The Grenada sentinel. [volume] (Grenada, Miss.) 1868-1955, 1901-12-21

even turn her face toward his in the moon
light. They trudged on in silence.
The town was glad to see them. 1t gave
them the best it had, and none suffered.
But its heart was not wholly in the work.
One long-gaited citizen, evidently orig
inally from the south, explained it:
'Yeh see, we 8 a-goin' ter hev' the
Chris mas doin's ternight at tn hall"
What? Id forgot that it was Christmas
eve broke in Marvin. Lets all go over.
The passengers from the Pullman car, find
ing that they could not continue their
journey until the following day, as well as
many of the others, agreed. Well BUN
died up, they took their walk through the
chilly streets, where blew the bitter north
wind OF the plain.
The hall was nothing more than the
upper room over a store. 1t was filled to
the aisles, but the exercises had not yet
begun. The southerner, who was master OF
ceremonies, tiptoed back to Marvin.
I'VE need two more to help in the d%oin's,"
he whispered. won't you un's Gomez
Frank laughingly arose, and the dainty
Miss Reisen, having no other choice, fol
lowed him.
Behind the curtain, what a sight met
their gaze! A Christmas tree it was, TO
be sure. There were no evergreens nearer
than the mountains, and to make up Tor
the deficiency the plainsmen had secured
a dry cottonwood and wound its struggling
branches with green paper. TIT appear
ance would have been ludicrous had it not
been a little pathetic.
"Not much like the pines OF the beach
where we used to rest last summer, wins
pered Frank to his companion.
You and the other-I presume you
mean" was the whitening response.
"Alice-Miss Reisen, what do you
mean but the gaunt captain interrupted
you, young lady, I'd like you to be the
fairy. Our leadin' lady is sick, an yor
look like her"
Entering into the spirit of the occasion
Miss Heisen accepted the task.
You'll have to wear some wings, and
there will be a little scene, but nothin' fel
YOU to do but look ~pretty-you don't neec
no coachin'," he added, CALAMITY.
Great admirer of yours" suggested
Frank, as the functionary moved away
Alice did not reply.
The wings were brought, and the!
seemed almost large enough for the weare
to soar with. She put on the costume anC
danced a two-step across the rude stage.
"Yeh mustn't do that, lady; this is fe
tn benefit OF tn churches, an tn folk
wouldn't like it," said the manager, witt
a grin.
Then can't up one Of the women OF tn
town, who seemed to have a part Of tn
management. She gave some instruction
as to what would happen, and Miss Reisei
listened ~intently. Another listened, bu
she did not know it.
The programme OF the evening opene
with a number of songs and recitations, I
which the passengers from the train CAV
the most earnest attention and hearty al
plause. Marvin seemed wonderfully a
home, Miss Reisen thought, and was cal
ing men by their first names as ii he kne
them. He was behind the scenes a goo
deal; too much, she thought, also, and
worried her. for he was the only one in a
the house that she counted on as a friend
no. was be a friend? She wished she kne
: il the story her chum told her were fall.
or true.
Then came the time for the Christmi
tree "doin's," as the manager called Il
exercises. The big curtain was droppe
and the children of the prairie farms al
I ranches gave an audible Va! as the pea
l tiful green-paper-wrapped COTTONWOOD
lighted with candles and glistening wit
: tinsel, all brought from the city 400 mil
, away, burst on their eyes. Many OF the
5 had never seen an evergreen, and this W
a fulfllment of all their anticipations.
Before the tree stood the fairy, her win
e and robe making her almost ethereal in Il
sight of the little ones. Behind was Il
open mouth OF a chimney, and far of raj
I the horn of Saint Nicholas as he approach
g over the housetops on his sleigh. 1t W
> cold enough outside for his biggest ful
/ and when he came laboriously down q
chimney and stood amid the group on &
a stage he was the very picture OF the San
Claus of their dreams.
a Swiftly he made the rounds of the tire
and in cultural tones told the little fol
t to help themselves. Then he did what W