The people's journal. (Pickens, S.C.) 1891-1903, 1895-12-26
Onr gamily Stony.
A Point Of KnQckGn Down.


mistily at dawn; but at ten O'Clock
the clouds had.parted and moved away
Reluctantly. There was blue and
dazzling sky overhead. The rain
drops still sparkled on the windows
and on tho green grass, and the last
roses and chrysanthemums hung their
beautiful heads heavily beneath them
but there was to be no more rain.
Oregon City's mighty barometer-the
Falls of the Willamette-was deciar-
ing to her people by berE Esoitenlng
roar that tho morrow Wes to be fair.
Mrs. Orville Palmer was In the
large kitchen making preparations for
the Christmas dinner. She was a
picture of dainty loveliness in a laven-
der gingham dress made with q full
skirt and shirred waist Ind lego
mutton sleeves. a white apron was
tied neatly around her waist.
Her husband came in, and paused to
put his arm around her and kiss her.
She was stirring something Oh the
stove, holding her dress aside with one
hand.
"Its goin' to be fine Christmas,
Emarine," he said, and sighed uncon-
sciously. There was a wistful and
careworn look on his face.
"Be,,utiful !" said Emarine, viva
ciously. Coin down town, Or7ille ?"
"Yes. Want anything :"
"Why, the cranberries amt come.
yet. Pm so uneasy about 'em. They'd
ought to "a been stooed long ago. |
iell. [ don't see what ails them
groc'rymen ! Sh'u'1 think they c'u'd
get around some time before doOms-
day Then want-here, you'd best
set it down." She took u pencil and a
slip of paper from a. shelf over the
table and gave them to him. Now,
let me see." She commenced stirring
again, with two rfCGle wrinkles be-
tween Acr brows. :" a haf Il pound O.
oitrr, a haf pound o caudied peel
two pounds o cur'nts; two pounds O
raisins-git 'cm stunned, Orvillo; a
pound o sooet-make 'em give you
some that ain't all strings A box O.
Norther' Spy appl"s; haf dozen
lemons fOur-bits' worth O. walnuts or
almonds, whichever's freshest; pint
o. Puget Sound oysters fer the dressin,'
and a bunch o. cel'ry. You stop by an
see about the turkey, Orville; an l
wish you'd run in s you go by mothers,
an tell her to come up as soon as she
can. Shed ought to be here now"
Her husband smiled as he finished
the list. "YOu're q wonderful house
keeper, Ema"ine," he said.
Then his face grow grave. Scot q
present for your mother yet, Ema
rine ,"
"Oh, yes, long ago. I got EZRA black
shawl down t. Charman's. She's hen
wantin' one"
He shut1led his feet about a little
"Unh-hunh. Yuh-that isl reckon
you amt picked out any present fer
fer my mother, have yuh, Ema-
rine ?"
mo-" she replied, with cold dis
tinctness. "I ain't."
There was a silence. Emarine
stirred briskly. The lines grew
deeper between her brows. Two red
spots came into her cheeks. 81 hope
the rain amt spoilt the chrysan-
thums," she said then, with an air of
Kidding herself of a disagreeable sub
ject.
Orville made no answer He moved
MS feet again uneasily. Presently he
said: " expect my mother needs a
black shawl, too. Seemed to me her'n
looked kind o. rusty at church Sunday.
Notice it, Emarine?"
NO." said Emarine.
Seemed to me she was ,gittin' to
look oiful old. Emarine Ibis voice
broke; he came q step nearer" it'll
be the first Christmas dinner L over
eat without my mother"
She drew back and looked at him.
He knew the look that flashed into
her eyes, and shrank from it.
You don't have to eat this m with
out er, Orville Farmer You go an
eat your dinner with your mother # |
you want can get along alone. Are
you goin' to order them things? I'll
you amt just say so an I'll 20 an do It
myself !"
He put on his hat and went without
u word.
Mrs. Palmer took the saucepan from
the stove and set it on the hearth. |
Then she sat down and leaned her
cheek in the palm of her hand, and |
looked steadily out tho window. Her
eyelids trembled closer together. Her
eyes held q farsighted look. She saw |
of the blue reaches Of sky, and the |
green valley cleft by its silver-blue |
river. She saw kitchen, shabby
compared to her own, scantily fur
nished, and In it an old white-haired |
woman sitting down to eat her Christ
mas dinner alone.
After awhile she arose with an inn
patient sigh. "Well, can help it ~
she exclaimed. IF knuckled down
to her this time, I'd have to do It ag'in.
She Nigh just az well get ust tot first
40 lttSu' "lSl SDc HAUL SOU TO
lookin' SO old ard pitiful, though, a.
settn' there in front o. us in church
Sunday after Sunday. The cords
stand out in her neck like well-rope,
an her chin keeps a-quivrin' so ! |
can see Orville a-watchin' hcr---"
The door opened suddenly, and her
mother entered. She was bristling
With curiosity. Say, lGmarine !" She
lowered her voice, although there was
no one to hear "Where d you s'pose
the undertaker's goin' up by here ?
Have you hear Of any body"
NO, said Emarinc. did Orvillc
stop by an tel-you to hurry up?"
Is he sick ?'
Not as know of. Why"
He looks so. Oh, I wonder If it's
one O the Peterson children whore
the undor-taker's a-goin'! They've
all got the quinsy sore throat"
. How does he looksp / don't see g
he looks so turrable."