Windham County reformer. (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1901-1906, 1902-12-12

condensed milk" said Miss Hunt.
but
II want something to eat" walled
Lucy.
Wetherell felt himself confronted by
a new responsibility. He had succeed
ed in housing the people; now he must
feed them.
"Mr Bunker" said he, with an in
spiration born of necessity, what are
all Of those packages in the pungT
by jimmyneddy" exclaimed Bun
ker. I've got turkey in there. It's
goin' to Deacon Dresser
Il am glad to hear" said Wetherell,
that it is the property of processing
Christian He will be glad to relieve
our necessities. especially at this time
of year Miss Hunt, with your per-
mission, | will attend to the marketing
today. Come along, Mr.. Bunker"
They returned presently with the tur-
key, which was frozen as hard as a
rock, but not beyond cooking, in Mrs.
Williams opinion. She and Amy
meanwhile had found quite an assert
ment of vegetables in the cellar.
I'm going to open all the boxes in
the Sleigh said Wetherell. Il have
already broken into the largest of
them, which. regret to say. was full
of rubber boots
Here's a little one that | brought
along" said Bunker. There wa MT
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
ly, Mr. Wetherell, | think this is great
fun. 1t is like a picnic"
Queer weather for a picnic" said
Bunker, glancing out of the window.
This amt 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.
We'll, l be jiggered" exclaimed
Bunker. This is addin insult to in
Jury. They're goin' to have Christ
mas tree at the place where l live to-
night"
so 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 a 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 a 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 consolation and threats. To
Wetherell this scene was more trying
than that last hill on the wrong road in
the midst III the snowStorm. He turned
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
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
a good girl, and I'm going to tell you
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 a 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 Amy's
eyes.
go and kiss Mr.. Wetherell," she
said, and tell him that he will make
lovely Santa Claus"
Wetherell took the kiss and was none
the worse for it. Then he donned 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 well under way with
Deacon Dresser's turkey. and Mr.. Bun
ker was feeding a fire in the big open
fireplace in the parlor.
The room was already beginning to
be warm. 1t was not i'll furnished and
surely looked its best by contrast with
the storm. Wethereu drew a big chair
before the fire, and 1. seemed to be the
most comfortable chair that he had
ever seen in all his life.
why. there's piano here"' ex-
'laimed Amy. entering the room. We
will have some music this evening.
There's no time for it now. We must
tx the tree"
1--WE lot of candy and stuff in my
runk." said Wetherell. Il bought the
kind l could ffnd-for
he children. you know. Ny aunts
lave their house full of them. l don't
Ike children very Well"
II asked Harriet whether you kissed
Ter" retorted Amy, and she said you
-