The Cairo bulletin. (Cairo, Ill.) 1???-1928, 1905-12-25
@ bri s t m as
Greens
IA CbrtetmAs story
BY Martha M'CuIloeb- MiIIIams
W. ll4

CbrlStmas WITHOUT greens. lmpo
siDle! There surely must be some of
gort In this big farming world" Leon
raid almost tragically.
Her cousin and host. Amos Baker
shook his head.
"None nearer than Sinking Fork" b
snid. That's twelve miles on and tn
chances against finding anything ever
there-the hills are so low and thu
valley hardly worth the name
You must take me to the head wa
ters. | know shall hnd what lwani
there" Leona said imperiously. "Gel
ont the wagonette ct once! No matter
IL Christmas Is ten days off, know q
way to keep greens fresh"
Wont you say please?" Amos asked
hanteringly as he went toward the
door. Leona ran after him with the
prettiest face of contrinon.
"Of course Will and 'thanky. sir.
and anything else In the world you
ask" she said. laying her hand on his
arm.
lie smiled at her Suppose should
asx you to cay Yes to Norrie Gordon.
I've a great mind to do It, Ii N0rrie Is
my brother-in-law, he's worth a dozen
Of that other fellow"
HIM. You are sure there Is another
fellowW Leana queried saucily, but
with a pretty flush.
Amos looked supernaturally wise.
There must be- he said. Candy
three times a week and flowers and
gImcracks till the carrier wishes rural
free delivery had never been thought
of--those are signs I've never yet
known to fall.
You should not peek. It's upgentle-
Iaanly, even in your private mail box"
Leona said severely, pursuing her lips.
Amos shook his head at her, You
shouldn't fiirt," he said, but today I'm
bound TO give you chance. Norrje
will 90 with you on this fern chase,
because I'm bound to go somewhere
eise,n
How nice! Norrie is never saucy,"
Leonn said, with o dimplIng smile. II
made her SO enchanting that Norrle,
Just then coming through the door, lost
his heart over again for at least the
twentieth time. The losing gave him N
4 fearful Joy He TOO, had read and III.
teFpreted the signs Of the post, bur as
he climbed into the wagonette and sent
The horses away at siapplDg pace be
nut al thought or this unknown rival
from him. resolved to enjoy at least one !
blissfal day basking In the sunshine Of
Le9na's smiles. HI.
Presently the way bent at almost |
right angle Norrie reined fl there |
and said, letting bis free hand rest over |
Ieona's elasped ones: The fork Is just !
ahead, but you'll find nothing there.
know. hunt around 1t every fall. |
wonder II you dare 20 down In the. hills
with me? There you can get loads Of
things green cedar. cross vine, ferns
and big green briers with leaves Ike
wax. know of n holly bush. TOO. aud
o clump Of Pines
s.W1iy arrn't you iakiug sne to them|
Leena INTERRUPTED, hrr eyes danring
Norrie smiled back at her, but there
WINS an anxious undernotc In his voice
as he answered. "Becausc they're a
long way or, not too farfor the horses,
but 80 farIwe'd be IN the night getting
home
PAS IL that nattered,r Leona said
seornfully. when you know my heart
Is set on giving those II babies such
q Christmas as they never saw. Your
sister Amy says may do just what |
please. I please 10 have Christmas
tree, with the whole house trimmed to
match. Drive oii--like the wind. San
clio and Sally will have long rest
while you are helping me hack and
hew."
Just as you say, ma'am," Norrie
answered suspiclously meek. ''But u
! haul the tree home. to say nothing OF
cutting II down. I'm to have my choice
OF whatever is on II or under it- Is
that a bargaing'
1T has to be, but | never thought
you'd lie su,h an extortioner." Leona
said loftily. although her eyes twin
killed.. Then she fell silent, drinking in
the Joy of the sunshine. of the rapid
whiri through the soft December day.
The landscape grew more barren. ,
more broken; the fields were smaller,
the farmhouses meaner and less
thrifty By and by the road ran down
q steep ridge. only TO climb IN opDo- I
site one sleeper still. The sun had /
begun TO slnk No;ric looked up at II 7
then sent the blacks Il
faster. A niie farther on he stopped Il
and sprung out, saying rs he lifted /
Leuna to her feet. You'll want your I
supper before You get II, | reckon. but
here VIC are
Leona cried out III raptnres. Before 1
her stood cnmp OF pines. On beyond Z
down the rocky slope lay matted arm {
fuls OF long, lacy fronds The green /
briers Also were in evidence. She
caught UP Amos pruning shears ana /,
began to cut things right and left She
was 50 intent that she did not see Nor |
rle slip away. but very shortly she
looked up 70 see him dragging In
fine young holly full Of scarlet berries :
The Kids never saw anything like IT,"
he said as he hoisted 1t into the wagon |
cite and made il fast there Then he ,
fell to work wrenching mp ferns In /