Shenandoah herald. [volume] (Woodstock, Va.) 1865-1974, 1890-12-26

oil loiiy oemsSn0r'
but this day he sat
grim in his little back room.
christmas indeed, he said to him
self, land what of Christmasl Thank
you, baker, and a merry Christmas to
you, and every one of them goes away.
with the present of raisin-cake or a
horse ginger cake, if they like that bet
ter. All this is for the good of the trade,
Of course. Confound the trade; Fm
tired of trade. Is there no good in the
world, but the good of the tradel 'Oh,
YES, they'll say, there's Christmas and
that's good But what is the good of
it to mel sayI. Christmas day is family
day, and to a man without family It's
no day at all. I'm not even fourth cousin
to a soul in the town. Nobody asks me
TO family dinner. 'Bakel baker"
they cry, that We may eat and love each
other ConfOund them. l am tired OF
it. What is Christmas to met l have a
mind to skip it"
As he said this a smile broke out on
his face. "Skip Christmas" said he
'that is good idea. They did not
think of me last year; this would make
them think of me this year.
As he said this he opened his order
book and ran his eye over the names.
Heres orders from every one of them,
said he, "from the doctor down to Cob
bier John. All haze families, all give
orders. at's pastry, cake or sweetmeats,
or it's meat or fowl to be baked. What
a Jolly Christmas they will have without
mel Orders from ali Of them, every one
all sent in good time for fear of being
crowded out.
Here he stopped and ran his eye again
over the list.
"No, not all, " be said, "the Widow
Monk is not here. What is the matter
with her, I wOnderl The only person il
Barubury who has not ordered either
pastry, cakes or sweetmcats; or fowls oil
meat to be baked. If skip Christmas
she'll not mind it, but she'll be only one
the one il all Barnbury. Ha! ha"
The baker wanted some fresh air, and,
as this was supper time for the whole vii
lage, he locked up his shop and went out
for walk. The night was clear auC
frosty. He liked this; the air was 81
different from that IN his bakery.
He walked to the end of the village
and at the last house he stopped.
SITS very odd, said he to himself
''no cakes, pastry or sweetmeats; no
even poultry or meat to be baked. III
look in and see about this" aud h
knocked at the door.
The Widow Monk was at supper. Sh'
was a plump little body, bright an'
cheerful to look upon, aud not more thai
thirty.
"Good evening, baker," said she
g will YOU sit down and have a cup 0
teal"
The baker put down his hat, unwoun
his long woOlen comforter, took of hi
overcost, aud had cup Of tea.
ssNow then" said he to himself, as b
put down his cup, ''if she'd ask me t
dinner wouldn't skip Christmas, an
the whole village might rise up an
bless her."
"We are like to have a fine Chris
mas" he said to her.
"Fine enough for the rest of you,
she said with suIle, "but shall nc
have any Christmas this rear"
SHOWS thatl" cried the baker; 81
Christmas, Widow Monks"
'Not this year, baker" said she, an
she poured him another cup of tea. "Yc
see that horse -blanketi'' said she, poin
ing to one thrown over chair.
ssBless me, Widow Monk" cried Il
baker, "you'rs not intending to set up
horsei"
Hardly that" she answered with
smile, "but that's the very last hors
blanket that can get to bind. Th
don't put them on horses, but they ma
them bound with red, snd use them 4
door curtains That's ali the fsshi
now, and all the BarnburS folks W
can afford them have sent them to me
be bound with red. That one
yearly finished, aud th.Ts are no more
Dc s0sna-"