Martinsburg independent. [volume] (Martinsburg, W. Va.) 1875-1900, 1897-12-25

OStl sell SET j. Halu MTBs 0Si-
ness, as her father walked out of the
yard and down the road towards his
own home. "The settest man that
ever walked the earth. I wouldn't
stand it about Jenny if was moth
er. She's dying to see Jennles
babies an just believe that father
would soften If he saw 'em once.
The only grand children he's got on
earth, an he nor ma never sees 'em.
If l dared I'd fix it so he should see
those two dear little tots once.
1t was dark when Jason Hogarth
reached his house. There were no
lights In the front windows of the
big, square farm house with an in
credibly long L back to it. He
walked around to che rear, where
| streams of CHEEKY light shone from
the kitchen windows.
A pleasant odor Of frying ham
greeted him as he entered the kitch-
en-, where a table with snowy cloth
was set for supper, close to the shin.
ing kitchen stove.
ut was so chilly ir the dining
room, / thought we'd eat supper out
here" said his wife, small, slight,
gray-haired woman.
81 enjoy eating in the kitchen of
a cold night like this said her hus-
hand. "It's gittin colder fast. Sup
per bout ready 7"
ayes I'll put it right on the Ia.
| ble."
They talked little while they ate.
Jason was inwardly rebellious over
what he called bis daughters "im-
| pudence,'' and Mrs. Hogarth's
thoughts could not be given utter
ance, because they we're OF Jenny.
u must 60 up to the attic az git
tout the buff 10 robes,'i said Mr.. Ho-
garth, pushing his chair away from
the table. "I'll start so early in the
mornip' / won't have time to git the
robes then. / guess I'll put right
off for bed as soon as / git the robes.
We got TO be off by five O'clock
Five minutes later he was 10 his
musty, cobwebbed old attic, candle
in hand. When he had found the
robes he said to himself:
"Wonder If my big fur muffler
amt up here in some of them trunks7
I'll need It If it's cold as [ think it'll
be in the morning. Mebby it's in
this trunk"
He dropped on one knee before
small, old, half covered trunk, with
brass-headed nails that had lost their
lustre years ago.
Throwing up the trunk lid, lie held
the candle lower. His eyes fell on
big rag doll with china head. He
picked it up and stared at it for d
moment.
His mind went back to Christmas
long years ago. He was poor
young married man then, and he had
worked nearly all day at husking
corn for q neighbor, to earn money
to buy that don head, and his wife
had sat up until midnight to make
the clumsy body stuffed with saw
dust.
He remembered how his little
Jenny had shrieked with JOY when
she found the doll IN her stocking
the next morning. And what is
this? A tiny, faded, blue merino
baby sacque. His wife had made it
before Jenny had yet come into the
world.
It was the very first tiny garment
she had made, and her husband re-
called how she had blushed and tried
to hide it under her apron when he
had found her at work upon it. He
remembered that he had taken it
from her and kissed her, and then
he bad kissed the tiny garment t.
self.
The candle la his hand shook
strangely as he bent lower over the
trunk and brought forth tiuy china
cup with From pspa' on 1t, and
little sampler With "God bless fsther
and mother worked in rather un-
certain letters by little hand.
There was q string Of blue glass
beads that he had given her on her
fifth birthday and In . heavy black
case was photograph OF her With
the beads around her neck.
The little pictured face smiled up
at him from the fsame, and there
was mist before bis eyes when he
thought of how many, many times
those little bare arms had frightened
In a warm embrace around his neck,
and OF how many times those smil-
ing liIs had kissed him and sAid:
81 love yGu best OF anybody 10 all
the world, papa
Everything in the trunk was re-
minder Of her in her baby days-of