The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1902-12-25

O. J house at the upper end of
Scarborough.
Old Mrs. Dorkins wiped her wet,
soapy hands on her checked gingham
apron, and got the blue pitcher from
the shelf upon which it was sitting.
"lIe amt quite sure" she answered;
"he wants to come, he says. but seems
like something always happens at the
very last minute to keep him"
81 see you're fxin' for him, anyhow.
What's them-mnce piesP'
"Oh, yes. | fix for him every year. |
wouldn't like him to come an not find
everything ready. | 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 s'pose
you know what these are" she said,
with smile half deprecatng half sad,
lifting a cloth from the bread-board.
He peeped over her shoulder. Gee
whuts!" he cried, eNplosiyely. you
don't mean TO say I've got to have
one o. them, Gran'ma Dorkins, sure's
my names Homer Fox! Horse gin
ger-cakes, by cracky! The very kind
you used to make when me an Tom
A. ,.a,,so,,,,
Crnndma Dorli,s lorcbod ord
,,..a,,n,d Li,,, -, tLroa - n,, Nv,
hro,xn c,l,os cut into como scr,rloroo
OF ahorse with her pie-knife. There's
one for you, one for Susy, an one for
d'l jeff. Tell SuSy ! sent 'em TO re-
I'll hor 81 old ti,,o. nm, -,
,yoro s,,oe,boorts e,or ,,,o,, Won, r,,d
10 .curio ,yi,b Tom fo, n ni,co of bis
.irrar-cole"
"ror,,. doir, riddIir, yoIl Mint no
,,r,r,,roo" uor,er o.ts,d ,,,l,i,,, n
-, a. ,,o Lr.l,,l5;,,,, I,a,t,
a. os 10 ,,oi,od Cos. ho, ro,,r,.
..ro,,,,s d,i,,, s,,IordiI o,iI ,,,.,,,-
an soid rroudlv "uo,s ,,oy ~, in tho
.ai1rood Lnsiross ,o,,"
co. noor on tom veors since no yvo
home. amt it?"
mine wears this Christmas" She
corrected him. Hes been intendin'
90 come for so long; but he's awfully
busy. Tom is. With so much response
hility he can't hardly ever leave"
"Took his wife to Europe last year,
didn't hep"
"Yes. They was gone three months.
lie wrote to me after they got back.
,u' said he thought for sure he was
roin to get up that year, but now he
couldn't. | was real disappointed, for
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,
"Dont you know, I'm sort o. positive
he will" grandma said, Frightening.
~I've been disappointed often enough
before. but this time it's different
Iim not bein' home for so long-an' |
wrote him | hadn't been well lately.
My rheumatic bothers me dreadful
this winter Putin il altogether
Homer, I'm bound Toms comm this
time"
Homer bitcbed at his faded over,
ais shut the door and then opened
: n crack He couldn't find a word TO
cav
old Mrs DorLins laughed softly as
,be vined off the kitchen table. Don't
II InInPrs |
sorse ginper-cakes every wear for
TOMS home-comin'. an then had to
send 'em to the orphan asylum over at
Nallingford. Now. this wear | cal
,Io,,nTo,,,. ooin, IN eat ,em himself"
"n's only two days till Christmas"
Homer said. SLOWLY. "You ought TO be
,e,rin, from him whether he's comm.
I'm goin' to the post Office. I'll see if
lbere,s n letter for you."
"No, Homer. don't" grandma said,
hastily "pd rather not have it till
,be Last tbing If he shouldn't be COM
N | won't have ANYTHING to look for
ard to. an if he is. nv cakes an pies
are all baked. All I've got to do now
TO shine the andirons over in the
,,ttin'-room. an nut up some greens
10 make II seem Christmassy. |
.ouldn,t have tba heart TO finish, Ho-