Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-12-12
A REAL HOME CHRISTMAS.
Continued from LIST pagel

Continued from LIST page.l
upon my word" said he, you dc
understand children"
They went to work upon the tree
and at half past 6 when Mrs. Williams
sent Bunker to warn them that dinner
was nearly ready there was no more to
be done. Amy went upstairs to dress
the children, leaving Wetherell to pace
the floor thoughtfully before the fire.
His meditations seemed to be mostly
humorous, but from time to time quite
grave. Suddenly he threw himself into
the big chair and laughed softly.
Upon my word" he said aloud,
"this must be confoundedly like being
married. And it's not so bad. That's
the funny part; it's not half bad!'
Mrs. Williams dinner was not bad
dt all. The woman was really cook
of 10 mean accomplishments, and the
sauce of hunger helped her fame. 1t
also helped to keep the children quiet,
that and the fact that their mother
would not sit down to table, but insist
ed upon spending most of her time in
the kitchen.
1t was with difficulty that Bunker
could be prevailed upon to take his
place, for social distinctions, nearly OBJ
liberated in the presence of the storm,
te-eStablished themselves in the house.
Wetherell amused himself by speaking
Of the driver as his old friend Captain
Bunker. whom he had brought home to
dinner. and by treating him with dis
tinguished courtesy as the guest of the
occasion. He also devoted himself to
Harriet, who sat beside him at her
own earnest request, for the episode OF
the two kisses seemed TO have touched
her little heart
Wetherell was witty and cheerful
throughout the meal He carved the
turkey to admiration. and was appar-
emily alert to every ones needs. But
In reality he felt like a man in Il dream
His surroundings We're strange enough,
surely, but the wonder that pcrpleXed
him was in himself, Why was he not
bored? How could he laugh at chill
drens nonsense and set value upon
tritles?
It's her tact" he said to himself at
last. looking across at Amy. she is
carrying this whole situation on her
shoulders and has carried it from the
start. If she were any other girl, l
would go out and hide in a snow
bank"
After the dinner came the tree, but
that should be seen by child'S vision.
WetherelI tried to see it that way Il 5 he
watched the two little girls come into
the room. They halted as soon as they
had crossed the threshold and stood
stock still. incapable of speech or mo-
tion-juSt two pairs of wide. wonder
ing eyes. Doubtless they still saw the
glittering marvel hours later when
their eyes We're closed in sleep.
At O'Clock Mrs. Williams dragged
them away, protesting, though their
little heads We're rocking on their
shoulders. Nh Bunker went ont TO
smoke a pipe in the kitchen. Wethorell
and Amy drew chairs before the fire
and sat with no other light except that
from the waning taperS.
Il have been singularly happy to-
day." said the man of the world.
You have been singularly helpful"
said she. at is the same thing"
Il cannot quite believe it, he re-
piled. "Of course it was to Il certain
extent a pleasure to do what | could
for my companions in misfortune, but
I'm too selfish to be much moved by
it."
IF you are selfish said she, you
have a remarkable way Of showing H."
Il really am" he said. Il feel a
selfish happiness at this moment. Shall
tell you why: Because have found
my way. This da! has been Il sort of
allegory. Miss Hunt. have for long
time been lost in u colder and more
hopeless desolation than any we en-
countered today. | have sought one
road and another and have always
gone astray. What should nave done?
DO you remember what | told you in
the grove this aftcrnoon:"
You said the road would do US no
good; that what we needed was shell
ter"
Precisely. Nd it has been the same
with me. The lean stecGs Of sclfishncss
and petty personal mostly
for money-haye carried me as far us
they can 90, and on the wrong road.
The path that have found today leads
out of the highway to shelter, Il roof
over my head. home.