of
making a cake out of snow. This went
into the saIne oven. and pretty soon il
rose up light and showed a beautiful
brown crust, while the pie was steam
ing through litlle Iork-holes on ton. and
sending out most delicious odors.
At the last minute when the table
was set and everything ready TO come
mp, Willie ram up To look out of the scnt-
Tie. as he had every hour OF DAYLIGHT
since they were buried. I'm n moment
came a wild shout down the ladder.
" They're coming. Hurrah for Old
Tim!'
Mamma rushed up and looked out.
n saw-tO be surc-Old Tim. slowly
coming along over the crust. drawing
after him n WOod-sled on which were
two men.
It's papa shouted Willie, waving
his arms to attract their attention.
- Willie! came back over the snow.
all wcll?''
4" All wellr' shouted Willie. land
just going TO have our Christmas din
ner.'
Dinncr?' echoed papa, who was
now nearer. wv here is the house.
then?''
20. down thert!' said Willie, Gun
der the snow; but we're all right. only
we mustn't let the plum-pudding
spoil
Looking into the attic, Willie found
mamma tainted away. and thi, new.
brought TO her aid papa and the Other
man, who proved TO be a good friend
VIC had come 10 help.
lin was tied TO the chimney. whose
thread OF smoke had guided them
home, and all went down into the dark
room. Mrs. Barnes soon recovered.
and while Willie dislcd up the smok-
ing dinner, stories were told on both
sides.
Mr. Barnes had been trying TO find
them. and to get through the snow all
the time. but until the last night had
made 20 stiff crust had been unable To
do 90.
Then Mr.. naruc. told her story.
winding up with the account Of Willie
Christmas dinner; ''and if it hadn't
been for ms Keeping up our hoart. I
dou know what would have become