Little Falls herald. [volume] (Little Falls, Morrison County, Minn.) 1889-1950, 1902-12-12

them. which, regret to say, was full
Of rubber boots" ~.* y.
Here's little one that I brought
along" said Bunker. '"There want
no Ratchet in the barn, an Mr.. Weth-
erell broke the pitchfOrk on the other
box. This one seems to smell, kind Of
good, but mebbe it's only my appe-
tite.''
Here are some crackers" said Amy,
who was feeding the children. "Real-
~, Mr. Wetherell, think this is great
fun. 1t is like picnic.'
"Queer weather for picnic,'' said
Bunker, glancing out of the window.
'This aih't no Fourth Of July, as l
see it,
Wetherell meanwhile was opening
the box which had been consigned to
the store in Brantford and proved to
contain tapers and tinsel ornaments
for Christmas tree.
'Well, be jiggeredv' exclaimed
Bunker. ",Hhis is addin' insult to in
jury. They're goin' to have a Christ
mas tree at the place where live to-
night"
80 they was at my sisters, too,"
said Mrs. Williams. "But we won't be
there. However, we're lucky to be any.
where, and if it wasn't for Mr. Weth-
erell we wouldn't be-"
At this moment howl, loud and
fearsome, resounded through the room.
The awful significance of her mothers
remark had penetrated the intelligence
of little Lucy and had shattered a long
cherished dream.
1--WE amt going to have any Christ
mas tree" she cried in voice choked
with sobs. And she lay down upon her
back and beat the floor with her heels.
Mrs. Williams gathered the child to
her ample bosom and vainly tried al
ternate consolat ton and threats. To
Wetherell this scene was more trying
than that last hill on the wrong road In
an appealing eye upon Miss Hunt, but
she offered no suggestion. She was
holding Harriet's head in her lap and
stroking her yellow hair. The child had
a beautiful habit Of crying silently, and
she always hid her face when she did
it.
Wetherell viewed her with gratitude
and admiration.
Harriet he said suddenly. you're
good girl, and I'm going to tell you a
secret. There's the prettiest Christmas
tree you ever saw growing out on the
lawn, and this evening it is going to
walk into the parlor covered with can
dies and candy, and there will be pres
ents on it for all little girls who don't
any noise
Lucy stopped in the middle of long
yell with suddenness that nearly
wrecked her lungs, and Harriet turned
her pretty. tear stained face toward
Wetherell as if she had heard the voice
of an angel.
The light of mischief shone in Amys
eyes
''Go and kiss Mr.. Wetherell," she
said, "and tell him that he will make a
lovely Santa Claus"
Wetherell took the kiss and was none
the worse for it. Then. he doomed the
coat that Amy had worn and wandered
forth into the snowstorm armed with a
Ratchet.
When he returned with the tree, the
children had been put to bed in room
upstairs to sleep till dinner time. Mrs
Williams was we'll under way with
Deacon Dresser's turkey, and Mr.. Bun
ker was feeding a fire in the big oper
fireplace in the parlor.
The room was already beginning tt
be warm. 1t was not i'll furnished ant
surely looked it's best 10y contrast witt
the storm. Wetherell drew big chair
before the fire, and it seemed to be thu
most comfortable chair that he ha(
ever seen in all his life.
"Why, there's piano here"' ex-
claimed Amy. entering the room. I'VE
will have some music this evening
There's no time for it now. We must
fix the tree.
1--WE lot Of candy and stuff in my
trunk" said Wetherell. Il bought the
unhealthfulest kind l could tind-fol
the children. you know. My aunts
have their house full Of them. l dom
like children very we'll
Il asked Harriet whether you KISSED
her. retorted Amy, and she said yor
did-tWice."
"Curosity and prevarication," sait
Wetherell, ARE the two besett;ng sim
of the sex. By the way, did you have
much trouble with the girls upstairs? -
"An experienced person. replied
Amy, "can always manage chilt
when it's mother is not present. Whel
she is present. the experienced perso1
does not try. You may have observed
it today
Upon my word," said he, you d
understand children"
They went to work upon the tree
and at half past 6 when Mrs. William
sent Bunker to warn them that Dime
was nearly ready there was no more t
be done. Amy went upstairs to dres
the children, leaving Wetherell to pac
the floor thoughtfully before the firt
His me0itatiOnS seemed to be mOStl