Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1902-12-24

Toone6 house!
Then up rose Mrs. Cratchit, Cratehit's
wife, dressed out but poorly in a twice
turned gown. but brave in ribbons
which are cheap and make a goodly
show for sixpence; and she laid the
cloth, assisted by Belinda Cratchit
second of her daughters, also brave II
ribbons; while Master Peter Cratehi1
plunged a fork into the saucepan of po-
tatoes, and getting the corners of his
raonstrous shirt-colla (Bob's private
property, conferred upon his son ane
heir in honor of the day. into his
mouth, rejoiced to find himself so gal
lantly. attired, and yearned to show
his linen in the fashionable parks
And now two smaller Cratchits
boy and girl, came tearing in
screaming that outside the bakers they
had smelt the goose, and known 1t fol
their own: and, basking in luxurious
thoughts of sage and onion, these young
Cratchits danced about the table, and
exalted Master Peter Cratehit to the
skies, while he (not proud, altho his
collars nearly choked himl blew the
fire, until the slow potatoes, buhblins
UP, knocked loudly at the saucepan
lid to be let out and peeled.
What has ever got your precious
father, them" said Mrs. Cratchit
.And your brother, Tiny Tim? And
Martha warn't as late Christmas day by
Nalf an hour!"
Here's Martha, mother said a girl
appearing as she spoke.
Here's Martha, mother!' cried the
two young Cratchits. "Hurrah.
:. .ro,ea ba
"Wlhy, bless your heart alive, my
dear, how hate you are!" said Mrs
Cratchit, kissing her a dozen times
and taking off her shawl and bonnet
for her with officious zeal.
WED deal of work to finish up last
night" replied the girl and mad 10
clear away this morning, mother.
..well! Never mind SO long as you
are cof,1e,n said Mrs. Cratchit. Sit We
down before the fire. my dear, and
have a warm, Lord bless We!
mo, mol There's father coming,
cried the two young Cratchits, who
Were everywhere at once. Hide, Mar
tina, hide!"
So Martha hid herself, and in came
little Bob, the father, with at least three
feet of comforter, exclusive of the
fringe, hanging down before him; and
his threadbare clothes darned up anc
brushed, to look seasonable; and TINY
Tim upon his shoulder. Alas for Tiny
Tim, he bore little crutch, and had mis-
limbs supported by an iron frame'
why, where's our Martha?" cried
Bob Cratchit, looking around.
mot coming" said Mrs. Cratchit.
"Not coming!" said Bob, with sud
den declension in his high spirits; for
he had been Tins blood horse all the
way from church, and had come home
rampant. mot coming upon Christmas
day.
Martha didn't like to see him disap-
pointed, il it were only in joke; SO she
came out prematurely from behind the
closet door, and ran into his arms, while
the two young Cratchits hustled Tiny
rim, and bore him off into the wash
house, that he might hear the pudding
singing in the copper.
And how did little Tim behave?"
asked Mrs. Cratchit, when she had rail-
lied Bob on his credulity, and Bob had
Rugged his daughter to his hearts con-
Sent
''As good as gold" said Bob, "and bet
ter Somehow he gets thoughtful, Sit
ting by himself so much, and thinks
the strangest things you ever heard.
He told me, coming home that he hoped
the people saw him In the church. be-
cause he was cripple, and it might be
pleasant to them to remember, upon
Christmas day, who made lame beggars
walk and blind men see"
Bobs voice was tremulous when he
told them this, and trembled more when
he said that Tiny Tim was growing
strong and hearty.
His active little crutch was heard up
ON the floor, and back came Tiny Tim
before another word was spoken, es-
corted by his brother and sister to his
stool beside the fire; and while Bob,
turning UP his cuffs,-as If, poor fellow,
they were capable of being made more
shabby,-compounde some hot mix
fure in a jug with gin and lemons, and
stirred it round and round, and put 1t on
the hob to simmer, Master Peter and
the two ubiquitous young Cratchits
went to fetch the goose, with which
they soon returned in high procession.
Such hustle ensued that you might
8 have thought a goose the rarest of all
birds; a feathered phenomenon, to
which black swan was matter of
course, and In truth it was something
very like 1t in that house. Mrs. Cratch-
it made the gravy (ready beforehand III
& little saucepan) kissing hot; Master
Peter mashed the potatoes with incred-
ible yigor; Miss Belinda sweetened UP
the apple sauce; Martha busted the hot
plates; Bob took Tiny Tim beside him
ma tiny corner at the table; the two
Young Cratci1its set chairs for every
body, not forgetting themselves, and,
mounting guard upon their posts. cram
med spoons into their mouths, lest they
should shrek for goose before their
turn came TO be helped. At last the
dishes were set on, and grace was said.
1t was succeeded by a breathless Pause.
as Mrs Cratchit, looking slowly all
along the carving kniN, prepared to
plunge it in the breast; but when she
did, and when the long expected gush
of stuffing issued forth, one murmur of
delight arose all round the board, and
even Tiny Tim, excited by the two
young Cratchits, beat on the table with
the handle of his knife, and feebly cried
asurrah!
There never was such a goose. Bob
said he didn't believe there ever was
such a goose cooked. Its tenderness
and flavor, size and cheapness, We're
the themes of universal admiration
Fixed out by apple sauce and mashed
potatoes, it was a sufficient dinner for
the whole family: indeed, as Mrs
Cratchit said with great delight (sur-
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