The Afro-American advance. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1899-19??, 1899-12-30

Unsuitable monster. let we couldn I
make up our minds to close ii up and
put up a stove instead, because OF its
radiant eheerfulness. How jolly il was,
just when the first touch of a winters
twilight stole on, to pile fresh hickory
logs on the old andirons and watch the
flames dash up the chimney's throat
and light the whole room with a mellow
crimson Game.
But the wood! OF course. we three
women couldn't very well go out and
chop and haul it, and our funds did
not always warrant hiring large quanti-
ties laid in, besides which the neigh
boring help we could get was not very
dependable on at all times.
Maple Knoll was a lovely place, but
didn't bring in much revenue, worked
as we were obliged to have it done, by
any Tom, Dick or Harry we could pick
up; and the old house was picturesque
but leaky as a sieve. Still, we man
aged very well about everything else
but for fuel we were obliged to depend
on getting a load hauled now and then
when some neighbor had the time and
inclination to undertake it.
December though it was, we had had
streak of regular Indian-summery
weather-a mild atmosphere inter
woven with a soft smokiness. Our stove
wood had run out. and the neighbor
had all been too busy hauling cordwood
to attend to our needs. Our chip yard
was in good condition, however, and
we had been leyying on it for cooking
purposes, using what little wood we
had for the fireplace, as we didn't need
much, and had gone jogging along in
an easy. grasshoppery way. as if the
pleasant weather were going to last all
winter.
We woke up the morning of December
30 to find the world nearly lost in n
most beautiful blizzard of whirling
snow. Not only was the outward world
a white desolation. but there were lit
tie drifts all over the inside OF the
house.
Dora" I shouted, bouncing out of
bed and landing with one foot in a
snow bank, "how many chips did we
bring in last night?"
About enough to cook breakfast
with" Dora answered. with the calm
ness of despair, as she shook little pun
Of snow out of her shoe. | hoped out
of my drift and rushed to the window
Meantime, let's go down and make
fire and get good warm-up If We
do perish afterward. I"
Wed better save the sitting-room
wood until after breakfast counseled
Dora. land just have fire in the cook
stove till then, and eat in the kitchen. !"
Sure" said !. "tbat1l be a lark
In spite Of the dismal outlook we had
cheerful fire and coy kitchen when
Aunt Laura came down. and then while
she began TO prepare breakfast Dora
and | did ourselves up like LapIanders
and plunged out into the blizzard TO
feed and milk the cows. after which we
oraved the winters blast long enough
TO transport my treasure stump TO the
house, which we did partly by Juggling
and partly By rolling II over and over.
Breakfast was ready when we got ID
safely under cover. and notwithxtand-
ing our impending doom. We fell upon
the ham ard fried potatoes and pan
cakes. and enjoyed our meal immensely.
Girls" said auntie, when the last
potato and the last erimpy brown bat
ter-cake had vanished. ~ don't want
70 dampen your spirits. bat there ian,
chip left, and bow we're goinr 10
cock dinner don't see"
Nett, said Dora twho was just three
months older than II. well cook
elmer BY the fireplace"
Dora, said. you're gifted. That's
wat wt vii, and imagine we're Qua