The Cape Girardeau Democrat. (Cape Girardeau, Mo.) 1876-1909, 1900-12-22

the cold"
Dinner was substantially . 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 glorifed 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 wills
tied, for which unprecedented good
behavior Jack gave him q 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 boarder. 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.
1.-THE dear girls!" she thought.
They'll burn up and spoil everything
they undertake! They'll not be Sol
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 incivility, 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 w quarters and get
ready for a little outing. You haven't
seen your old crony, Mary Ann Griggs,
since she moved away, have you? Jer.
~ 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, "ii
you won't let me help you-ah 1 should
like to see Mary Ann-powerful well!
I really should enjoy to go!"
Jerry brought her back in the early
twilight and hustled her of 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 brighteyed 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, l never!" she calculated. II
reckon this is the first Christmas you
all ever 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, but-wel., Jesse knew what he
| knew. and the balance of power re-
NAMED Enthusiastically with the girls.
The dining-room door remained 90
| s~tinately 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 o.d
| 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
were no failures this time. The energy
and talent of the whole family of Jays
(minus its head) went to the making
of a success so brilliant as to mark an
epoch. Just see what you-all a do!'
Mrs. Merrie said over and over, her eyes
bright with pride. "Wby, 1 can't hold
a candle to such cookin' as this!"
But the day was to crown itseli
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 lie not
detract from its beauty. Behind it OF
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 ear
Mother" Jack said, tenderly, kneel
ing beside her, our selfishness was un'
Intentional: we didn't know We were
driving you to deathi In our hurry tc
get an education we-forgot. You
know my poor little pay as country
scbool-teacher barely dresses us. but