The Windham County reformer. (Battleboro, Vt.) 1876-1897, 1895-12-20
A POINT OF KNUCKLIN' DOWN,


an Oregon Christmas. II had rainc
mistily at dawn: but at ten o'cloc
the clouds had parted and moved ava
reluctantly. There was blue am
dazzling sky overhead. The rain-drop
still sparkled on the windows and 81
the green grass, and the last roses ant
chrysanthemums hung their beautiful
heads heavily beneath them: but Their
was to be no more rain. Oregon CITY
mighty barometer-the Falls OF TN
Willamette was declaring to her peop
by her softened roar that the morrow
vas to be fair.
Mrs. Orvile Palmer was in the larg'
kitchen making preparations for TIT
Christmas dinner. She was picture
Of dainty loneliness in IA lavendar ging
ham dress. made with full skirt anC
SHRED waist and big leg % .muttor
sleeves. a white apron was tied neat
ly around her waist
Her husband came in, and pauseo
to put his arm around her and kiss
her. She was stirring something on
the stove, holding her dress aside with
one hand.
Its goin' to be fine Christmas,
Emarne. - he said, and sighed uncon-
scously. There was wistful and
careworn look on his face.
Beautiful" said Emarine viva
clio usly. Coin down town, Orville|
"Yes. Want anythng?'
why, the cranberres amt come
vet. I'm SO uneasy about 'em. They'd
ought to "a ben stooed long ago. |
like 'em cooked down an strained to a
jell. don't see what ails them
groc'rymen! Sh'u'd think they c'u'd
get around some time before doomsday
Then | want here, you'd best set it
down" She took pencil and slip
of raper from the shelf over the table
and gave them to him. Now, let me
see" She commenced stirring again,
with two little wrinkles between her
brows. "A hat a pound O citron: a
half pound o candied peel: two
pounds % cur'nts: two pounds o
raisins-git 'em stunned, Orville; a
mound o. sooet-make 'em give you
sometha amt all strings! A box o
Nortner' Spy apples; a hat dozen
emons four-bits' worth O. walnuts or
almonds, whichever freshest; pint
o Puget Sound oysters fer the dress
in, an bunch o celery. You stop
by an see about the turkey, Orville;
an | wish you'd run in s you go by
mothers, an tell her to come up as
soon as she can. She'd ought to he
here now. -
Her husband smiled as he finished
he list g You're wonderful house
keeper Emarine, he said.
Then his face grew grave. Got a
present for your mother, yet Ema-
rine?'
ooh, yes long ago. l got her a
black shawl down t Charman's. She's
ben wantin one. y
He shutfled his feet about little.
"Unh hunh. Iuh- that isl reckon
yuh amt picked out any present fer
fer my mother, have yah, Emarineg"
NO" she replied, with cold dis
tinctness. II amt
There was silence. Emarine stirred
briskly. The lines grew deeper be-
tween her brows. Two red spots came
into her cheeks. II hope the rain
amt spoilt the chrysanthemums,' she
said then. with an air of Kidding her
self of disagreeable subject.
Orvile made no answer. He moved
mis- feet again uneasily. Presently he
said: Il expect my mother needs IA
black shawl. too. Seemed to me her'n
looked kind O. rusty at church Sun
day. Notice it, Emarine?'
NO said Emarine.
Seemed to me she was gittin' to
look otful old. Emarine his voice |
broke he came a step nearer-"it'H |
be the first Christmas dinner | ever
eat without my mother. -
She drew back and looked at him.
He knew the look that flashed into her
eyes, and shrank from it.
''Iou don t have to this m without |
'er, Orville Parmer?! You go an
eat your dinner with your mother f
you want? | can get along alone. Are
you goin' to order them things? If
you amt, Just say so, an I'll go an
dot myselfr'
He put on his hat and went without
d word.
Mrs. Palmer took the saucepan from
the stove and set 1t on the hearth.
Then she sat down and leaned her
cheek in the palm of her hand, and
looked steadily out the window. Her
eyelids trembled closer together. Her
eyes held far sighted look. She saw
a picture: but it was not the picture
of the blue reaches of sky, and the
green valley cleft by its silver-blue
river She saw a kitchen, shabby
to her own, scantily fur
and in it an old, white haired
woman sitting down to eat her Christ
mas dinner alone,
After while she rose with an i'm
patient sigh. "Well, | can't help itn'
She exclaimed. "lf / knuckled down
to her this time, I'd have to do It
ag'in. She might just as well get ust
to t first as last. | wish she hadn't 4,
got to lookin too old an pitiful,
though, a-settin' there in front o. us
in church Sunday after Sunday. The [
cords stand out in her neck like we'll /
rope, an her chin keeps a-quiv'
so. can see Orville awatchin'
her"
The door opened suddenly and her
mother entered. She was bristing
with curiosity. Say. Emarine.'
She lowered her voice, although there ,
vas no one to hear 'Whered' you s
; pose the undertaker's goin' up by {
lere? Have you hear of anybody" |
"No." said Emarine. Did Orville :
stop by an tell you to hurry up?"
Yes. What's the matter of him? {
IS he sick?'' s
NJ, ,, I I,no,,- 81 Wbv9,,