The World. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1891-1896, 1892-12-24

Jarvis poor relations liable TO come in
any time, as sister-in-law Elizabeth Is;
but she Is 80 different. She knows the
very latest style Ia everything, from
decorating the house to seasoning the
food. When you get the next fowl
ready, Mary Jane, you may call me and
will instruct you how TO stuff it with
oysters and season il with something
more modern than sage or thyme or
Summer sayory"
''Modern2 My goodnessl'' repeated
Mary Jane Titus to herself as she sped
along the narrow slippery snow path,
with thin, faded Highland shawl over
her hood. II wonder what fashion
won't turn up in next Sam said last
night they were going TO have new
cupola on the big barn. because this one
was out Of fashion, and now sage has
gone outi II my memory serves me
right, oysters were made before sage,
or somewhere along about the same
time. Well, I'm thankful that such
things don't trouble me, and I'm glad
stuffed the old gobbler with sage, as
glad MS can be, for Mrs. Heath, dear,
good soul, win get him by the means,
and when the box is packed will slip
/ in a little note Of my own, and tell her
just how it came about"
Mrs. Heath, who with her husband and
her children lived in narrow, tucked
up fat in the city, had 80 many knick-
knacks to buy for the little ones, that
they might not be disappointed in their
gifts, that she COULDN'T afford turkey
| for Christmas, and decided cheerfully
to tide over the day as well as She could
with plain roast Of meat and pndS
ding. The parents were trying to lay
by something for their children SCHOOL,
| ing, but any small lack in the dim
ner should not spoil the festival for
them.
christmas in Massachusetts, wasn't
made much of when was small" she
explained to the children as she went
on with her simple preparations. "And
now ] believe more in the Christmas
spirit all the year round than do in
the hurrah of one days special observ-
ance To my mind the best thing about
the day now is that at Christmas, SEN
sitiye. poor, proud people can receive
things they really need without feeling
hurt. To be sure have never been re-
membered much in that way. Thank
the dear Lord, however, we are above
real want, even IL we have few luxu-
ries, and we have no relatives left on
the earth to think Of us at holiday time.
1t was different when was young and
lived at the dear old roomy homestead
in the country. But Thanksgiving was
then the day of days." and the good
mother gave the children, who were
greatly Interested, detailed descrip-
ton Of the observance of that festival at
the old home.
20 what foclxs of fowls we saw there
last summer!' said the oldest little girl.
How fine it would be, mamma, should
they remember to send one Of them to
you, and it would never be missed
among so many
They have great many things to
think Of, replied Mrs. Heath, 'sand SO
did mygrandmother for that matter,
but she always thought of those who
had lesstthan she had herself, and in
vited her guests accordingly. Iremem-
Der, as if it We're only yesterday, how
she used to stuff the turkey two or
three days beforehand, and set it away
in cool place SO that it should be
thoroughly seasoned through"
just then Mother Heath was broken
off from her pleasant retrospection by
an expressman, who set a large covered
basket into the neat room, saying with
as pleasant smile as If the gift had
been from. himself: "All charges paid.'
with Cousin Jarvis Whitman's COM
pliments,'' it said ON the label, and
when with eager, trembling fingers the
lid was removed there was the plump
est, yellowest turkey Mrs. Heath had
set her patient brown eyes upon for
many day.
Tied to one of the skewered legs was
fancy card on which was written:
owing to the old-fashioned ignor-
ance of yours truly, in putting sage in
the dressingl"
On the opposite side under a wreath
of blue forget-me-nots was printed in
gilt letters: MARY Jane Titus"
Mrs. Heath laughed little, and then
she cried a little as she took out the
turkey, finding beneath it bag of cram
berries, ball of golden butter, and all
the chinlSs filed in with big rosy apples
and plump hickory nuts.
II don't care she said, IF it did
come about through a mistake of Mary
James. | am just as thankful as can
be to the Lord, and to my cousins, and
to Mary Jane Titus. 1t was the most
wonderful thing it's being brought just
as it was when we were talking about
the old farm. / will make the most of
it that can in every way, for it is the
first time in my life that / have had a
turkey on Christmas"
She did indeed make the most Of it.
She. showed it to the neighbors, and
told them it came from theyery farm
where she grew up and that the dress
ing was seasoned with sage from her
grandmother's bed of herbs. But Mary
James card she kept carefully out of
sight.
On Christmas morning she put her
turkey in good season into the oven,
and set her doors and windows open SO
that any passers in the narrow cross
street might know that one family
dwelling there was getting up Christ