Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1890-12-24

All Ilg1lU, SttlQ n6r nuSDdDu. DuC
there's Miss Bagley, what upon arth do
enough, but ] thought you couldn't
abide her."
'Nu more | cam confessed his wife !;
'tbut she said | couldn't make riz cake
to hold candle to hers at last society.
And [ shan't have any more company
for good spell, an she shall see Christ
mas Day whether / can or not. 1t
won't cost any more to have those two,
Abner"
Drive ahead" cried Abner, control
ling a strong desire to laugh; "who
else ?''
"Why, tl.ats enough replied his
wife, counting them off on her plump
fingers, can as many as ! can set
around the table good-that's seven"
AN Us two makes nine" said Abner,
pausinng bit from active operations
that's unhandy, one odd one on one
side. Think up somebody else. The
widder now would fill in. :"
'Do be STILL" exclaimed his wife
knitting her brows. "Let me see."
"You had better strike off John"
advised Mr.. Peters, ''then you're all
right. L would; he can come at any
| time"
But Mrs. Peters, with the perversity
not uncommon with her sex, adhered
| to her first determination "John shall
come anyway. even if no one else
does" she declared, fatty. So the gap
was filled by deciding upon the minis
ter's sister, a spinster living in the
| neighboring town, and The invitations
were given that afternoon.
And now the stoning of raisins and
making of mince meat began in the
Dof1 L. l. / l.
ley. who was sort of relation, being
third cousin to Mrs. Abner's step-sister,
who had moved West, left her tailoring
in Badgertown families for a couple of
days, and ran down to give her services.
Abner declared there wasn't room to
set his heel in the house, and good
humOredly accepted his meals Of a less
and less generous pattern, looking for
ward to the grand festival to pay up old
scores to his defrauded inner man. And
the best tablecloth was carefully over
hauled in the linen chest in the spare
room, and a small break in it that
seemed 'to have got in to spite her
since it was laid away" as Mrs. Abner
said, was mended by her painstaking
fingers. And all the china and glass
ware was washed, and the silver rubbed,
and the house swept from top to bot
wear out woman's vitality could be
thought Of that needed to be done, the
two workers paused q moment and
looked at each other.
You never know where company is
goin' to- observed Keziah Huxley
sententiously.
''They wouldn't go up garrett" said
Mrs. Abner Her back ached smartly,
and she realized the mountains of work
still ahead of her before she could see
the great dinner on the table, and know
1t success.
"You never know where company is
goin' when once it is in the house, an
you are busy with your dinner" said
go over your chests an lock up those
you can, an pile back the furniture you
moved last week"
AS keZiah's word was considered in
the village weighty with sound judg-
ment, and as the Christmas dinner was
gotten up for her benefit, though ostensi-
bly, announced as Mrs. Peters desire
to honor Parson Beers and his wife,
there was nothing to do but for Mrs.
Abner to take her aching back up the
garnet stairs and arrange matters more
in harmony with the festival prepare
tons below. When she came down it
was with every separate and distinct
nerve in her body pulling and witch
ing in irritation
But as matters progressed in that
week of preparation things looked
brighter, until at last on Christmas
morning Mrs. Peters, filed with pride,
welcomed Sallie Hopkins, who was to
help cook the big dinner. 'Aunt
Sally" was often called in reouisition for
just such services in the village, or to
attend at q funeral where relatives from
out of town were TO be fed and cared
for, a wedding or christening. 1t was
all one to her, so long as she could take
her tongue along. And as the people
where she worked liked to have gossip
handed around while the work was
tossed off by busy hands, it added to
aunt Sally's" other excellent qualities
that she could furnish such abundant
supplies.
ooh la, Mis- Peters, she exclaimed,
hurrying IN, II didn't know as l should
ever git mere in all this world; declare
to gracious, didn't. Wall, you have
had luck with them piesW as the rows
on the buttery shelves met her eye.
II guess they'll taste good" said Mrs.
Peters, trying not to seem too elated.
"Well, what was it Rendered your"
she asked, knowing the praise to the
eatables would all come in due time
"Sarah Bagley," said Aunt Sally, oi-
vesting herself of overshoes, shawl and
bonnet, and trying on big calico
apron. Il thought | never should git
away. / guess l better tackle that
chicken pie first, and git him ready to
go into the oven. hadn't ?"
"Yes," said Mrs. Peters absently,
you'll find 'em already split for you on
the blue platter. What did Sarah Bag
ley want of you? for mercy sake's
tell !"
col, she wanted me to turn down the
neck of her blue silk dress, and fill in
with illusion. l told her about what
l saw when l was to Miss Hammondses
weddin' down in Boston last spring, you
know" said Aunt Sally, complacently,
with the air of one who knew what was
worn in the fashionable world.
Sarah Bagley's blue silk was the one
fne gown in Badgertown, for which the
matrons and spinsters either berated its
extravaganza or pretended not to see
anything pretty in it.
''She amt going to wear that to-day,