The Londonderry sifter. (South Londonderry, Vt.) 1883-19??, 1898-12-23
Mrs. Columbus was remarkable



to he s'de-tracked
you can get me par err fine shoes.
| amt had but one par out err this
years crap, an five yards a green serge
for bas'. Bryan ought to throw in the
trimmin's An Patsy's goin' to have a
doll an tea set eff the skies fall-a tin
one'll do; Sandy wants jumpin' Jack
and some firecrackers. An Jake wants
a red Vaughn. ! see one this mornin'
hangin' in the sto' winder. You kin
bring bundle err crackers for him,
too"
Mrs. Columbus knelt to blow the fire
into greater vitality with her strong
lungs. Abraham looked at her broad
back furtively.
us that all, Morier?" Then he groan-
ed.
That's all. Album, an I think I'm
lettin' you off easy. Sister Sallie's goin'
to have-what you groanin bout, Abb
um?"
"Toothache, Morier; mighty bad. But
amt got no money to have 1t pulled
out. Times is awful hard. is JUS got
to grin an bar it, But don't say Girls
mus to me, baigs of you."
Maria arose in her might with gen.
orally inflated aspect, perhaps from her
ecent lung exercise. She lowered loft
~ over the little shuck-environed man
IN the floor.
Album Columbus, we won't vase
our breath talkin' l needs all mine t
keep greenwood fires FUN goin' out
done toll you what me an the chillun
wants fur Crismus. That toothache er
yours comes roun' as regular as Girls
mus does. Thar's the balsam apple on
the chimbly piece an some raw cotton
stickin' in the jamb."
Only two more nights before Christ
mas. Two nights of mental and physi-
cal agony to Abraham Columbus. He
never could refer to them in after years
without chattering teeth.
Why he should have walked up that
night at the hour when graveyards
yawn" he could never tell. His habit
was to sleep peacefully from dusk to
dawn. But wake up he did to see stand
ing at the foot of his bed tall, white
winged object emitting faint phos-
phorescent glow, to hear solemn COM
mand laid upon him in a sepulchral
voice. The words burned themselves
into his terrified brain:
can Mosis appeared unto Album in a
dream, and sayeth, arise and do the
biddin' of thy wife, eff thou wouldst live
long in the land and prosper"
The faint light came closer. The
white wings famed his clammy fore
head. He flung himself backward up
on the bed and drew the covering tight
over his starting eyeballs. Sandy was
snoring by his side. Maria had de-
clined the risk of being kept awake all
night by a tooth that only ached at
Christmas times.
Once again the white-winged visit
ants, once again the sepulchral adjura-
tion to arise and do the bidding of his
wife, and then Christmas dawned
bright and sparkling.
Abraham demanded an early break
fast. His mule, respondent Id new
shuck collar, was saddled and hitched
to the rack by the time the coffee pot
was on the table. Mrs. Columbus
beamed alphabetically on her hus-
band
Coin to the tooth puller, Abum?"
mot this mornin', Morier."
Coin ridin', Abum?"
Abraham cast haggard glance
across the table at her, then swallowed
his coffee at gulp. Eyes, Morier."
which way, Abum?"
"0ut to Bryan's sto', Morier.'
well, don't be gone too long. l done
stuff fat pulllt, an made some sweet
tato pies for dinner, s'long as we
couldn't ford nothin' better for Girls
mus
But Bryan's store was ten miles
away The roads were heavy. The
crowds at the store we're jolly. Bryan's
whiskey was good, and it flowed freely.
Not even the ear of meeting on the
lonely ride homeward the white wing
ed spook thar mad frightened him into
/ unearthing his treasure gourd could
| starr Abr han. home before the setting
sun and the departing crowds rebuked
him. ARD tlten his progress was slow,
for the burden of his Christmas shop
ping was heavy upon him. Marias five
yards of green serge for basque and
| pair of fine shoes made bulky paper
| parcel. The pasteboard box containing
pocAeted; Jake's red express wagon
was Sting over ore shoulder, and San
| dy's jumping jack and stake wriggled
| tremendously together among the fire.
crackers. Nothing h,,d 5een forgotten.
Not even the spook!
The stuff pullet was filing the cabin
with savory odors, and the sweet DO
tato pies were shining in vanished
splendor under the lighted lamp when
Abraham opened the door and stood
] staggering under his burdens. His
entrance was impetuous. His utter
ance rather thick.
Morier, Crismus done
come"
Il see 1t is, Album, and-so is you"
Mrs. Columbus smiled inscrutably as
she hc''ed her husband to unload, men,
tally dec ding that:
The OF white crane wings had serv-
ed lie. one good turn, sure"
Infantiic reduction.
/ Il guess paw hasn't got much money
this year." said little brother.
What makes you think so?" asked