Corvallis gazette. [volume] (Corvallis, Benton County, Or.) 1900-1909, 1904-12-23
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: FATE OF TWO PRESENTS. 4
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] Christmas" said Mrs. Slickerby, as
she climbed stiffly down from the
chair on which she had been standing to
deck the chandelier with holly. How
surprised Josiah will be when he comes
in. cold and tired to find the place look
ing so like holiday times. 1 declare, I
have a good mind to make a fire in the
stove just to please him; he kept asking
for it so long-though, come to think of
it, he hasn't mentioned it lately, though
l always told him it only made a dirt
for me to clean up and the furnace heat
ed the whole place anyhow. He said his
mother used to have a nice fire in the
stove when they came in evenings. OF
course, she did, his mother never saw
furnace in her life, and wouldn't have
known it from a telephone if she had"
She paused, with her hands on her hips,
to admire the result of her 1abors. Yes,
I guess 1 will light fire in that stove,
anyhow, it will serve as a text for more
remarks about the cold and few more
hints as to how do need a new set of
furs this Christmas. Josiah is a good
man, but he is as close when it comes to
q question of money as a potato is to its
skin"
She was bustling about as she talked,
making her preparations to light fire
in the brilliantly polished stove. There,
l declare" she cried, as she opened the
door, "if Josiah hasn't got this stove
all filled up with papers and trash, after
all my talking; it does seem as if you
can't teach a man to be careful about
house any more than you can teach hen
to play checkers! Never mind, I'll just
lay my kindlings on top of the trash and
&c fHo for
scolding, anyhow-though when you've
got to live with a man it's best to take
every opportunity to teach him what's
right"
AS the fire began to crackle cheerfully,
she left it and went over to the old
fashioned cupboard in the corner, reached
carefully to the top shelf and took down
bundle.
''I'll just take last peep at Josiah's
present" she said. 81 tell you, there
was lot of work in the knitting of that
afghan, and If he doesn't give me those
furs he'll feel good deal ashamed every
time he puts it over his knees in the
buggy this winter-and the furs are not
In the house, I know that, for I've been
over every square inch of it in hopes
I'd find he'd hidden 'em somewhere"
ton. of colors in wool which would have
made Joseph's coat a somber garment by
comparison, and looked at it with great
admiration. Then she carefully replaced
1t. II don't know as it's just necessary
to keep it away up there-he wouldn't
see it if it was right under his nose.
Dear me, l certainly small something
burning. 1 wonder if it can be my cake
in the oven, I had almost forgotten it,
with all these other things on my mind"
There comes Josiah noww she cried
ten minutes later, as she heard the door
of the sitting room open. III stay out
here and see what he does. Well, surely
he must be pleased with the decorations
and the fire in the stove. 1t sounds as
ii he was doing jig all over the room
and him a processing Christian, too"
Five minutes later she opened the sit
ting room door and stood transixed on
the threshold. why, Josiah Slickerby,
what on earth is the matter?" she shrieA-
ed "You are as black as a sweep and
your beard is all singed, and what is that
awful smell in here, and w-what is that
you have in your hand?'
Its your new set of furs, that's what
it is," retorted Josiah, grimly, "a good
set of furs that cost lot of money, TOO,
and looking like a cat that had been
sitting ON a can of frecrackers when
they went off,
"But how on earth could"
81 had hid 'em in the stove, that's
how! you said you'd never make another
fire in it now We've got furnace, and I
hid 'em in it, SOS l could surprise you
for Christmas"'
"Well, goodness knows, you have sur
prised me-"
"Yes, and when came into this room
it was all full of smoke, and flames were
bursting out of the stove door, it was so
full, and if 1 hadn't kept my presence
of mind and hunted out that old thing
to smother the flames with, the whole
place might have been burned.' And
he held up the afghan. which was scarce
ly in better condition than the furs!