The Kinsley graphic. [volume] (Kinsley, Kan.) 1890-1940, 1900-12-21

her children's love. poured back
into the emptied measure of her life.
| Back before her cozy fire (Which
Jerry religiously kept burning) she
accepted the blessedness7 of rest.
Dreams overlook her.
Climbed over the window SILL" es-
Gaping into the fair, lost land of child
hood. Through the whole afternoon
she slept, and the little house hushed
itself as though life or death were at
| issue. Even Jesse never once hal
looed, or stamped his boots, or ,whis-
tied, for which unprecedented good
behavior Jack gave him a penny, and
drew q long chalk mark on the smoke
house door.
Early next morning tantalizing
little odors began to sneak into the
apartments of the new boarder. Now
she was sure 1t was turkey, now it
seemed to be mince pic and hot cake.
Then she remembered it was Christ
| mas eve, and rolled up her knitting
| decisively.
"The dear girls!" she thought.
They'll burn up and spoil everything
they undertake.! They'll not be sor-
ry to have nanny back in the kitch-
emf"
But she had reckoned without her
host. The door between her and the
kitchen was locked, and when she at
tempted the dining-room entry Jack
stopped her decidedly at the thresh-
old. 81 beg your pardon" she said,
with polite, severity. You rented the
parlor and bedfoom only, think. In
deed wesaon't mean any incivility. but
we just can't have our boarders clut-
tering up the kitchen ON busy days,
and will take it as favor if you'll go
back to your own quarters and get
ready for little outing. You haven't
seen your old crony. Mary Ann Griggs,
since she moved away, have you? Jer-
|ry wants TO drive you down there in
the cart to spend the day"
Mrs. Merrie's eyes lighted with pleas
ure. "Well,; really" she admitted, eff
you won't let me help you-an should
like to see Mary Ann-powerful we'll!
I really should enjoy to go!"
Jerry brought her back in the early
twilight and hustled her off to bed, and
again sleep brought it's healing.
Christmas morning came in with soft
unsandaled feet. ALL the earth was
wrapped in the whiteness of snow. The
Christ-child was born anew. and the
great Mother. tenderly, in the hours
of darkness, had spread her softest
coverlet about His feet.
Four bright-eyed faces, with Jesse
below and the big. male-Jay above,
peeped in, and the simultaneous shout
of christmas Gift!" brought Mrs.
Merrie up from among her blankets.
'sWeH, I never!" she calculated. II
reckon this is the first Christmas you
all everscaught ma a-nappin'! I amt
think of that
"Never mind" Jesse soothed.
"We've got"-but Joe had him by the
shoulders. and shook his, mouth shut.
There would havc. been instant war
then. .but-wel.. Jesse knew what he
knew. and the balance of power re-
manned Enthusiastically with the girls.
The dining-room door remained OBJ
stinately locked all day. Breakfast
was eaten in the snug little kitchen,
dinner served in state in the parlor.
There were no guests at all save old
Granny Woods, a half blind pauper,
who always presented herself on rec
ognized holidays, and was served with
the best. = 70 ~ -; 80!
During the progress 81 the meal the
tempting. secretive odors unveiled
themselves. King Gobbler had yielded |
to the inevitable, and, more lovely in
death than in Life, adorned the center |
of a generous feast. "a regular blow |
out," as Jesse expressed it, and there |
were no failures this time. The energy |
and talent of the whole family of Jays |
(minus it's head) went to the making |
of success so brilliant as to mark an |
epoch. "Just see what you-all can dol"
Mrs. Merrie said over and over, her eyes |
bright with pride. 'Why, can't hold |
a candle to such cookin' as this!"
But the day was to crown itself |
with greener laurels. Each year since
their infancy she had planned surprises
for them: now had come the hour to /
reverse the story. When the lamps |
were lit they took her into the dining
room, where handsome tree cleaned |
with light and color. The fact that /
there were more candles, tinsel paper |
and popcorn balls than presents did not /
detract from its beauty. Behind it on /
the wall was the legend: Mothers /
Christmas" wrought in evergreen. +
Mother sat down in the big new rocker, /