Griggs courier. (Cooperstown, Griggs Co., Dak. [N.D.]) 1885-1902, 1900-12-20

llc cO4u.
Dinner was substantially failure.
artistically a success. The big male
Jay made a WHY month over the sal
low bread and soggy potatoes. but his
mate had no criticism TO offer. To
her it was q glorified feast. for she
ate and drank the fruits of her labor
her children's love. poured back
into he emplied measure of her life.
Back before her coy fire (Which
Jerry relieiously kept burnins) she
accepted tie blessedness 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 a long chalk mark on the smoke
house door.
Early next morning tantalizing |
little odors began to sneak into the |
apartments of the new ',oarder. Now |
|
seemed to be mince pie 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 undertakes. They'll not be sor-
~ to have nanny back in the k;t"h-
, en-"
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 bedroom only. think. In
deed we don't mean any inciyility. INIT
we lust can't have our boarders clu+-
tering up the Kitchen on busy days.
I. and Will take i, as a favor if Nou'l 60
. back to Your own quarters and get
ready for little outing. You haven't
seen vour old crony. Mary Ann Grig@s
: since Sc moNsG away. have YOU? Jer-
ry wants TO drive YOU down there in
!. :. the cart 10 spend the day"
Mrs Merries eyes lighted with pleas
g ure. well. really" she admitted. IF
you won't let me help Non-all should
like TO see Mary Ann-powerful We'll.
really should enjoy 20 90.
Jerry brought her back in the early
twilight and hustled her off to bed. and
again sleep brought its healing.
Christmas morning came in with soft
unsanGaled feet. MI the earth was
wrapped in the whiteness of snow. The
Christ-child was born anew. and the
great Mother. tenMer!y. in the hours
of darkness. had spread her softe>t
coverlet about His feet.
Four brigh1-eyed faces, with JESSE
below and the big male-Jay above
peeped in and the simultaneous shout
of "Christ mas Gift" brought Mrs
Merrie up from among her blankets
We'll. | never" she calculated,
reckon this is the first Christmas YOU
all ever caught ma a-nappin. ain
got no Christmas for you neither
think of that.
Never mind Jesse soothed
We've got''-but Joe had him by the
shoulders. and shook his mouth shut
There would have been instant wa
then, but-wel,. Jesse knew what h
knew. and the balance of power re
manned Enthusiastically With the girls.
The dininy-room door remained Oh
stinately locked all day. Breaktas
was eaten in the snug little Kitchen
nd dinner served in state in the parlol
ny There were no guests at all save o.
e. Granny Woods a half blind panpel
nd who ALWAYS presented herself om rec
m oenizeG holit;ays and was served Wit
is The best.
en- During the progress of the meal til
tempting. secretive doors unNe'ie
as themselves. King Gobb.er had yieldr
tie to the Inevitable. and. more lovely i
us death than in life. adorned the cente
ne of a generous feast. N reg lar blow
g. out" as Jesse expressed it. and ther
ne We're no failures this time. The ener"
it and talent of the whole family of JAY
IN (minus its head) Went to the maxim
tie of a success 50 brilliant as TO mark q
epoch. just see what you-all can do.
d." Mrs. Merrie said over and over. her eye
am bright with pride. why. ] can't hoI
Use a candle to such cookin as this
= But the DAY was 10 10 crown ItSt
with greener aurels. Each year sine
ed their infancy she had Planned surprls'
ay- for them: now had come the hour
ed, reverse the story. When the lanl
Oh. were lit they took her into the dinin!
'ou room. where handsome tree gleame
with light and color. The fact tn;
to there We're more candles. 1inSel pap
ou and popcorn balls than presents did ~
bill detract from its beauty Behind it {
les the wall was the legend: Mot
TO Christina wrought in evergree
mp Mother sat down in the big new rookie
e." cushioned with one of Jerrys co
ay, science-stricken crazy quilts. and yiel
nit ed to tears.
uX- Mot her" Jack said, tenderly. knee
on ing beside her. our seltishness was u
and inten1onal; we didn't know we we
18th. driving YOU to death. In our hurry
ON get an education we-forgot. II
n.y. know my poor little pay as count