The St. Louis Republic. [volume] (St. Louis, Mo.) 1888-1919, 1902-03-23

ideal Christmas out Of doors; but there was
Q huge fire IN the kitchen. Il went right up
the chimney with a cracking roar. The ket-
tie hung on q reckon which g~littered bril-
liantly with polish: and there was the scent
Of well-bahed loaVes just tumbled out Of
their tins. A very bonny woman In q blue
dress and white apron was busy putting
uince meat into little blocks Of paste; and
her daughter. lamar, & well-grown school
girl. was scraping the tins that had held
the cakes; while her chubby little brother
OF 1 was buster still. eating the sorapings
with q teaspoon. Two little girls Of about
9 or 7. were stonlng raisins and eating them
at the same time; and a boy Of 10 was ar
ranging holly over the dresser and book
case, with loud exclanations OF delight. az
bis own good taste and method of work
Tho only one who troubled to angwe. him
Wa the grandmother. who sat In the cor
nsr chair. She always looked ID when he
called out. and said:
Eth yes, Johnnie. to be sureI- And then
she ADDED after q few moments thought:
His Uncle Tom Will be rare and pleased
to sect" This reference TO Uncle Tom
was continual. and came in more ways than
one. When Mrs. Coates put the mince pies
Into the oven, and shut the door and stirred
up the are. the grandmother Immediately
opened the door and peered in
Nay. nay. Use only just to say gotten
them inf' said Mrs. Coates Let EN- hide.
Granny"
But Tom niver likes. EN- hard baked"
SAID Granny. peering up mysteriously into
her dsughter-in-law's faCe-"hey them DOT.
lass. afora they're burned
Then the children all smiled at one an
ether. as II 1t was an old joke. and Mrs
Coates said under her breath: Power Toni
We'se niyer see him aguin!'
And when the chilureu had stirred the
Christmas pudding, where it stood on the
kitchen table In d big. yellow bowl. IL was
Granny who had remarked. as she twisted
her check apron around her withered fin
Gsrsi Fetch Tom in! Gao for Uncle Tom.
Let Uncio Tom hae a stir at IT."
But no one went TO fetch Uncle Tom:
only Johnnie said n a rather low voice:
"Cnole Toms dead, Granny"
Granny looked at Johnnie. and began to
mysteriously beckon. The boy came to her
side. and she whispered in his ear: Thee
Uncle Tom will be back in t'morn.'
Then she drew away to see the effect of
her words. Ths boy laughed. You're
dreaming. Granny"
Nay. lad; Use had , letter. He's writ 1t
hIsself; and he's be back in tmorn."
The boy looked at his sisters, and some
Esns passed between them. Then he said:
All right, Granny; shall 1 wake you
sarly7'
Aye. aye. lad; I maun be oop at t'dawn.
for thars a lot to do. l maun max all
t'spare bedroom ready: and he maun he all
t'best feathers in thoos. putten into MS
mattress! Is TAX them DOT of all your'n. we
lie tykesi Ye're nobbut youngish and we
can sleep on owti But Toms had q long
Journey. and he's be tred-aye, aye, a ter
rible journey! WhistI Hearken! What was
tnat?'
1T Is jerry bringin' t'naiIk In" said Sally.
Hes putting teams into t'siopstone."
said Patty.
The little boy who was eating the piece
Of cake rubbed his hands on his Holland
pinafore, and said solemnly: It's me Uncle
Tom coomin' oop thigh pastur': and he's
gotten a biggish pair Of boot, on, and it
mak's a clinkin' noise"
Aye. aye, that's It. my ladI" said Granny.
COD bless my lie Tom; he's always on
lookout for his uncle!'
Il reed him in bed last night" said Tom.
whist" said lamar. in an ordering
voice.
How'd thee no;se!" said little Patty.
BE whyat. prytheet' said plump little
Sally. and help me to fetch the things out.
instead of clatterin' and talking like that!
Use going to get tea ready"
And he coomed like 4 ghcst,' continued
Tom; because he was really deadeued.
Granny: and I was frightened. and 1 killed,