The Savannah morning news. (Savannah, Ga.) 1900-current, 1902-12-21

dition in the best of spirits. She was
so filled with the joys of her new ex-
perience that she said not a word at
the appearance of the Kitchen. which
showed unwashed dishes scattered
around, milk pals, baskets and old
newspapers adding to the litter, and
at the general dishevelled state of the
entire house. Instead when she enter
ed the room where grandfather, wrap
ped in a bed quilt, dozed on the
lounge, Henry Clay reposed in two
chairs, and Uncle Lemuel. from the
depths of the calico covered chair re-
garded with a sort of melancholy in
terest the last efforts of a dying fire,
she gave all three resounding kisses.
She was not ecen ruff1ed when Henry
Clay remarked plaintively:
ME and poor grandfather is Jest
about on our last legs, Lilly. We amt
had skercely a crumb to eat for three
days! Did you git your wodrobe?"
Poor things!" she answered.; what
an awful hard time you must have
hadi" Her voice was SO gentle and
sympathetic that Henry Clay, taken
by surprise, rolled off his two chairs
like a log.
Now, If you will make me a rousin'
fire." said Mrs. MARBLE, after she had
removed and put away her wraps, "I'lI
cook you the best supper you've had
for many a day. Perhaps you've for
gotten that this is Christmas Eve?"
I'D like to know what you spect
to cook?" replied Henry Clay de-
jectedly. 'They amt thing in the
house but a little salt pork and flour.
I've seen sixty-two Christmases, but
this is the slimmest one yet!'
Perhaps you will think different
when you see my presents for the
family. The fact is, l changed my
mind when I got to the city and in
vested my money in winter pro-
visions. I've brought supper in these
bundles-pork chops, sausage, cram
berries, sweet potatoes, jelly, or
anges-"
'Jeems Ripas! Lilly you don't mean
it?" gasped Henry Clay.
Yes, and turkey for tomorrow
with all the fiixin's. There" as a
heavily loaded team drove into the
yard, there comes my provisions
now. Henry Clay, you and LemueI
help the man unload, and I'll make
cream biscuit and have supper in a
jiffy."
For the next half hour, no two
school boys on wager ever sur
passed Henry Clay and Uncle Lem
uel in agility of movement, while
grandfather, standing in the entry ana
shifting the savory odors which pro-
coded from the kitchen, was finally
so wrought upon by the spectacle of
a mammoth cheese, that he elevated
his cane and started to dance a horn
pipe, but owing to a chronic weakness
in both legs, was obliged to give 1t up
and centent himself with nibbling at
the contents Of sundry paper bags.
When the evening lamps were light
ed they sat down to supper, and
well, IL is no exageration to say that
the next hour marked an epoch in
Henry Clay's life.
There was a prolonged silence dur
ing which nothing was heard except
the chatter of knives and forks, until
Henry Clay leaned back In his chair.
smacked his lips, aT<, with a sigh OF
blissful content, folded his arms.
"Ah-hh-hl II tho whole world holds
anything better than this / would lest
like 20 know what Il is" he demanded.
Il b'lieye / never see loy'lier pork
chop, Lilly" volunteered grandfather,
az he paused In the act Of picking a
bone 20 regard Mrs. Marble with
heaming eyes. And this cranberry
sass gives a beautiful relish. too"
'scrumpfious supper, Liiiy-sorum-
tiousi" Uncle Iemuei ln his eager
ness % put In HE word 81 apprseiaflon.
nearly stranglcd himself with a sau-
snke. Tell ~ about your frip 20 fbs
CITY y0u muei knoN we'rs lest dtlr,
90 bear" 30 added between tite9
well" began Mrs. Marble M a..
poured hsfssif cap q tsa. there