Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1903-08-12

way lLAo WS2ltll-
er an the dark SO early ~
said his wife anxiously, look
ing out on the gray river, where the
whitecaps were running against the
tide.
mot too far" said the fisherman.
"Tomorrer bein' Christmas" added
the wife, "'twould be n sorry Chris
mus an you not comm in safe."
II allus have come in" said Joe. 81
amt much fear but what allus shell.
I wouldn't miss my Christmas" getting
into his long boots. ser the best fish
swimmin. Got the turkey?"
Down sullar on the swingin' shelf-a
big gobbler. You want pertater stuff
IMP
"Waal, do know. Which you want?
Chestnuts an things is tasty 18th sum
mer savory. Here, you fix this string.
Sis can get the chestnuts ter the cor
ner.''
ooh, the boys went nuttin' along the
fall, an l got quite few set by. TN
put some raisins in There's some left
over from the pies"
"Them pies II go right ter the spot,
Lots O cider in 'em? Got some turn.
overs fer the stockin'sY'
AN bunch o wife grapes apiece
threading her needle to sew on loose
button for him. They'll have things
ter the Sunday school tree, hut I'd like
'em ter have good tines ter hum ter
remember bimeby."
AN SC" looking up with CLEAN OF
mischief in the blue eyes. you've been
a-wastin' money on Sis'
II did jest git her little fur collar"
said the wife hesitatingly.
"Sho'. now, you don't suppose be
grutch anything to Sis7 Didn't you git
nothin' fer the boys2"
eyes," she said again doubtfully. ~
know we hadn't orter, but Christmas
on'y comes oncet year, an they did
so want Robinson Crusoe and PHI
grim's Progress an 1t keeps 'em ter
hum nights. An I'll make my ole bum
nit an shawl do"-
you're good mother, Mary"
you can't be children but oncet,
you know" biting her thread of.
"Therew
II know, an l don't want ter be.
Wen remember the llclin's had all
over the place. l don't want ter be a
child ag'in. My mittings dry? I'd ruther
be q grown man It'll you fer my wife
than oil the children in Christendom.
You're good wife, Mary. Ef ever I
have Peters luck an ketch fish 18th q
piece O. money In his mouth, I'll dress
you like queen, now, you betr'
Mary stood on tiptoe to kiss him
She would have liked to say that abe
would rather have him for husband
than oil the kings going, but she was
woman Of few words. Only the color
springing to her cheek us she twisted
up her dark hair, only the sudden
fame in the dark of her wistful eyes,
spoke for her, and as her husband went
out with his basket and lines, striding
down the lane like young giant going
to fight the foe. he was saying to him
self: II never see anything like Mary's
eyes. Somehow they allus do make me
| think O. stars on summers night
pitiful sort o. stars. George! This
amt goin' ter be any summers night
though; regular sluall."
And Mary, looking after him, was
saying to herself: 81 never do watch
him out O sight In that boat 'thout
feelin' 3 eff I'd never lay eyes on him
ag'in!"
But there was too much to do before
dark to waste time ut the windows
The children would be swarming in d
rectly, and there were the doughnuts
yet to fry. Jimmy likes hands, an st
does Dave, an Johnny likes rings
said the mother to herself, IAN Sissy
likes the hole, SO I'll cut out all sorts.'
And she had just set them aside and
brushed up the stove and laid the tabl,
when the young persons stamped Il
covered with light snow. "Landl Yol
don't mean ter say it's snowin'W ex
claimed the mother.
"Jest a spit" said Jimmy.
/ II hope that's ALL" said she, going t
the door and looking up the lane an,
down the harbor.
"Say, ma" said Johnny as she cam
back, did you know Sis was goin' vi
ter st. Paul's ter help ter put up tn
green tonight"
IVY, O course knowed. All he
Sunday school class is goin', an ez
pee Sis ter behave reel pretty" with
fond look ut the flower sweet littl
girl.
Il "And the saxon's ast Jimmy
"Sexon," said the mother instructive
~.
"Sexon, then, IS asst Jimmy ter rim
the bell fer him tonight. Wisht 'twa
me-"
81 wisht he'd asst me-" said Dav'
Juggling at his boots.
There's more bells than one
town." said Jimmy.
by gum, that's sov'
WAL, they amt your BELLS" sal
their mother. IAN you'd better kee
away from 'em. Come; here's til
beans all baked ter crisp. Ny
Don't they smell goodp Come; war
ter git the rest back ter keep hot fe
your father"
II wonder what they ring the bell
fer Christmas eve anyway" said Dav'
with his mouth full.
"Ter scare off the bad spirits, ten
sure" answered Jimmy.
"There amt any bad Spirits" sal
Sis.
'Less'n ourselves" said the mothe
II guess they ring the bells becaue
they're glad Christ was born. I'm su,
I be, an SOS your father"
Say, ma, Is pa good MANI"
"John Markham. eff you're ever ha
as good as''-
"He don't go ter church"
Gle done his churchgoing early. q
loves God. an he loves his neighbo
There amt better man walks TIL
footstool"
"say. Pm glad he's pa" said Johnn,
"So'm l." said his mother, "an'
W1sht he was ter hum this minute It