Idaho County free press. [volume] (Grangeville, Idaho Territory) 1886-current, 1890-01-17
ON about TIL RENDERS. like t hear

tard plaster for me, as ii was her
own flesh m blood. She's worth all
the rest of 'em put together"
"O' course she is" Molly thought
there were no two opinions as to that.
'Do We mind how she busted tn par
lors, that time | had therun around?
| say, she ought to have Chris mus
eff she wants one; an it's my opinion
Senty Claus is ez much t her ez ever
he was t. them Conway children"
But Miss Maria came up from break
fast, few mornings later, with a
very troubled face. she found the
chnmbermaid making her bed, and,
sitting down by the open fire, began
dolcfully enough:
"Why, Molly" and there was sus-
picion of tenrs in her voice; do We
know Joseph's folks amt plottin' t
do single thing fer Chris 'muss-not
thing! Why, tell EN-, t tn Con-
ways, we uset t give half our winter
clo'es, that way; tippets an rubbers,
an all. Last year him n me put to-
gether m got her a blanket shawl-a
reel nice one. Occurs" u fool
ish smiie-"that couldn't go in no
stocking ever was made; we jus put
it on tn hearth underneath. Weof.
ten put it on tn hearth. 1t seemed
just as nice"
"An' what'd they say to that, Miss
Maria?" asked Molly, in n fashion
she had of recalling the simple soul
from her long, rambling reminiscent
ces.
so, the girls they didn't say
nothin', nor yet Celia. Jo-
seph lie jis' laughed, and seq
he: we got al out o. tn way O.
making presents t this house; there
don't seem no cause fer it, SEE he.
Wife, n tn girls, an you all has
your allowances, an can buy JUS
wot We want, % We want it. | don't
b'lleve in man keepin' all his money
t himself, n maxim a great show in
tn family at Chris mus time, SEE he.
1t sound kind o reasonable, too,
don't it?"
She looked over wistfully at Molly
shaking up the pillows.
81 don know" The second girl
thought for minute, "ev'ry body
has chance t be his own Senty
Claus, then, eff they all git their due,
suppose he means. Yes, that does
sound good. Eff we was meant t be
independent O. each other, that is"
Miss Maria heard only part of this
speech, and that part haunted her
long after she was left alone.
l,,e a,rn Santn (I,,,.
Molly had said. 1t would not out
her mind Born of the despair which
had seized upon her weak
spirit when she found they were
to know here, no Christmas, and no
good fairy-a despair which in turn
was part of the great wave OF home
sickness sweeping up to her heart
she began to build up crazy plan,
and formed it on the servants care
less speech.
"What did you buy, Aunt Maria?'
asked Sarah, the pretty daughter
with an attempt Mt small talk, one
afternoon when the two older women
had paused in the parlor to rest be
fore going upstairs with their wraps
"Your lap is piled with bundles; are
you going to have new dress?
Miss Maria looked disconnected.
"Mebbe, she replied briefly, gat her
ing her parcels together, II got som,
stun colored cashmere, nm some
little things" She rose to her feet
hugging up her load. One twist o
paper fell to the ground. Mary tn,
the plain daughter with the ME,
eyes, ran to pick it up.
at feels like gloves she said, fo
want of n happier thought, handing
it to her aunt.
Miss Maria seized the parcel nj
most rudely. 81 don't remem ber;'
color rose To her cheeks; her eyes fell
Il got a lot o little things. Mehb
l didn't buy no gloves. II ain
surel'
The door closed upon her suddenl,
in what seemed very much like guilt,
flight.
Why, mother" cried all thre,
girls together. "What has gon,
wrong? Aunt Maria is always a.
voluble as u child over every paper
of pins!'
81 do believe" added Bella, cha
'goin' down street, and doin, littl'
tradin', is all that reconciles her tt
New York"
Meanwhile, upstairs, Miss Maria
was hurriedly thrusting he purchase
into deep drawer she had emptiet
for the purpose.
81 don't believe, she thought, witt
Il prick from her tender conscience
Il don't believe remember ef
bought them gloves or not. The,
was other things | was lookin' at
tool antsure. She paused a mo
ment to consider something else
Anyway, her face cleared and shone
Il don't skursely know how tina
aprun looked. | think twas cross
bar, but | wouldn't be sure fer moth
in. An them mutflers; Celia, sh
chose fer me, an didn't look t se
eff she got tn red one or that darl
blue. Il hope'-she gazed down in
to the drawer-"I hope twas tn
red one, but | won't know till Chris
muss."
Day after day, Miss Maria adde,
to the contents of the drawer
whether or no." MS she phrased it
she meant to give some little presen
) to each member of the family, from
) Joseph down to the erraDd boy
But, with these weightier matters
her own prenarotions wont IN