People's party paper. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1891-1898, 1892-12-23


listened to the sweet tide of song her
head bent lowly down and prayer
welled up from the poor old mothers
soul: Lord, have waited SO long.
Let me see my boys face again before I
die!'
In that moment the church clock
chimed 10 meridian.
In that moment, as she recalled after
ward, peace spread its white wings
above her, and an angel voice seemed to
whisper, Cali is WELL" When she re-
turned the family had assem- led for the
Christmas dinner.
There was Rube, who had a good
farm in the ighlands-Rube, the steady
going "a broad shouldered, sturdy
Saxon, with his pretty, dark eyed wife
dressed in a now black silk with a real
lace collar and cuffs; Marianne, the belle
of the family, and the youngest, o lass of
eighteen, blond, debonair and roguish,
with her good looking 1iance lowering
beside her, the son Of q well to do farmer
in the vicinity, whose daughter Marianne
had just been visiting for few days.
There, too, was Alfred, the doctor,
portly, we'll meaning man, and q little
of dandy in his dress, as became q
physician and bachelor popular among
the invalid ladies of Westchester.
The deacon trudged in from his own
meeting house, where minister and dea-
con had been holding a private session
of two hours over the backsliding of
some poor soul predoomed according to
their belief to damnation. There was
general handshaking Of father and kiss
ing Of mother The deacon did not be-
heve in kissing or indulging in the
prOfane luxury Of smile on the Sab
bath day, but Christmas, even accord
ing to his creed, was made for rejoicing.
Among all the family that day a
queen had been enthroned-the waif
who had arrived the night before. A
big box had come for her by Sam Dolan,
the carrier, and its contents showed that
the wild Texan rover had not spared
expense on his little daughter. Gay in
blue silk and lace and ribbons. the little
thing tossed her curls and beamed de-
hghtedly, first on one, then on another,
conscious Of being the object Of every
body's admiration.
At last she cuddled mp in her grand
mothers arms and fell softly asleep.
/ Poor grandma! She felt repaid for those
years Of waiting and WEAKNESS as she
Graded the little ones head on her
breast and brushed her pale face against
the fluffy, silken hair. Just as every
body grew keenly hungry Katrine rang
forth a welcome peal from the dinner
bell.
After the deacon's grace what a chorus
Of praises went up! Was there ever such
adelicious, fat, brown turkey as mothers:
Whoever made such clear jelly? And
he tiny pig-roasted whole-with the
apple in its mouth! And the mince pies,
and whole pitchers Of russell cider, ice
cold.
The perfumes of Araby the blest arose
from the banquet.
But every feast must have its end.
The day lowered as evening came on;
gusty clouds chased each other across
the sky, and Rube, full to repletion,
pushed back his chair and said he must
be ''gettin up his team pretty soon, as
NC RIO4AASod lbs WIG luey 6Uay aC
her mothers, seven miles farther up, for
the night" Just at this moment Ka-
trine, who had gone to the well for
pitcher Of fresh water, looked in at the
door and beckoned mysteriously to old
Mrs. Marshall, which caused her to
make excuse, and leaving the room to
seek the spot to which the girl pointed
In the cleaning beside the old moss
covered bucket that hung in the we'll"
stood tall, stalwart man, who, as his
mother advanced, trembling and uncer-
tain, held out his arms.
Mother! oh, mother!" he said with a
hoarse sob in his voice.