The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-12-23
A CHRISTMAS VISION.

Abraham COluHDuS Was WOTTlcu.
DADDY, Crismus is comm, ard I wants
doll baby with yeller coat on"
1t was the first faint whisper Of the
coming storm. But she was little, and
she was a girl, so it was easy to ignore
her small, plaintive voice.
Daddy, Crismus is comm"
Abraham Columbus looked up from
his work and glared. He was engaged
upon corn shuck coisr for mule wear,
and was sitting fiat upon his cabin
floor, half buried in pile Of musty
smelling shucks. AS he thrust his gray
head and great round spectacles
through the oval collar, he looked tre-
mendously imposing.
Il bin lookin' for it! Patsy fus' and
now you, Mr.. Sandy. Torectly the
whole kit and bilin' of you'll be yelpin'
Daddy, Crismus is comm"
Daddy, Crismus is comm"
1t was like a faint echo of his own
sonorous growl. This time from the
open doorway.
AN they got er whole raft er fire
crackers down : Mr.. Bryan's sto''-
from the fire place.
AN snakes at riggles like they wuz
live"-from the doorway.
"Betsy's got doll wild a yeller coat"
from Patsy.
"An'-An'-An' in full chorus.
Abraham dropped his ball of Irvine
to clap his hands to both ears. He
was tender hearted AMI generous, but
"Whar were the use Of studyin' bout
Crismus with cotton down to five
cents?" He groaned once or twice and
hen resumed his most awe-inspiring
voice:
Il hev made up my mind not to stan
bit er foolushniss this year. puts up
with too much all the time. Eff you
don't shet up you'll ketch gorss, chill
lun, you will indeed. l hev made up
~ mind fumly. The fus one that SEE
Crismus' to me, under this roof, is 60
n t get lam bastin', an that's the
word wild the bark on it. Bring me
some mo- shucks, Sandy"
Sandy drew his ten bare toes out of
the ashes and brought the shucl1s.
"A jumpin' jack an er red Vaughn"
he sighed in audible soliloquy, as he
dumped the shucks down on the floor.
EFF you don't want me to make a
jumpin jack outer you, you JUS get out
of my reach, Alexander Columbus, that
is all l desires to remark on this occa-
sion, less'n 1t is to repeat that the fus
one that SEE Crismus to me will get a
lam bastin'."
The door was darkened by com
handing figure enveloped in long ul-
ster Of ancient date. 1t was Mrs. Col
umbus just back from trip to Bryan's
Crossroads store. She was a woman OF
unfailing energy. Just now she was
fairly trimming over with it. The san
OF the season was rising. She glanced
down at the shuck platter as she united
her bonnet strings.
well, OIL man, Crismus is comm"
Abraham dropped his head in spirit
less surrender.
Yes, Morier. 'Cordin' to the almanac
1t jus two days off,"
Bryan is laid in a big Crismus
stock"
yes, Morier. An l bin lookin' i,
over"
These arc mighty hard times, Mo.
rier. Cotton Gown to five cents q
pound"
Mrs. Columbus was bustling about
the cabin, hanging up the ancient Ill
ster, sweeping the shucks into a more
compact stack about Abrams shoul
ders. fiing1ng chips on the fire, dis
patching Sandy for the greens ant
Jake for the sweet potato pump, al
with positively cyclonic force ant
rapidity, that left every one breathles,
but herself:
AN while the chillun is out of hear
in, Album, mout as well lay down tn,
law. want you to go to Bryan's sto
bsfo' the things Is all picked over"
Abram spread appealing hands out
ward to prove the emptiness Of hi
pockets.
mo use tellin' me what you want
Morier. No use In the worp. is pore
than Jobs turkey this C'rismus. an
cotton down to FIVE cents