The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-12-21

/ And she laid a broad hand upon the
region where she mistakenly supposed
that her stomach was situated.
There's plenty of coffee and some
condensed milk said Miss Hunt,
/ "but''-
It want something to eatl" walled
Lucy.
wetherell felt himself confronted by
a new responsibility. He had succeeded
in housing these people; now he must
feed them.
~Mr- Bunker" said he. with an in
spiration born of necessity, what are
all those packages in the pung 20
by jimmyneddyi'' exclaimed Bunker
1--WE got a turkey in there. It's goin'
to Deacon Dresser
81 am glad to hear" said wetherell,
that it is the property of a processing
Christian. He will be glad to relieve
our necessities, especially at this time
| of year. Miss Hunt, with your per-
mission, I will attend to the marketing
today. Come along, Mr.. Bunker
They returned presently with the tur-
key, which was frozen as hard as a
rock, but not beyond cooking. in Mrs.
| Williams opinion She and Amy mean
while had found quite an assortment of
vegetables in the cellar
I'm going to open all the boxes In
the Sleigh said Wetherell. Il have al
ready broken into the largest of them.
which, regret to say, was full of rub
Der boots.''
Here's a little one that / brought
along" said Bunker. There want no
Ratchet in the barn, an Mr.. Wetherell
broke the pitchfork on the other box
This one seems to smell kind of good,
but mebbe it's only my appetite
Here are some crackers" said Amy.
who was feeding the children. Really,
Mr. Wetherell, think this is great fun.
1t is like picnic.''
Queer weather for a picnic" said
Bunker, glancing out of the window.
This amt no Fourth of July, as see
it,"
Wetherell meanwhile was opening the
| box which had been consigned to a
store in Brantford and proved to con-
tain tapers and tinsel ornaments for
Christmas tree.
well. be jiggeredi" exclaimed Bun
ker. This is addfn' insult to injury.
They're goin' to have Christmas tree
at the place where / live tonight"
$50 they was at my sisters, too" said
Mrs Williams. But we won't be there.
However, we're lucky to be anywhere,
and If it wasn't for Mr.. Wetherell we
| wouldn't be-
At this moment a howl, loud and
fearsome, resounded through the room
Ihe GWful Slgn1nCancG or her mothers
| remark had penetrated the intelligence
of little Lucy and had shattered long
cherished dream
1--WE amt going to have any Christ
mas treei" she cried in a voice choked
with sobs. And she lay down upon
her back and beat the floor with her
heels.
Mrs. Williams gathered the child to
her ample bosom and vainly tried al
ternate consolation and threats. To
Wetherell this scene was more trying
than that last hill on the wrong road in
the midst of the snowstorm. He turned
an appealing eye upon Miss Hunt, but
she offered no suggestion. She was
holding Harriet's head in her lap and
stroking her yellow hair. The child
had a beautiful habit of crying silently.
and she always hid her face when she
did it.
Wetheren viewed her with gratitude
and admiration
Harriet" he said suddenly, you're
a good girl, and I'm going to tell you a
secret. There's the prettiest Christmas
tree you ever saw growing out on the
lawn, and this evening it is going to
walk into the parlor covered with cam
dies and candy, and there will be pres
ents it for all little girls who don't
cry or who can do it without making
any noise
Lucy stopped in the middle of a long
yell with a suddenness that nearly
wrecked ner lungs, and Harriet turned
her pretty. tear stained face toward
Wetherell as if she had heard the voice
of an angel
The light of mischief shone in Amy's
eyes.
go and kiss Mr. wetherell." she
said, land tell him that he will make a
lovely Santa Claus
If any. one had told Wetherell a few
hours earlier that he could survive be-
ing kissed by a female child under the
age of seventeen, he would have accus-
ed the individual of lunacy. But at
that time he could not foresee that fate
would force him to set up housekeep-
ing. I'VE know what we are" says
Ophelia, but we know not what we
may be-
Wetherell took the kiss and was none
the worse for it. Then he donned the
coat that Amy had worn and wandered
forth into the snowstorm armed with
Ratchet.
When he returned with the tree, the
children had been put to bed in room
up stairs, to sleep till dinner time. Mrs.
Williams was well under way. with
Deacon Dresser's turkey, and Mr.. Bun
ker was feeding a fire in the big open
fireplace in the parlor.
The room was already beginning to |
be warm. 1t was not i'll furnished and |
surely looked it's best by contrast with |
the storm. Wetherell drew big chair |
before the fire, and it seemed to be the |
most comfortable chair that he had |
ever seen jim all his life.
why, there's piano herei" ex-
claimed Amy, entering the room. I'VE |
will have some music this evening |
There's no time for it now. We must |
fix the tree
I've a lot of candy and stuff in my |
trunk said Wetherell. Il bought the |
unhealthfulest kind I could find-for |
the children, you know My aunts have |
their house full of them. 1 don't like /