Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1903-04-28
4 HE MUSIC OF
l l TE.E- BELLS
By Harriet Prescott Spofford
Copyright, 1905, by
Harriet Prescott Spofford
"a you'll not be goin' a great
W ways this threatenin' wealth
E er an the dark so early?"
- cold bic x,-;fn ,nvin,,cI,, lool-

III 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.
Not too far" said the fisherman.
"Tomorrer bein' Chris mus" added
the wife. "'twould be sorry Chris
mus an you not comm in safe"
Il allus have come in" said Joe. 81
amt much fear but what | allus shell
l wouldn't miss my Chris'mus," getting
into his long boots, FER the best iist
swimmin'. Got the turkey!'
"Down sullar on the swingin' SHELF
big gobbler. You want pertater stuff.
IMP
"Waal, l do know. Which you want
Chestnuts an things is tasty 18th sum
mer worry. Here. you fix this string
Sis can get the chestnuts ter the cor
ner."
"Oh, the boys went nuttin' along tho
fall. an | got quite few set by. III
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's:"
AN a bunch o wife grapes apiece,
threading her needle to sew on loose
button for him. They'll have things
ter the Sunday school tree. but I'd like
'em ter have good times ter hum ter
remember Rmeby."
An So" looking up with a gleam of
mischief in the blue eyes, you've been
a-wastin' money on Sis
Il did jest cit her little fur collar u
said the wife hesitatingly.
"Sho', now, you don't suppose be.
grutch anything to Sis? Didn't you git
nothin' fer the boys:'
YES" she said again doubtfully. II
know we hadn't orter, but Chris mus
on'y comes oncet year, an they did
so want Robinson Crusoe' and Pill
grim's Progress an it keeps 'em ter
hum nights An I'll make my ole bun
nit an shawl do
you're good mother. Mary"
"You can't be children but Oncet,
you know" biting her thread off
There
Il know, an l don't want ter he.
Wen | remember the lickin's had all
over the place, | don't want ter be Il
child ag'in. Ny mittings dry? Id ruther
be grown man 18th you fer M wife
than all the children in ChristendOm.
You're good wife. Mary, Ef ever |
have Peters luck an ketch fish 18th Il
piece O money in his mouth, I'll dress
you like a queen. now, you bet!'
Mary stood on tiptoe to kiss him.
She would have liked to say that she
would rather have him for Il husband
than all the kings going. but she was
a woman of few words. Only the color
springing TO her cheek us she twisted
UP her dark hair, only the sudden
flame in the dark of her wistful eyes.
spoke for her, and as her husband went
Out Will Ills DlShtt iiAiSc, cti .''i4- =
down the lane like young giant goin2
to fight the foe. he WAS saying TO him
self Il never see anything like Mary's
eyes. Somehow they alius do make Iii
think o stars on summers night
pitiful sort o stars. George. This
amt goin' ter be any summers night.
thol1h. rrr'l3r Suuall"
And Mary. looking after him, WAS
saying 10 herself: Il never do watch
him out O. sight in that boat 'ihout
feelin' g eff I'd never lay eyes on him
ag'in!"
But there was too much to do before
dark to waste time at the windows.
The children would be swarmi:!s in di'
rectly. and there We're the doughnuts
yet to fry. Jimmy likes hands. an so
does Dave, an johnny likes rings,
said the mother to herself. "an' Sissy
likes the hole. so III cut out all sorts.
And she had just set them aside and
brushed up the stove and laid the table
when the young persons stamped IL
covered with light SHOW. Land! You
don't mean ter say it's snOwin'!' eX
claimed Ne mother.
Jest Il spit" said Jimmy.
81 hope that's all" said sue. going tn
the door and looking up the lane am!
down the harbor.
Say. ma" said Johnny as she came
back, did you know Sis was goin' up
ter st. PaIls ter help ter put up the
green tonight"
"W'y. O course knOwed. All her
Sunday school class is goin', an eX'
pee Sis ter behave reel pretty" with Il
fond look at the flower sweet little
girl
"And the saxon's asst jimmy
"Sexon," said the mother instructive.
ly.
"Sexon, then. s asst Jimmy ter ring
the bell fer him tonight. Wisht twas
me-"
81 wisht he'd ast me-" said Dave,
tugging at his boots.
ueEe ulOie pSiS thah ohS 49,
town." said Jimmy.
"By gum, that's sou
"Waal, they amt your BELLS" said
their mother. "an' you'd better keep
away from 'em. Come; here's the
beans all baked ter crisp. My!
Don't they smell good? Come; want
ter git the rest back ter keep hot fer
your father"
81 wonder what they ring the bells
fer Christmas eve anyway" said Dave.
with his mouth full.
"Ter scare off the bad spirits, ter be
sure" answered Jimmy.
"There amt any bad spirits" said
Sis.
"Less'n ourselves" said the mother.
Il guess they ring the bells because
they're glad Christ was born. I'm sure
l be, an SOS your father"
"Say, ma, Is pa a good man"
John Markham, ef you're ever half
as good as
"He don't 60 ter church"
"He done his churchgoing early. He
loves God. an he loves his neighbor.
Calf Jc0urs Cured
uae my calf was