Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1896-12-31
A CHRISTMAS EPISODE.
BY EBEN Z. REXFORD.
CHAPTER I.

CHAPTER I.
Mrs. Perkins had dropped in" to
find out what the Joneses were going
to do on Christmas.
We've promised to take dinner
with the Williamses," said Mrs. Jones.
"You know, none Of the children eau
come home this year, so we're goin' out
TO dinner for the first time Almost
sense I've KEEP house. l don't remem-
Der o. eatln' a Chris mas dinner away
from home more'n two or three
times sense was married. ! feel just
as nervous N fidgety over it as l can
be, fer Mrs. Williams shes invited Mr..
Snyder, N you know how tbs between
easy breath til it's all over. i wish
we didn't have to go, or that Mr.. Sny-
der want invited, or there was suthin'
TO keep them two men apart. / know
they'll git to wanglin' m likes not
have a regular quarrel. don't take 4
minnit's comfort thinkin of it, l sh'll
feel jest5s If l was settin' on kag o.
gunpowder THAT might explode any
napnft."
ats too bad that they keep a-hang-
in TO that OF diffikilty like dogs to a
bone" said Mrs. Perkins. II sh'd think
they'd be sick of it by this time. Ev'by-
body else is. 1t happened so long ago
fimt don't seem to remember what it
was all about; but I've hoard SO much
about 1t that I've got used to it, Jest as
! have to the meetin' house, or any
Thing else I've known sense | was
girl"
at was about the mectln' house."
explained Mrs. Jones. You know they
wanted to build new one, N the dea-
con he wanted ii in one Place, m Mr..
Sydncr he wanted it some'rs else, N
both of 'em bein' so contrary, they set
out that II they couldn't have their
own way tere shouldn't be new one,
N they Quarrelled N quarrelled till
they got the whole Degihborhood by
the ears, n the consequence is we
haint had any new meetin' house, m
don't sees we're ever like to have.
I've go 50 sick O. the thing. hearin' the
deacon harp ON it by spells all these
years, that I've wished. more'n once.
there could be n law made to shet up
his mouth ev'ry time he thought Of 1t.
But, good land, that'd kill him.
laughed Mrs. Jones. II do b'leeve he
injoys abusin' Mr.. Snyder, n s'pose
Mr.. Snyder's jest as bad, from what
I've heard. They're well matched"
Its too bad, anyway" said Mrs.
Perkins, with q sigh. Its made no
end o. hard feelin's in the church, n
Rendered the work more'n everything
else that's ever happened. We all like
'em both. They're awful good men
in most ways, but it seems IS eff they
was kind o. loony on this one pint. I
wonder IL twill ever be settleiT'
Not till one or t'other dies" said
Mrs. Jones, decidedly. They're jest
alike-contrafry as two men ever
could ben neither of 'em - ever
give in to the other, unless there's Il
merrlcle, which l don't s'posell ever
take place. / can't imagine either of
'em admittin' he was wrong. They're
too set fer that"
1--WE need a new meetin' house the
worst way" said Mrs. Perkins. 1.-The
old ones been patched up an fixed
over till there ain't much chance o.
dom anything more for 1t. Eff they
cam agree, don't see why they
Couldn't keep stin m let the others de.
eide about a new one"
"Ketch 'em a-doin' thet," said Mrs.
Jones. They're jest as stubborn to.
dry as they was twenty year ago
It's You shall do my way or you
shan't do anything with 'em. I've told
the deacon 1t WANT right n Christian
TO act 50, but he all'ays flares UP N
gifts so mad that I've got so I hardly
ever mention 1t, fer the sake o. peace
I feel Jest as sure as can be tlha,
there'll be set-to between 'em eff they
both go TO Mrs. Wdlfiamses n go they
bOuh VIII. One wouldn't stay away
fer fear the otheru say he dassen',
come. I most wish the deacon'd bt
sick SO he had to stay TO home.
don't b'leeve it's wicked to feel that
way, fer hate quarre[an' any time, n
specially Chris mas"
Mrs. Dimes feet 1t her duty 20 say
something to her husband about tn.
matter, on Christmas morning, bcfor,
they started for church, from which
place they were 10 go to the William,
homestead.
Now, Lem'wel, l do hope you won
let ycur temper git the upper han
" you to-day" she said. For tn
lan's sake, don't git into dispute Will
Mr.. Snyder.