Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1891-12-23


! that she forgot all about the potatoes, unit
sharp: "Whst under the sun air ye star
in at, Re6ecca?' brought her to realizs
tion of her neglect.
IL amt starin'. Aunt Jane; l was jus
thinkin' about something" she rejoined
trying to make signals of joy and relief ii
Prue. But Prue shook her head. Th'
signals were too mysterious for her to nn
derstand, and her tears continued to h)w a
intervals until household duties called Aun
Jane upstairs.
Then down went the pan of potatoes with
crash, the knife followed after, and he
becca flaw to her sister and threw bott
arms rapturousiy around her.
"We WON'T be ashamed next Monday
Pruev' she cried, joyously. "The girl:
need never know Aunt Jane wouldn't givf
us anything; for I've thought If snmethiua,
Prue," ber vcice shaking 10 tense wbis
per. "We can make Christmas tree fol
ourselves, and we can hang up our stock
ings, too. We can just pretend to have
Christmas, Prue, and it'll be the same tc
talk about as the real thing"
"Pretend it! don't understand" said
Prue, slowly.
81 can't tell you nowhere comes Aunt
Jane. But don't cry any more. It'll be
all rightl' And Rebecca rushed back to
her chair and picked up the pan of potatoes
Just as Miss Jane's hand turred the knob
of the door.
II wonder what that there light in the
old benhouse means?' mCttered old Reu-
ben Paine to himself as he came up the
path from the barnyard on Christmas eve,
with full pail of milk in each hand.
''Those young ones are up to something,
I'll engage"
He set the milk down, and walked softly
over to the henhouse, through every crack
of which ancient structure, long given up
to ruin and decay, flood Of light was
streaming. To tell the truth, Uncle Reu-
ben had very warm place in his heart for
the two little girls his pretty, gentle niece
had left as legacy to him, and he would
have shown it very often but for the fear
that Jane would take him to task for it..
And now, as be looked in at crack in one
side of the henhouse, sudden moisture
sprang to his ey les, and when be straighten-
ed himself up again he stood staring
straight before him for full minute,
81 declare! never saw the beatl" be
muttered, as he turned away.
He picked up the pals again and went
into the kitchen, where his sister, big
gingham apron shielding her black alpaca
dress, was frying potatoes for supper.
"Where be the children, Jane?" he ask.
ed.
"Dear only knowsv' answered Miss Jane,
i a tone of vexation. 81 can't keep track
O. 'em. I sent 'em out to the well much as
an hour ago, m they amt come back yet"
'I wish ye'd let me show ye where they
be, Jane"
odI in hnr hrnfhpr'a
voice struck Miss Jane, and she turned
sharply around.
"What dye mean, ReubeE9 Noshin's
happened to 'sm, l bope?"
mo, nothin' amt happened to 'em. But
they're cut in the old henhouse, Jane,
n"
"The old henhouser' interrupted Miss
Jane. "What under the canopy be they a
dein' there?"
"They're-shey're havin' Christmas
tree" answered her brother, Z" n want
you to see 'em, Jane. The poor little
things! They've got little hem'ock, a.
settin' in wash tub O. ashes, 'h' it's GOV.
cred all over with candle ends, "a there's
q gourd a-hangln' on it, m stone, m the
parlor duster, m that tidy Priscilla New
ccme kit, m the clancy cup that beloAg.
ed to mother, 'n'-it's jest pitful to see
'em, Jane"
Miss Jane didn't answer. Ste was very
busy stirring the potatoes. But presently
she pushed the pan to the back CT the stove,
and taking her shawl and hood down from
a peg on the kitehen door, said in mufflsd
voice, as she tied the strings of the hood
under Eer chin:
II s'pose might as well 60 ont m see
for myself what they're up to. Why could
MT they have their tree in the house ef
they was 60 set on havin' onel They'll
take their death O. cold out'n that draugh
ty place."
Kenben followed her out, and moment
later they stood side by side at the door Of
the her. house. The presents hsd all been
taken from the tree, and Rebecca was talk
ing eagerly.
tsNow, you sea what splendid plan it
was. Prue. Pm so glad happened to
think of it. Now, on Monday we can say
we had Christmas tree, m you eau say
you got tidy, n beautiful stone that
you mean to use for paper weight; and l
will tell all got. An it'll ali be true,
Prue-that's the best of it. Ar nobody'li
ever known in this wide world that we only
pretended Christmas"
Prue sighed ss' her cheerful little sister
stopped talking. Older by a year and
half thar Rebscca, she, navel theless, let
the latter take the lead in all things.
'It's better'n nothin', I s'yose," she
said, drearily, "an' guess the girls won't
ask us to bring our presents to school. But
we'd better 90 in now, 'Becca. II must be
most supper time, m Aunt Jane will be
wondering where we are"
Reuben drew his sister quickly to one
side just as the door Of the hen. house open.
cd and the two little girls came cut.
"Can't-can't We give 'em same sort O.
Christmas, Janef' he asked, t'midly, as
soon as the children were out cf he airing.
'It does seem 30 pitiful to have 'em a.
doin' this way"
II amt got nothin' agin their havin' a
eff you choose ter pay for it."
answered Miss Jane, her voice softer than
usual. II amt as mean as some folks ID
like to make out. The only reason l did
MT give 'em Christmas long before this
vas because l didn't think you had money
to pay out for such foolishness.
81 amt noways rich, as every ybody
knows, 'thout bein' told, ,"rejoined Reuben,
s'but guess ain't so poor can't spend
bit once year for the poor little creeturs.
I'll go down to the store soon's supper's
over, m see what en- do"
Prude and Rebecca wondered what made
their uncle and aunt so silent during sup
per, and why Aunt James voice was SO
much kinder than usual, but not for mo-
meut did they suspect that there had been
witnesses to that pretended Christmas in
the old henhouGe.
When Reuben got back from the village
at pine O'Clock, and, after putting his horse
ia the stable, came into the warm, well
lighted kitchen, where Jane was sewing by
the center table, his arms were full of
bundles, There was little bedsteaG, two
china DOLE, tea set, a small kitchen, a
dolls carriage, bag of candy, and half a
dozen big oranges. He looked little anxi'
GUS as Jane unwrapped one thing after the
other, for he half expected to be called to
account for such wild extravsgance; bat,
for wonder, Jane spoke no word of
blame or criticism.
They went together into the L.room
where the two little girls were asleep, but
vera scarcely over the threshold when they
stopped shot, for, by the light Of small
lamp On the mautel, they saw ight " bch
moved them both deeply. Under the man
tel hung two gray hand-knit stockings psck-
ed full.
Miss lane did net venture To look at her