The Tupelo journal., 1902-12-19

I 5Gnn, for s gour
ent," and the .all man found himself
imprisoned by a pair of warm arms,
while a sweet young face was held
upto Ills own.
Glad tt see you, Puss. You look
as your ma did at your age. 1t was
kind of you to give up city holidays
and come into a country village in
the dead of winter"
"Oh, l came to visit ,ou, and you
are not dead nor cold" laughed Jes-
sic, merrily.
A thrill of new life went through
the old bachelors heart. Then his
sister had not let her children know
what a selfish old fellow he was.
The large Kingsley family had
scattered east and west. all except
the eldest, John. When the town
took in the old homestead he was
able to start a bank in the village.
The more he enlarged in his worldly
possessions the ore contracted be-
Ca ue his heart. He lived in the old
1A1SA olOhSB SASOpV "
the presence of a faithful old do
mestic and the hired man. He did
not often visit his relatives or ask
them to visit him, but Mary was a
minister's wife and her husband had
lately been sent to one of the small
churches in the large city near, and
the sister determined to try to win
fhn 1ana1u -onr lan1r - L..z
II am AFRAID you will find this
dark house very STILL" said the uncle.
"Oh, We'll throw up the shades and
let in all the light, and Wisconsin has
the brightest winter sunshine in the
world. While l I'M here we will have
in all of your old friends. My head
is tired from studying, but my hands
are all right, and I'll help cook and
work"
Nancy is a Tartar; you had bet
ter keep out Of her Kitchen" warned
the uncle. 81 do not dare give too
many orders" But Jessie went in
and conquered at once. She always
expected the very best of everyone,
and in hunting for the rose side of
every nature she, some way, got
around the thorns without bringing
them to the surface.
Uncle John could hardly believe he
was in his own house when he saw
it all open, warm and light, with
flowers in Tia windows, and Nancy
looking kind instead of naughty and
severe. He heard such merry peals
of laughter from the kitchen he ven-
tured into those sacred precincts to
help pop corn and crack hickory
nuts. Mar is a domestic animal, and
the odor of frying doughnuts and
the sight of the raisins being stoned
ana eggs growing into snow white
foam, bring up pleasant sensations.
Jessie had a pleasant way CT going
to mee0 her uncle, and It quickened
his old heart to see tie bright face
under the red cap coming his way.
After supper she brought his slip
pers and put the table near the glow
ing CRATE, for she insisted that there
was nothing poetical in heat coming
out of the fc :, and then would sit
down and talk. One evening she
said:
81 hope you haven't made all Of
your Christmas plans. 1t would be
such fun to help you make out your
list"
my what?" asked the uncle. in
surprise.
why, the list of what you are 60
ing to do for Santa Claus. He prob
ably has exchanged his sleigh for an
automobile this year and will visit
more people. Seriously, / mean. un-
Gle. it is hard to plan to make a lot
of people happy on Christmas. you
know"
He did not know. for he had not
tried it. He had long ago made the
holy Christ-time an ordinary day.
Jessie went right on as if he had
been enthusiastic.
ut is a thank-offering year, you
know, and we must do more than
usual. The children have been maxi
ing scrap books and fixing up old
toys for months. and I've knit NIT