Deseret evening news. [volume] (Great Salt Lake City [Utah]) 1867-1920, 1899-12-23


What can you see, mamma7'
II can see the keys OF the kitchen on
your dear little white nose, dearie. where
you've ribbed 1t while backing the
kitchen stove"
Upon which the little girl hurried
away to look In the glass first and wash
away the SCOT afterwards from her
pcnrly white hasds.
II was very near Christmas time,
and. although there was no snow In this
far-awny stake. etill everybody was
busy preparing for the happy holiday.
MY dear" said Mr.. Wood, entering
the house late ono evening, ~ shall have
TO go TO Allcnsbufg and take the team.
too, between this and Christmas"
"Oh. James, was all his wife re-
piled.
ut can't be helped Diantha. hate
to so. But duty must be obeycd."
1T seems to me. James. you think
only Of your duty, never OF yourself
and rarely Of your family. We owe some
duties 10 ourselves"
'Dantha. there IL not three pounds OF
salt In this town. II was not dlsc0v-
cred ,iil this very hour. You know.
I've got the only team that can be
epared from the ditch. and every man
u ,rEngtd IA necessary and vital la
Dor. hteidcs that. the land entries for
that west piece OF town must be at
tended TO this week. and there are n
dozen other almost az important Tca.
sons. Shall ! stay at homer
90 on. dear. 1 did not mean 90 dis
courage you, for | know your noble.
God-fcating efforts to build up the
country to which we have been called
But We miss YOU 20, ana you are away
50 much. and YOU work so hard"
Never mind. my girl. Better wear
out than rust out. Get my things put
together And 10 there anything you
necd2"
"Oh yes: there lsi want some beans.
We have few supplies this winter and
] need beans. Don't forget them,
James, you must be sure that you get
them. for We need them"
Hurried preparations went forward
II viii get home Christmas eve. Dian
tina. 30 have hot supper ready"
sure. papal But rcmember-bcani
Just one bean
Just one bean
There are turnips know
But there not what they seem.
Black or white. the beans my delight,
VIII be happy with Just one bcanl"
She sang. with a lachfymose drawl-
ing OF her Syliables and a dramatic and
operate twist and twiri OF the various
notes.
20. gracious. Dlantha. I'm not going
to forget"
"Of course not. thou paragon % hus-
bands, for I'm going TO sing II into
your memory.
Just one bean'-she earrolied and
trilled as she packed clothes and
luncheon away In the big spring wagon.
Going to ride horseback. papa?" she
asked, rs the hired man drove the team
around. and Charles led his fathers
horse out saddlod and brldled.
Yes, l thought so. then I VIII have
the horse to do my errands with
l. a0s. -
l VIII get home. too. an hour or 10
earlier"
Don't forget to bring Santa Claus
home with you"
"Good-by. papa; good-by. good-by."
and Mr.. Wood jumped ON his horse.
his rotund body and his long bearded.
good-humored face giving him the APP
peatance OF second jolly German
Christmas Saint. as he rode merrlly
Gathering out Of the yard.
Just onc--bean." sung both mother
and daughter gaiiy. as he Jared forth
on his way.
Now. children. we must pitch In and
get everything done for our own Christ
mas and then help everybody In the
whole nelghborhood who needs our as
slstancc."
Mrs Dlantha and her husband had
both been practical jokers In their
younger days. She had been decel a
In February once. by her husband
sticking lucern leaves with soap onto
the rosc bushes.
she had rctorted by sewing up his
shirt sleeves and legs. which he had to
unpick while she was as II. 8. meeting.
Numberless jokes had been pcrpctrat-
ed In the days gone by: and 40. after
her husbands departure. Mrs. Dlantha
set her wits TO work TO devise some plan
that would cure her beloved lord and
master OF his careless habit OF hang
ing his clothing about In the sitting
room.
Meanwhile her ilege lord rode on. and
he. too. was medltating on the feasible
lty OF some plan which wbuld demon
stratc to his wife that his memory was
az good as calendar He had small
use for reminders; he Just liked to do
n thing or forget II rs seemed him best.
and he wanted his wife to see the
matter from his own point OF view.
The days slipped by, and the day Of
Mr.. Woods return was at hand.
Mother. can dust the sitting room
to-day?" asket small Dlantha.
mo. my peti Mamma In going to do
that herself. and | am going to make
q surprise Just for papa only. l will
therefore keep the key OF the room In
my pocket, dearie. You know there's
the Christmas tree to trim"
All the afternoon. Mrs W. worked In
the sitting room. After the sweeping
and dusting We're complete. small
Dlantha wondered why on earth her
mother wanted TO empty all her papa's
trunka. and drawers and carry every
thing In the front room.
But she asked no questions; she knew
II would be useless. And. too, she was
sure she would be In for any fun there
might be going So she went on ston-
ing rnisins and popping corn, assisted
by her big brother, Charles, and him
dered by her small brother. Tommy.
At last Charles burst into the house
with:
Here comes papa down the road.
here comes papaW
Down went playthlngs and ralslns
and things. ana out came mother and
children. running joyfully 10 the big
gates 10 welcome dear papa home on
Christmas Eve"
Home again, home sweet home"
sang his wife as she held up her face
for Il kiss,
Come In, come in," and leading the
way Mrs, Dinntha opened the front
door, and gently pushed her husband
into the sittlng-room, while she deity
drew the children away to unhnrness
the horse and to help her put on the
supper.
What n sight met the nstonished gaze
Of the good man of the house.
The room was certainly decorated,
and so was the Christmas trcel But
what on earth were the decorations?
He Rave one swift comprehensive
glance-then sank, utterly collapsed in