The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1900-12-21

IL Hci ohIodI Hdu cllmDeu so nlgn she
hadn't voice left to thank Joe for the
cup of coffee which was to "drive out
the cold"
Dinner was substantially a failure,
artistically a success. The big male
Jay made a wry mouth over the sal
low bread and soggy potatoes, but his
mate had no criticism to offer. To
her it was a glorified feast, for she
ate and drank the fruits of her labor
her children's love, poured back
into the emptied measure of her life.
Back before her coy fire (Which
Jerry religiously kept burning) she
accepted the 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 .ooarder. Now
she was sure it was turkey, now it
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.
"They1l burn up and spoil everything
they undertake! They'll not be sor-
ry to have nanny back in the kitch-
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, 1 think. In
deed we don't mean any i~ncivility, but
we just can't have our boarders clut-
tering up the kitchen on busy days,
and will take it as a favor if you'll go
back to your own quarters and get
ready for a little outing. You haven't
seen your old crony, Mary Ann Griggs,
since Sc 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. swell, really" she admitted, "if
you won't let me help you-aH I 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 its 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.
"Well, I never!" she. calculated. II
reckon this is the first Christmas you
all eve caught ma a-nappin'! 1 amt
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 war
then, ibut-well, Jesse knew what he
knew, and the balance of power re-
manned Enthusiastically with the girls.
The dining1room 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 cd
Granny Woods, a half blind pauper,
who always presented herself on rec
ognized holidays, and was served with
the best.
During the progress of 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
WSIc liz ldlluICS ILLS LILY LhO SLlC 3
and talent of the whole family of Jays
(minus it's head) went to the making
| of a 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, I can't hold
a candle to such cookin' as this!"
But the day was to 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 a 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 it's beauty. Behind it on
the wall was the legend: Mothers
Christmas" wrought in evergreen.
| Mother sat down in the big new rocker,
cushioned with one of Jerry's con-
science-stricken crazy quilts, and yield
ed to tears.
Mother" Jack said, t%enderly, kneel-
| ing beside her, "our selfishness was I'M
Intentional; we didn't know we were
driving you to death! In our hurry to