Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-24


roomed house!
Then up rose Mrs. Cratchit, Cratehit's
wife, dressed out but poorly in a twice
turned gown, but brave in ribbons
which are cheap and make a goodly
show for sixpence; and she laid the
cloth, assisted by Belinda Cratohit
second of her daughters, also brave il
ribbons; while Master Peter Cratchi1
plunged fork into the saucepan of po-
tatoes, and getting the corners of his
monstrous shirt collar (Boh's private
property, conferred upon his son ant
heir in honor of the day. into his
mouth, reioiced to find himself SO gal
lantlys attfred, and yearned to show
his linen in the fashionable parks
And now two smaller Gratchits
boy and girl, came tearing in
screaming that outside the bakers they
had smelt the goose, and known 1t FOL
their own; and, basking in luxurious
thoughts of sage and onion, these young
Cratchits danced about the table, and
exalted Master Peter Cratchit to the
skies, while be (not proud, altho his
collars nearly choked himl blew the
fire, until the slow potatoes. buhblins
up. knocked loudly at the saucepan
lid to be let cut and peeled
What has ever got your precious
father them" said Mrs. Cratehit
.And your brother Tiny Tim2 And
Martha warn't as late Christmas day by
Jalf an hour!"
Here's Martha, mother" said girl
appearing as she spoke.
Here's Martha, mother!" cried the
two young Cratchits. "Hurrah.
There's such goose, Martial"
..Wlhy, bless your heart alive, my
dear, how late you are!" said Mrs,
Cratchit, kissing her a dozen times,
end taking off her shawl and bonnet
for her with cfficious zeal.
WED a deal of work to finish up last
night" replied the girl and had TO
clear away this morning, mother
..well! Never mind so long as You
are come" said Mrs. Cratchit. sit We
down before the fire, my dear, and
have a warm, Lord bless We!
mo, no! There's father coming,
cried the two young Cratchits, who
were everywhere at once. Hide, Mar
tina, llide!"
So Martha hid herself, and in came
little Bob, the father, with at least three
feet of comforter. exclusive of the
fringe, hanging down before him; and
his threadbare clothes darned up and
brushed, to look seasonable; and Tiny
Tim upon his shoulder. Alas for Tiny
Tim, he bore little crutch, and had his
limbs supported by an iron framel
.sWhy, where's our Martha?" cried
Bob Cratchit. looking around.
mot coming" said Mrs. Cratchit.
Not coming!o said Bob. with a sud
den declension in his high spirits; for
he had been Tins blood horse all the
way from church. and had come home
rampant Not coming upon Christmas
day."
Martha didn't like to see him disap
pointed, if 1t were only in joke; SO she
came out prematurely from behind the
closet door, and ran into his arms, while
the two young Cratchits hustled Tiny
Tim. and bore him off into the wash
house, that he might hear the pudding
singing in the copper.
And how did little Tim behave?"
asked Mrs. Cratchit. when she had rail-
lied Bob on his credulity, and Bob had
plugged his daughter to his hearts con-
Gent.
AS good as gold" said Bob, land bet
ter. Somehow he gets thoughtful, sit
ting by himself SO much, and thinks
the strangest things you ever heard
He told me, coming home, that he hoped
the people saw him in the church, be-
cause he was cripple, and it might be
pleasant to them to remember, upon
Christmas day, who made lame beggars
walk and blind men see."
Rob's voice was tremulous when he
told them this, and trembled more when
he said that Tiny Tim was growing
strong and hearty.
His active little crutch was heard up-
on the floor, and back came Tiny Tim
before another word was spoken, es-
corted by his brother and sister to his
stool beside the fire; and while Bob.
turning up his cuffs, las If, poor fellow,
they were capable of being made more
shabby eompounded some hot mix
ture in a jug with gin and lemons, and
stirred it round and round, and put 1t on
the hob to simmer, Master Peter and
the two ubiquitous young Cratchits
went TO fetch the goose, with which
they soon returned in high procession.
Such a hustle ensued that you might
have thought a goose the rarest of all
birds; feathered phenomenon, to
which a black swan was matter of
course. and In truth it was something
very like 1t in that house. Mrs. Crateh-
it made the gravy (ready beforehand in
q little saucepan) kissing hot: Master
Peter mashed the potatoes with incred-
ible yigor; Miss Belinda sweetened up
the apple sauce; Martha busted the hot
plates. Bob took Tiny Tim beside him
/ ma tiny corner at the table; the two
young Cratcffts set chairs for every
body, not forgetting themselves, and,
mounting guard upon their posts, cram
med spoons into their mouths, lest they
should shrek for goose before their
turn came to be helped. At last the
dishes were set on, and grace was said.
ii was succeeded by a breathless pause,
as Mrs. Cratchit, looking slowly all
along the carving kniN, prepared to
plunge it in the breast; but when she
did, and when the long-expected gush
of stuffing issued forth, one murmur OF
delight arose all round the board, and
even Tiny Tim, excited by the two
young Cratchits, beat on the table with
the handle of his knife, and feebly cried
Eurrah!
There never was such goose. Bob
said he didn't believe there ever was
such goose cooked. It's tenderness
and flavor, size and cheapness, We're
the themes of universal admiration.
Fixed out by apple sauce and mashed
potatoes, 1t was a sufficient dinner for
the whole family; indeed, as Mrs.
cratchft said with great delight (sur-
~,