The Western news., 1904-12-21
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{ FA1E OF TWO Presents. +

] Christmas, SAID Mrs. Sllckerby, as
she climbed stiffy 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. l declare.
have a good mind to make 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 dirt
for me to clean up and the furnace heat
ed the whole place anyhow. He said his
mother used to have n nice fire in the
stove when they came in evenings. or
course, she did; his mother never saw
furnace in her life. and wouldn't have
known it from telephone if she had"
She paused, with her hands on her hips,
to admire the result of her labors "Yes,
guess will light fire in that stove,
anyhow, it will serve as Il text for more
remarks about the cold and few more
hints as to how l do need a new set Of
furs this Christmas. Josiah is a good
man, but he is as close when it comes to
a question of money as a potato is to its.
skin"
She was bustling about as she talked,
making her preparations to light a 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 q man to be careful about a
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
not scold-Christmas is not the time for
scolding. anyhow-though when you've
got to live with man it's best to take
every opportunity to teach him what's
right
AS the fire began to crackle cheerfuly,
she left it and went over to the old
fashioned cupboard in the corner, reached
carefully to the top shelf and took down
a bundle.
"I'll just take last peep at Josiah's
present" she said. II 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, l know that, for I've been
over every square inch of it in hopes
I'd find he'd hidden 'em somewhere"
She had unfolded wonderful combna-
ton of colors in wool which would have
made Joseph's coat somber garment by
comparison, and looked at it with great
admiration. Then she carefully replaced
it. II don't know as it's just necessary
to keep 1t away up there-he wouldn't
see it if it was right under his nose.
Dear me, l certainly small something
burning. l wonder if it can be my cake
In the oven, had almost forgotten it,
with all these other things on my mind"
'"There comes Josiah now!' she cried
ten minutes later. as she heard the door
of the sitting room open. I'll stay out
here and see what he does Well, surely
he must be pleased with the decora tions
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
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"
II had hid 'em in the stove, that's
how! you said you'd never make another
fire in 1t now we've got a furnace, and I
hid 'em in 1t, SOS l could surprise you
for Christmas!'
"Well, goodness knows, you have sur
prised me!'
Eyes, 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 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!