Middlebury register. (Middlebury, Vt.) 1886-1937, 1889-12-20
A HUMBLE CHRISTMAS DINNER.

There was not very much on the table--in
fact, it wasn't very much of table, being
made of a dry goods box stood on its side.
The room belonged to the grocer, but he had
told them they could have the use of it for
Christmas night. In the corner there was
little, cracked stove, which was so hot that it
shone like big lump of Christmas cheer in
the seni-darkness
Pretty soon 'Swipesy" came in out of the
roar of the city street. He had a few unsold
papers under one arm and a small-a very
small-bundle under the other. With him
was his sister Sue. They were orphans try
ing to make their own way She had had
good luck and had sold all her >apers. She
took what was left of Swipesy's stock and
spread nice clean paper over the dry goods
box Then he unrolled his bundle.
"Oh, Swipesyl' said the girl
There was can of cooked corn beef and a
little box of figs.
Pretty soon the others began to come in.
There was Mickey" with a little packet of
coffee, some sugar, and twhat luckD some
cabbage that the apple woman on the corner
had cooked and given him with big tears in
her honest, Irish eyes when he told her about
the dinner.
st amt much, Mickey" she said, "but
may the good saints make it taste as relishin'
as if twas as big as barn and cooked in a
gowld skillet"
There were five charter members of the
dinner party, so to speak. "Rocks" $50
named from his manner of defending himself
in his frequent scraps came into the room
next. He too had little bundle which was
undone with due ceremony. When piper"
came in he stopped a minute just inside the
threshold, and held the door open while he
beckoned to some one on the outside.
"C'mon in," said he. "The fellers IL be
glad ter see yer"
Then there entered little fellow not more
than years old. He was very much en-
barrassed, and held his finger to his lips.
Piper, by way of introduction, said:
"Fellers-and Suze-this ere little cove"
piper himself was big cove having seen
thirteen years, and being the oldest member
of the dinner party sis comm to our Girls
muss. He's just gone into the paper sellin
biz, an he amt got no Doodle. I'm takin'
care o. him till he gifts started. Seer'
For minute an embarrassed silence hung
over the little group Then the little people
opened their hearts to the newcomer land
they were big hearts for such very small
bodies, and he was one of the dinner party
Piper explained to him:
"You see" said Piper 1--WE fellers and
Sue had heard a lot bout Crismuss. We
dom know gzac'ly what it is, but we do know
that everybody, wot is anybody, has Girls
muss dinner. So we Jes' Clipped in, and
and" (waving his hand around the room
''here y are"
"But | amt Clipped in" said the new
conner.
"Well, wot if y amt Y can mex time "
So that was settled.
Sue in the meantime had produced a pail
from somewhere and an Old stew pan from
somewhere else, and some broken crockery
from still another place
YOU'LL make the coffee and warm the
cabbage and meat, darlint," said Mickey.
"Hez are the only woman here"
So Sue went at it.
1t wasn't long before everything was
ready, and they gathered around the box.
The savory odor from the coffee pot and
stew pan had ticked the twelve little nostrils
and the six mouths were as eager to taste the
poor little dinner as ever yours was to pick
your succulent Christmas turkey bones
They fell to at once.
I'm fraid the coffee amt very good,n said
Sue But she smiled the satisfied smile that
every housewife smiles while decrying her
own dainties, and was as pleased as you ever
were, my fine lady, in similar circumstances,
when Rocks exclaimed in answer
"Finer'n Delmonico's, I'll bet"
Before very long the dinner had been
eaten. They sat around and talked for
awhile, and the little 6-year-old fell asleep
with his head on Sues knees, and her fingers
passed loving y over the little fellows dirty
forehead, and by-and-by she leaned over and
kissed him.
The tallow candle burned low in its green
bottle candlestick. and when Piper rose and
quered:
swell, felers-and Suze-has we had a
merry Crismussf A fervent "You betr
went from the mouths of every one but the
6year-old, and he smiled in his sleep.
The dinner party was over D. E. M.