The St. Louis Republic., 1900-12-09
CHRISTMAS IN THE LITTLE HOUSE.
By Harriet Prescott Spofford.'

won't give a copper to no such extravaSan'
piece, And I won't father Johnny Jarvis''
comm here ter eat US outen house and
home
II don't know why he wants to come and
live in this house" cried Kate. then in n
blaze I'm sure lie be glad TO get out
of IT,
Not so glad as be-" cried her father.
struggling into his REFER out OF hand. "And
l dono's lie ever come back to IT. Come
home from seas an storms an hard
weather to such a sperrit az you be- And
he was away as fast as his short but sturdy
| legs could carry him.
''Ye amt bound in no sech weather.
this. be ye. Cap'n? This hour O. day an
the wind dead from north'arl? asked cap
tain Ned. seeing tho other busy with lines
! and oars.
Yes. be,''
I'D mistrust gIttin' back asin." looking
anxiously down the harbor.
Don't care ef | don't. said Captain
Billy. shaking the can of bait.
Il wouldn't "a thought that of you
You mind yer own business. It's al!
you got to do said Captain Billy and his
friend trudscd off in high dudgeon.
Now" said Kate to herself. looking after
him. I've driven pa out OF the house
with my hasty temper. Coming Christmas $
Eve. too. and Elder said it was the time Of
peace and good will. Next thing l know
I'll he driving Johnny out!' which prophecy
came true In about ten minutes. Johnny
having presented himself at this unpropi-
tious moment and having found Kate In
tears-and she was simply bewltching in
tears, as they flowed from their lucid wells
over the rosy velvet of her cheek. I've
Just driven of pa!' she exclaimed. And
he'll he going down to the travis. And the
rivers full Of ice. He's careful about his
money-but he's awful good. pa is! And ne
loves me just as much as you do
He can't said Johnny.
81 don't know but he loves me better"
continued Kate obviously. And I'll never
know another days peace II anything hap
pens to him. And I don't know what TO do.
Johnny. unless you go and fetch him. and
again the fountains, overfiowed.
Well" said Johnny. IN go. On one con-
dition.'
"Well:'
THAT when ! come back tn him. we'll
have a weddin' here, that same hour. I've
go, the license in my pocket. I'm done with
tnis backIn' an film"
Il .han't make ans conditions about my
fathers life" said Kate with dignity. And
then up-fiared the spirit of her sire again.
Only IL you don't CO." she said. There
won't never be any weddin' here"
.'IIl lie blamed II I'm goin' under threats"
exclaimed Johnny. Its a pretty Christ
mas thisli tie. after our gettin' all that
green TO trim up with. I'm fool to stand
il. that's what I am and his eyes blazed
blue lightning a moment. and he flung out
as Captain Billy had done. And Kate threw
herself down on the kitchen settee and cried
till she WIS tired.
I'D orter be ashamed" she sighed when
she rose and bathed her face and brushed
her hair. IF l don't get my temper under
it'll get me. Christmas Eve. too. oh my.
don't care" she said presently. They'll be
back I'll have hot supper. fried CLAIMS
and pickle pigs feet. and risen biscuit. Pa
likes risen biscuit; and fritters with honey
Johnny likes them-and hot coffee and
doughnuts. I've got the goose stuffed for
tomorrow. and the plum pudding's boiled.
and the cranberry's jelled. and the nuts
cracked.
And that's good enough dinner for
King I don't know but I'll hang the green
myself SOS to make 1t cheerful for 'em. I've
got a Bible for papa likes to read Kings
irst-rate. And I've knit two helmets for
John; l guess we'll have a pretty good
Christmas. after ALL" And she vert bust
ling round. and presently. with all done to
her mind. and the house smelling like a
hemlock wood. she was sitting at the win
dow toelns on her mitten. and watching
sAe people 90 hurrying By u AAs bitter