St. Landry democrat., 1890-01-04
A PRAIRIE CHRISTMAS.


few inhabitants. The nearest neighbor t.
Mr.. Pierce, as we will call the missionary
lived more than mile away, and, indeed
the population was so scattering, thai
when Sunday came, most of the toWnsmeI
travelled miles to the tiny log school house
in which service was held. In the sum
mer, when the air was mild and balmy
and the prairie covered with flowers; wheE
the scrub oaks along the water course
were green and beautiful, no one minded
the distance; but in the winter, when the
wind swept across the country, piling the
snow in huge drifts that did not melt for
months, then it was that the neighbors
felt that they dwelt far apart.
The missionary was not Western man,
for he had been in Minnesota but one year,
and his wife and little ones had not spent ev-
en- that short time;they had lived only three
months on the prairie. Now it happened
that along at the end of their first quarter
of year Christmas Day came in sight 1t
was not a 'green Christmas as it is SO
often in the East, but cold, snowy, windy
season in which it was impossible for the
little ones to stir step out of doors.
ooh, dee me, what Kismas," sighed
Allen, the youngest of the three, and he
cit may clear up Tomorrow, and then
your father will be back" said the mother
cheerily.
But" said Helen, the eldest, with an
exceedingly wise air, "his remittance from
the society has been delayed and he can't
bring any presents because he hasn't any
CAM do nofin' athout money" said
Fan.
Yes, indeed we can," spoke up mother
briskly, we can make presents for each
other"
Owe will all see what the others are
making and that won't be any fun" said
Helen.
But mother was equal to the emergency.
down an armful of blankets, and in few
minutes had three tiny wi gwa1ns erected
on the floor. Then she went to the corner
where stood the big black trunk that had
been known as the ''snake trunk" ever
since a striped snake had been found shut
into it. She drew out q mysterious pack
into Helen's tent Soon she came out and
with patient little Allen.
cred like mother-bird around these three
nests, and, if the truth must be told, eAsd
the most of the work in each. At last
night came, and the storm was still raging.
The children coRfdad their presents TO
heir mother, and went to bed, after hang
ng up their stockings back of the huge
stove.
Morning dawned and the children began
% stir sieepily, until Helen called out
Merry Christmas, mother !" and at once
Ill were awake, and calling the good old
fashioned greetings. At the same time
hey had rushed to the chimney, and
pulled down stockings that were asfulI as
ever they had been when they were at
lome in Massachusetts,.
There was pop corn that had been popped
he night before when the three were
'oundly sleeping; molasses candy with
decided sorghum" taste; pop corn balls,
lad nut candy with sweet acorn meates in
,lace of nuts. Then came the home made
'resents-handkeehiefs for all, bemmed
y Helen !; a pair Of mittens for each, made
'ut of a big wooden comforter that the
Missionary had worn about his neck until
I had got past mending. These mittens,
which were greatly admired, were made
" Fan and her mother chiefly the latter,
$ most of the little girls stitches were
'uJ in so queerly that no hand but a
nonkey's could get into the mitten. Fan,
lowever, was ignorant of this, and spoke
'roudiy of Chow tide" she was before she |
,ot them done. Then there were three
orn-cob dolls dressed by Allen that looked |
o queer that the little ones laughed until |
he cabin rang with merriment. Tesla
nent for each, and some cards that had |
zen put carefully away the year before
presents
'tWhat can we do to-day to celebrate p
sked Helen as she busily turned the crank |
+ the little coffee mill. She was not I
FINDING coffee, however, but was making /
orn flour, the white -four having failed
OF only at the cabin, but at the village
tore as we'll.
"We might feed ee cous," said Allen,
$50 we SHALL" said the mother; and
lien and Fan mixed big pail of steamed
orn and skim milk that is, they ''poked
t it, while their mother mixed it. AS it
yas Christmas Day, the children added
tile sorghum molasses to make it ''more
Ike Christmas cake" and sprinkled in
Lille pop corn. Then they wrapped up
arm and tugged the pail out to the barn,
assing through the tunnel in the big
now drift that lay in front of the door and
oat had been shoveled through by their
ather weeks before.
The cattle were quite ready for their
arm food, and licked up the portions
iven them greedily.
81 don't fink we ought to div old Blackie
ny she bwoke my cart" said Allen.
"That was only an accident" said moth
:. "You mustn't feel hard toward the
cor cow. Allen"
''You ought to give her something that
on think great deal of, and then you
on 'rhate her so, said Helen with a look
deep wisdom. "Why, when we lived
/ Massachusetts, there was girl that I
lst hated cause she made up faces at me,
, gave her my rubber doll, and you'd
. surprised how much | came to like her.
Ve were very intimate. friends, and she
led when we came out here"
These remarks were better understood
? little Allen than the Others thought.
II, after an instant's hesitation he went
p to old Blackie and held out his new
ittens with very sorrowful face. The
wv shifted them for minute, and then
Or long rough tongue curled round them,
Id down they went into her big red
outh. The little boy watched in an
uished silence till they dropped out of
le side of the mouth crushed shapeiess
I'll of pulp, and then he rushed to his
other and sobbed.
II div old Blackie my mittens and hate
err