The Banner-Democrat. [volume] (Lake Providence, East Carroll Parish, La.) 1892-current, 1902-12-25


che wants to come, he says, but seems
like something always happens at the
very last minute to keep him.
III see you're fixin' for him, anyhow.
What's them-mince pies?
"Oh. YES, fix for him every year. l
wouldn't like him to come an not nhu
everything ready. l don't give him up
till | have to. Them's mince PIES an
these are dried-apple pies. come
here" She opened the pantry door
and beckoned him in. 81 don't spose
YOU know what these are" she salo'
with smile half deprecating, han sao'
lifting cloth from the bread-ooaro.
He peeped over her shoulder. Gee
wbuts," he cried, explosively. you
don't mean to say I've got to have
one a. them. Gran'ma Dorkins, sure's
nv names Homer Fox! Horse GIN
ger-cakes, by cracky! The very kind
Won used to make when me an Iom
an Susy went to school to Aunt Lid
dy Jackson!"
Grandma Dorkins laughed, and
wrapped him up three OF the Dig
brown cakes cut into some semblance
of horse with her pie-knife. Ihere's
one for YOU. one for Susy, an one for
lii Jeff. Tell Susy l sent EN- TO re-
mind her of old times. You an she
were sweethearts even when you used
TO scuffie with Tom for piece OF his
ginger-cake."
"Tom's doin' middlin' well, amt he
grammar" Homer asked, making a
start to 60, but holding onto the back
door as he waited for her reply.
.sTom's DOM splendid" the old wom-
an said. proudly. Hes way up in the
railroad business now"
ats near on ten years since he was
home, amt it?'
mine wears this Christmas" she
corrected him. Hes been intendin'
to come for so long; but he's a"1uiiy
busy. Tom is With so much RESPONSE
bility he can't hardly ever leave.
"Took his wife to Europe last year,
didn't hep"
Eyes. They was gone three months
He wrote to me after they got back
an said he thought for sure he was
roin' to get up that year, but now he
cOul0nI. l. was ICoi oi~" PPO~N~~'-
I'd been most certain I'd have him here
last Christmas"
"It's likely he'll come this season.
Homer remarked, by way OF comfort
Don't you know, I'm sort positive
he will" grandma said, frightening
"I've been disappointed often enough
before, but this time it's different
him not, bein' home for so.long-an'
wrote him l hadn't been well lately
NV rheumatic bothers me oreao1u
this winter. Putin it altogether
Homer. I'm bound Toms comm thi
time"
Homer hitched at his faded over
alls. shut the door and then opene
II a crack. He couldn't find word t
say.
Old Mrs. Dorkins laughed softly a
she wiped off the kitchen table. Don
YOU ever tell, Homer; but I've bake
horse ginger-cakes every year TO
Toms home-comin', an then had t
send 'em to the orphan asylum over
Wallingford. Now, this year l ca
clate Toms goin' to eat 'em himself
ats only two days till Christmas
Homer said, slowly. "You ought to
bearin' from him whether he's comm
I'm goin' to the post office. I'll see
there's letter for you"
mo, Homer, don't" grandma sal
hastily. I'D rather not have it Il
the last thing. If he shouldn't be cor
in won't have anything to look TO
ard to. an if he is, my cakes an pi
are all baked. All I've got to do no
IS to shine the andirons over in Il
settin'-room, an put up some gree
10 make it seem Christmassy.
wouldn't have the heart to finish, Ii
mer, if knew he wasn't comm" 5
was still smiling, but TREMENDOUSLY.
"All right, gran'ma," he said, wi
a great effect of cheeriness in
voice; "but I'm like you, I'm positi
Toms comm"
Eyes, I'm most sure we'll see n
.bis time; but if there's letter, I
mer. don't bring it. Peter Crump
ways brings it up to me as he &C
home on Christmas eve."
Homer climbed into his clatteri
old spring-wagon, and with the liz
tapping loosely on the gray mar
hack he let her take her own gait do
the long street.
Arriving at the post Office, he
changed greetings with the f
loungeps gathered around the sto
sat down on cracker-box, chew
ND broom-straw, and gazed abStra
edlv at the dirty floor.
"Want your mail, Homer?" the pc
master inquired, when there came
in his duties.
Homer got up from the cracker-l
TO receive his copy of the Scarborou
-, 49,. IL hold ~ f7.s+ in