Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1888-12-20

f'It won't be half as hard 20 get us a dinner
as 20 move mountain, mamma
s'Well, ii would do no good for me TO ask.
at any rate,'' said Mira. Benson, dlscour.
agingy.
"It won't do any harm, know. said
Lutte, with On emphatic nod of her curly
head; $50 I'm going to ask right away.
We've put it off so long now that God is
most ashamed OF u.s."
Kneeiing beside her mothers knee she
said earnestly; 80, Iordi please send us a
Christmas dinner; mamma would ask, but
she hasn't any faith"
Then Lutte went out TO where brotheE
Johnnie was trying TO make ''snow man"
"We'rc going to have a niee dinner to-mor.
row, Johnnie, she said, gleefully.
"Are we,r exclaimed tho astonfshel
Johnnie, dropping the broken shovel and
opening his eyes very wide; ''who said sof"
sob, asked God minute ago, ana He'll
sendi ii, know" answered Lutte.
''Of coarse SAID Johnnie, brushing the
snow of his knickerbockers and looking
very much pleased,
Mrs. Critchleld, their nextdoor neighbor,
heard every word the little Bensons said.
She noticed, too, the glad lcok of hopeful
trust on each pinched face.
"I'll do it," she said TO herself lister;
.'those hens haven't laid eggs enough to
half pay for their keeping, and the lazy
things can't do better work than TO furnish
a Christmas dinner for those children.
Why, I'd rather lose the whole flock than
to have the simple, trusting faith Of Lutte
shaken and Mrs. Critchfield pat her hand
on glass Of currant jelly, mentally count
ing il in for ''the Christmas next door.
After dusk when the streets illumed for
busy lovers OF the holy eve; when Joe
Benson had gone down to the corner grocery,
aud while his wife sat gloor1ily with her
mendug, Mrs. Crftchhold creph slyly over
the division fence with well-fiiled basket.
Putting it down on the door-stone carefully
she raped on tho door and withdrew.
80, my who's coming TO see us,r ejaeu.
lated Lutte, as mamma opened the door.
There, IN great basket, reposed the lazy
Biddie, fanked by an array of pastry de-
lightful TO see.
Lutte rubbed her eyes a moment; then,
ciapping her hands, exclaimed: 40, nam
ma, God has sent US the incest, blessedest
dinner ever sawr She stopped 70 exam
ine scrap of paper fastened to the basket.
Gas sure "a every thing, mamma, here's .
letter from Godl''
Mrs Benson took up the mysterious
Christmas gift and took It over 10 the little
deal table, while Johnnie chung 10 her
skirts. Then she began deciphering tho
cramped chirography of her neighbor.
90, mammal shouted Lutte, hitting the
plump fowl and spying q can OF rich cream,
81 think my faith must have been as big az
t,co mustard seeds; don't youa But what
does God say in His letterr'
Mrs. Benson said nothing; she was think
ing Of her example of the day, and wonder
ing whc could have remembered drunken
Joe's family. Spreading out the paper on
her daughters palm, she read: " Here's
your Christmas dinner, Lutte Benson, that
you asked God for; eat it and be thankful"
"God heard u.s." said the little girl, rever-
entity But Johnnie was watching the tears
on his mothers face " Mamma Isn't glad, .
hc sstd, sorrcwfilly, aafter all God has
aone.''
80, yes, she is responded his sister;
"but she's sorry now she didn't do the
asking, guess"
"oh," said Johnnie, much enlightened
and relieved.
That night Lutte whispered close down TO
her pillow II thank three, dear God, Just as
hard as ever ! can, for answering my
prayer
The next day Mrs. Critchheld watched the
happy faces Of the little Benscns al dinner
from her window, and said softly TO herself
" II is more blessed TO give than TO receive. +"
MAEpA Z. CEocEEg.