The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1905-12-30
NhNNIES XMAS IN IVSa.

BY JULES ADAMS POWELL.


tied an ample white apron Her
white-capped head nodded as she counted
the pies on the shelves
Fifteen pumpkin-hfteen mince-nf-
~ custard cups and two plum puddings
-eighty-two in all, not counting Nan
nies three little turnovers- | think that
will do for the holidays this year. though
Brother John is coming with those ten
boys and one little girl. How cold II Is.
There Is surely a storm brewing, ana
hope the folks will get here before II
breaks"
The good woman turned the key In
the lock. and a door blowing open just
at that moment, at the other end OF the
pasageway. she hurried OF TO close II
and forgot about the key.
By 3 o'clock madame was robed In
her pretty gray poplin with white ker-
chief crossed on her breast, and dainty
white lace cap on her brown curls'
which would stray out from beneath the
cap band, and which Papa Yarrow slyly
pulled as he passed through the hall
where sat his wife and little daughter in
front of the blazing wood fire.
"AH ready for company, Nancy
miner He caught the little one up In
his arms and kissed her on either cheek,
continuing: "And mother, toof Why
she looks as young as the day saw
Ter for the first time"
Farmer Yarrow put the little girl
down, glanced at his wife. who, with
dropping face, did not respond to his
merry speech
Her husband, noticing this, bent over
her tenderly, with the words, Yes, my
wife. our life has ben one OF great hap
piness, marred only by one sorrow. III
he-our eldest child-our Henry-were
alive to-day, he would be a brave lad
of H."
John" for the first time his wife
raised her head and looked into his face,
her brown eyes filed with tears, John,
= sometimes, methinks our boy may Jet
be alive. In the fight with the Indians,
| we were told that he was carried away
, by them, and even though the country
about was searched by scouts and others
it might be that they saved his life, fol-
he was but a baby-5 years old. and i
there was a woman in that tribe surely
she would have mother-heart enough t
: preserve the life Of an inocent babe VIII
a had never done harm to any"
a "Wife, wife, this Is very wrong 70
e you to hope for the return Of one VII
! has been so many years from u.s. l an
!, sure that our son cannot be alive. or W
:. would have heard Of him In some way
All l hear sleigh bells"
Catching Mamie up again, he turne
). toward the window, and coming up tn
y driveway were seen three immens
l. sledges drawn by strong horses and file
Il with merry faces, the owners Of whic
5. were soon clambering out The iron
e door was thrown open, and Madam
l. Yarrow's tears vanished in the heart
ia handshakings and embraces Of sister
- cousins and aunts-
Even Great-grandmother Hartwe
a had come, for this year it was Mar
y Yarrow's Christmas feast, and all hs
a. come to make the old house ring wit
L 10Y and laughter until after New Year.
That night merry crowd sat down
the supper table. There was Broth
John Hartwell. his wife and eleven CHI
or dren. There was Great-grandmoth
Rartwen and her daughter-in-la'
re Grandmother Hartwell. Mr.. Yarrow
father and mother were present, as We
n- also his two brothers and one sister wi
y their wives, husband and children
all there were thirty-three-
= One might well wonder where all Il
. roodly company were to sleep. but il y
had gone into the great garrett you won
have ceased wondering. when you sa
the trundle beds for the little ones.
course. the very smallest babies slept
their mothers rooms
Christmas Eve the children were
ways allowed an extra half hour arou
the Preside to listen to the stories
d their elders, while the corn popped q
n chestnuts burned black. or else hopp
II across the floor.
g, On this evening Mamie sat In
OF favorite place on Cousin Roderick's kn
on Uncle Tom had just been saying that
al few days previous he had heard II
off the Indians had been causing trout
ID for the farmers They were steal
~, the boarded corn and wheat. and in O
Instance. after taking the grain, th
,rs had set fire to the grsnary.
lot Cousin Rod saw the look Of terror
81 the eyes of some Of the little ones. a
m interrupted with the words, well. no
In. Aunt Mary, wouldn't Il be q great jc
am II these hungry Reds should get il
Iad your storeroom and carry of all th'
pies and buildings l know you hs
-, there for tomorrow
ILL., Are they really so hungry. Cou
nd RodY' asked a little voice from his I
,ek Yes. dear, an Indian is always res
led led to es- enc out Of house and home.
90
his Late that night no one heard
Ike "pit-pat Of tiny bare feet along
dark. cold hall. as little white fig
emerged from the attic. and few dov
st stairs in the moonlight. which hoo,
his the house with its kindly rays.
We She went directly to the storero'
e. AT the same instant e tall. dark 10
- that had but a moment before clim
80 into an unfastened window. stood ira
I've sxed with fear at the figure before b
IN but for the moment only, when. wit
m sort Of grunt. the man moved tow
the the pantry door.
ad, Mamie. beneath her breath. whisper
the Its a Indian. an he's come Tor
our turnovers. Cousin Rod said he migl
tlv. She was frightened and stood very
rs while the other fumbled with the L
-. which soon yielded. and when NaE
saw the man was really inside the I
inc try. she turned aud almost dew bacs
aus, her fathers room. where. standing
IS a tiptoe. she whispered in his ear, p
icu- erl Father. A Indian is down IN
out storeroom. stealth my tarnover>. Z
"a quick. father!