The labor world. [volume] (Duluth, Minn.) 1896-current, 1903-12-19
e *#1I3E- y - - 81. ~ :.
a Christmas Toboagan,
": j.;
! ~!
By MANDA L..~CR0CKER,

In a, sheltered cleft on the mountain
side where the scraggy pines made
t polite obeisance- to their bare-headed
| neighbors. the Halfway house had
stood, a: *harhinger of comfort, for a
score Of years. =s....s #:
And now, though the old stage lay
rotting in the valley and the traveller
thundered along by rail beneath its
very foundations, the friendly gables
seemed Reckoning to Imaginary guests.
Tonight. too, = the ., pine branches
cracked merrily on the wide hearth,
as If the: snubs Of progressive pub
| lie were not worth 1ninding, lighting
up the long, low~room in the cleaning
| of the: Christmas Eve.
| Two women conversed in tender
monotone In the CHEEKY illumination,
| and the elder was saying: '"The paper
| cannot be found and, Of course, the
! property goes to your Uncle Hermon.
! The other rose YEARLY from her place
! before the fire and stood leaning her
head against the black o1d-fashioned
! mantel.
"Then uncle really intends taking
our home away from us?" she said, in
!
! patient mother face.
Certainly, my daughter" came the
| reply in cheerful resignation, land he
expects to take possession soon, too,
! But your father always made much OF
the Christmas time and, for his sake,
we will keep the day gladly, you know"
EYES, I know" and the girl turned
away toward the next room, tucking up
| her sleeves with little gingerly thrusts
as she went.
| The brace of cartridges Brother Ned
had shared the day before made a
pretty picture as they waited, plump
and round, for the last turn of the
| skeWer. After they were ready for the
morrow's roasting the tall, queenly girl
went over to the open doorway mo-
ment to contemplate the picturesque
landscape she had loved all her life.
| Even the scrubby oaks are resttul
up there. she unused, land I don't see
how I am to bring myself to be turned
out like-a beggar!!"
Making a sudden dash at her eyes
with her handkerchief, she resumed:
! "Of course, if mother is bent on hav-
ing sunny Christmas in the face of
it all. why, I won't be shadowy."
! Hearing a. CHEEKY whistle outside she
| continued: 20 yes" correcting the un-
charitable thought), ''he does care, but
| not as 1 do
The mother rocked to and fro be-
| fore the fragrant blaze, humming an
old refrain. The dusk gathered gloom
| lily in the corners of the room while
the dancing light glinted along the
smoky rafters as if eager, to dispel all
thought OF loneliness.
Mrs. Cameron glanced upward. In
| the years agone, when the rafters were
not 80 smoky and the dear old rooms
not so dingy as now, the Halfway
house was. the social hub of the noun
1 tain side But now, - -.-.....
*#A sturdy lad of IL years Came bust
/ ing in with his arms full Of holly and
his pockets full of mail. .:
1.-THE road down to the village is as
/ smooth as glass;" he said, brushing
! the snowflakes from his clothes on to
the bright hearth. "Hors{Gs will have
to be sharp shod to make Tia slide TO-
morrow, know"
Handing some letters to his mother,
he began to plan for "jolly good
i time" the next day, while he separated
the sprays of the glossy evergreen.
Attracted by his festive manner, his
! sister volunteered to help, and fell to