The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1899-12-24
droning lot Of rap,urous twsddle in my ear sbou,

| sweet Susie Belknap
| what and I began 10 worry about the engine.
Should anything happen TO her In my absoncc ms
cold hshy eye Of the master mschsnc wSlid Isi
and pancakes and feii III for the deed Of our lives
us with pr"yision m bu, declined everything but
piece of boiled sal. PORK, loaf Of bread and a
/ had 10 speak twice "a little sharply the last
time to Harry, who was bidding Susie good
by in the kitchen thought heard I suspicious ,hp lou
beaded fellows hang him. no came away and
forgot the coffeel
MIR. Bclknap told us a better road than the vay
We came, so We got back without much trouble.
The curtain had caught flre from the furnace door
nS s,Gy Gsno S saek bnS
run seven minutes and frozen up ngAin. But
there was both fire and weter in her SO didn't
the weather was moderatng rapidly, as the cab
was untcnable we adjourned 10 the snow hole
under her We munchcd our pork and bread In
comfort down there Harry calling out that he
had found the wishbUne.
The storm was about over; had kept NIX engine
alive, my stomach wnas comfortably RDed and
my mind was easy. | III my pipe and was DOING
off 10 the endless hum Of Hnrrys ouloeies Of Susie
Belknap, when | was rldely recalled TO railroad
realities by the voice Of Davis shouting. The
snowplough with a gang OF shovellcrs was half
way through the cut, and Davis chookful OF bust
ness was calling me to get ready.
Where tho deuce have you been all summer
I asked petulanty. For he had all the appear;
Over here TO the house" he answered cheerily
NWhcro was YOU
What house,"
why, my mo,hcrin-laws: Jest back q them
trees"
We'll it's a wonder you wouldn't ask us over:
how'd you sposc We was agoin TO stan itf"
dn soq y.Sb Sa sP , whSn
hero Yesterday 10 scc II we wanted anything, an
he said there woIn't nobody here. Whercd
ycgog
"Belknaps? Gosh' whad We 20 way down
the, there fur; why it's four times as fur as it's
70. 4 ~ We'll. I'm mighty glad Two found
They dug us out, and slammed 4 to old Is
where behind me, and ! wanted TO p't by the
only switch there was between me and home
right and while bucking little pile Of snow
that had fNllcn on the tack since the plow passed
she came ZIP and coupled ~ our caboosc.
We went in the rest of the way flying. The
sun came out and made a foiryland Of the heavily
snow covered Landscape. and tempered the frosty
air that came through the broken windotts. II
was thirty hours after Christmas dinner time
when We stepped of her at the ash track. but
told Harry 10 come ON UP to the house and we'd
pick the bones, anyway.
When We turned the corner there was the house
all ~ up. and as We STAMPED the snow of our feet
and mother and X attic who had become as thick
ns thieves and little Bob. SHOUTED a chorus
OF NlcfTN nflStnhs1rS At
Tho table whose snowy linen contracted sadly
with our begrimed ovcr.clothes, was pulled ont
full cngth in the middle OF the floor In its centre
his drumSticks held dchhntly aloft lay tho great
brown turkey. with not a crack in his glossy skin
lie was supported on one side by massive dome
OF mashed potatoes, whose generous white ex-
panse was notified here and there by little dabs
Of delicious golden butter Delicate teathrry
fronds ~ celery nodded ioviely to the fat glass
dish OF cranberry sauce. while delicious doors
OF coffee and plum puddn' were waited through
the open door from The kitchen
What n sight Tor tired and hungry railrondcrs'
We waited Tor ye, pa! Pa, We waited fcr yc'"
shouted bOistcrous Bob: and 80 they had. Katie
had worn a path through the snow 10 the switch
tower and had timed our arrival homo 20 the
minute.
! noticed after that, during the winter Harry
had way OF hanging out ~ the gangway as we
approached Belknap's, SO ] made il my business
to blow crossing signal there. And ~ | pcercd
slyly from under the peak Of my cap would sec
girlish figure wave a white cloth from the back
pnzzh Harry was promoted the following spring
and tho next Christmas Katie and and Bob
stretched out our toes under the hospitablo ma
hogany ~ Mr. and Mrs Harry Mervin.
Yes, and rs look back at IL now, | think take
IL nj in oil, IL WAS the the very merri~st Christ
mas ever spent and know Sue and larry do