Sharp County record., 1902-12-26

Old Mrs. DorklGs Wlped her "e'
Eoapy hands on her checked ginghan
apron, and got the blue pitcher from
the shelf upon which it was sitting.
"Ile ain't quite sure" she answered;
"he wants to come, he says, but seems
like something always happens at the
very last minu,e TO keep him..
=" see you're fxin' for him, anyhow
What's them-mince pies"
"Oh. yes, fix for him every year
wouldn't like him to come an not hhd
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
Won know what these are" she said,
with a smile halfdeprecating half sad
lifting cloth from the bread-board'
He peeped over her shoulder Gee
whuts!" he cried, eXplosively' you
don't Iaean 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 Inc an Tom
(an' Susy went to school to Aunt Llu-
dy JackSon!"
Grandma Dorkins laughed, and
wrapped him up three of the big
brown cakes cut into some semblance
of a horse with her pie-knife. There's
one for you one for Susy, an one for
Ill jeff. Tell Susy sent en- TO re-
mind her OF old times. You an she
were sweethearts even when you used
20 scuffie with Tom for piece OF his
ginger-cake."
Toms doin' middlin' well, amt he,
grammar" Homer asked, making
start to go, but holding onto the back
door as he waited for her reply.
Toms dom splendid" the old worn
an said, proudly, Hes way up in the
railroad business now"
ITS near on ten years since be was
home, amt IT,"
mine years this Christmas she
corrected him. Hes been intendin'
10 come for so long; but he's awfully
busy, Tom is. With so much RESPONSE
bility he can't barely ever leave"
Took his wife to Europe last year.
didn't he?"
"les. They was gone three months.
He wrote to me after they got back
an said he thought for sure he was
goiu' 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"
"lt's likely he'll come this season."
Homes remarked, by way of com
fort.
Don't you know, I'm sort o positive
he will" grandma said, frightening.
1--WE been disappointed often enough
before. but this time it's different
him not bein' home for so long an |
wrote him hadn't been well lately.
Nv rheumatic bothers Inc dreadful
this winter. Putin II altogether,
Homer, I'm bound Toms comm this
time"
Homer hitched at his faded over
ulIs, shut the door and then opened
Il crack. he couldn't find word to
soy,
Old Mrs. Dorkins laughed softly as
she wiped off the kitchen table. Don't
YOU ever tell Homer; but Pve baked
horse ginger-cakes every year for
Toms home-comin', an then had to
send 'em to the orphan asylum over at
Wallingford. Now, this year cal
c'late Toms goin' to eat 'em himself"
ITS only two days till Chris mas"
Homer said, slowly. you ought to be
hearin' from him whether he's comm.
I'm goin' to the post Office. I'll see if
there's letter for YOU"
"No, Homer, don't" grandma said,
hastily. "Td rather not have il till
the last thing. If he shouldn't be com
in won't have anything to look for
ard to, an if he is, my cakes an pies
are all baked. All I've got to do now
is to shine the andirons over in the
settin'-room, an put up some greens
to make it seem Christmassy. |
wouldn't have the heart TO finish, Ho-
luer, if ] knew he wasn't comm" She
was still smiling, but tremulously,
"All right, gran'ma," he said, with
great effect of cheeriness in his
voice; "but I'm like you, I'm positive
Toms comm"
"Yes, I'm most sure Wen see him
this time; but il there's a letter, Ho.
mer, don't bring it. Peter Crump al.
ways brings it up to me as he goes
home on Christmas eve"
Homer climbed into his Gathering
old spring-wagon, and with the lines
Tapping loosely on the gray mares
back he let her take her own gait down
the long street.
Arriving at the post Office he ex.
changed greetings with the few
loungers gathered around the stove
sat down on q cracker-box, chewed
up broom-straw, and gazed abstract.
edly at the dirty floor.
want your mail, Homer?" the post.
master inquired, when there came lul
in his duties.
Homer got up from the cracker-boS
1. I. 80 th O.. a..