Evening journal., 1902-12-23
CHRISTMAS
IN THE CABIN
.c'e,3 -
lppy in anticlpatlon Of the promigel

happy in anticipation Of the promised
feast
He greeted them noisily: Good
lmawin', everybody; Ccrdeely and yore
humble servant wishes you all oh de
joy Of de season, and when de 'spiciOus
occasion comes Ground agin, we spects
10 be de hosts and you de guests. Cor
,deely instrucks me to state dat we shall
lbe heah at ten O'Clock, and Joy TO you
all."
He did not notice the troubled faces
as he delivered his message, or If he
did he betrayed no suspicion Of any
thing wrong, but imagine his conster-
nation as the whole pitiful story OF the
robbery assailed his ears. He accepted
the explanation with a cold reserve,
land asked whether they were sure that
iIom Hsn "had really caught dat pos
Isum, er had only dreamed about it,
This was too much for that gentleman,
who fired volley Of abuse at Solomon
as he withdrew.
An hour had not passed ere Solomon
returned lie invited the tribe OF Tom
Hen over to partake Of their humble
fare. He said eve amt got much
cause we was expectin' to take dinner
with some other pussens. hut we has
been disappinted, and viii do the best
we kin"
II was only straw, but they grasped
at it. Before the thought of an empty
larder at home they Quailed, and a
Christmas dinner OF pork and cabbage
was better than no dinner.
They were a little surprised VIII on
they arrived at Solomon's TO find She
preacher and Uncle Elias. locally
known as great performer on the vio-
. lin, and he had his instrument with
Z him. The cabin was decorated with
holly and goose vine and from the
| middle of the ceiling was suspended z
3 hugh bunch Of mistletOe.
Seems to me-" said Aunt Miranda
that you folks has certainly been a.
wrastlin' sense you give us the invite
p I'VE have dcne the best we kin,
S isinilingiy replied Cordeely. Brother
Q Johnson, the preacher stepped forward
at this and extended his hands to the
: lguests, and as he did So he drew Aua'
o Miranda under the mistletOe ant
u planted q resounding kiss On her poll
VI ished ebony cheek. Tom Hen came K
the rescue, and the old woman protest
q ed voluDly while smiling with pleasure
Meanwhile the preparations in the she'
T. were going on. The door was locke,
TO keep out intuders though variou
y y savoy smClls creat through the cracks
It was one by Brother Johneoni
/, watch when COr1eely flung open tn
u door and invited the guests to the feast
" The procession formed; Aunt Mirand.
Z and Brother Johnson, Cordesly ant
Il Tom Hen, solomon and Uncle elias
= What q sight greeted their eyesl
10 great turkey at the head of tho table,
ipossum in the middle with an apple il
it's mouth, cranberTies jelly and AM
~ Delaware biscuits. while on the mantl
= we're two large mince pies. AUNT Mir
~ andy looked startled Tom Hen sho
= her glance and opened his mouth
!, but said nothing.
~ Brother Johnson said grace: &C
=, Lawd we thank Thee for what VI
- have got, and for what we amt got, 70
n blessed am dey that has nuthin'. 70
= they shall rcceeV Bless dem that ha
:, invited us to dis heah feast, and ma
=. other good things come to them a
~ easy. Bless de guests, and help ther
10 TO bear all losses as they have don
- this day. De Lawd sent de turkey
ar and He send de DossuTns likewise. De
Al is all from His bOunteOus store. an
20 we should eat EN- and ask NO ques
Of tions."
Then came a moment OF expectanc,
b, Instead cfaproceeding to carve the tu
IA key, solomon arose and said:
~ "After de grace is de 'spiciOus tir
- for de liquid refreshments BrOthe
n, Johnson will pahdon me. but it is scu
~ able on Christmas time. I've lit
y bottle OF good cheer here, and NOV
~, that we begins de prOCeedins by
n freshin' ourselves"
as The preacher smiled tolsrantly az
Solomon reached under the table az
brought It forth. Tom Hen gave ol
= look. and spreng to his feet
az "Where'd you git dat?" he d
% % manded.
~ ~ "I got it from good brother VI
~ was a-wishin' me Christmas cheer
nv ~ said the diplomatic Solomon. l on
49, 49, it to you first
m m'ul Tom Hen stood for a moment bawi
,ol cred; he was untangling IL all. tn
1U he burst into a guffGw, which becal
'l contagious, and in which Aunt NJ
- anda Joined.
he ,r..eI 49, 20, 80. .,,To c,f-ist1,as 1a
the oiiele 49,, ny ,.ton dore,s neaca and on
sly will. and when what's mine is
ndghbors. and what's my neighbors
cad mine. if it's dark the night before q
fol- the door amt bolted. Brother Johns
on viii you please pull de cork?'
ems And the feast proceeded.
ltly Bill Parsons