Pullman herald. [volume] (Pullman, W.T. [Wash.]) 1888-1989, 1905-12-16

Y L was the day before Christmas.
Dame Yarrow stood in the store-room
doorway, gowned In a warm frock of
gray wool homespun, over which was
tied an ample white apron. Her
white-capped head nodded as she counted
the pies on the shelves.
Fifteen umpkin-ffteen mlnce-ff-
~ custard cups and two plum buildings
-eighty-two In all, not counting Nan
MES 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 it is.
There is surely a storm brewing, and
hope the folks will get here before 1t
breaks"
The good woman turned the key in
the lock, and door blowing open just
at that moment, at the other end of the
pasageway, she hurried off to close it
and forgot about the key.
| BY o'clock madame was robed in
her pretty gray poplin with white kerr
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.
"All ready for company, Nancy
mineW He caught the little one up in
his arms and kissed her on either cheek,
continuing: And mother, too? Why
she looks as young as the day I 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, Eyes, my
/ wife, our life has ben one of great hap
piness, marred only by one sorrow. If
he-our eldest child-our Henry-were
alive to-day, he would be brave lad
of IT,"
John" for the first time his wife
raised her head and looked into his face,
her brown eyes filled with tears, John,
sometimes, methinks our boy may yet
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, for
he was but a baby-5 years DID, and If
| there was a woman in that tribe surely
she would have mother-heart enough to
preserve the life of an inocent babe who
had never done harm to any"
wife, wife, this is very wrong for
you to hope for the return of one who
has been so many years from us. | am
sure that our son cannot be alive, or we
would have heard of him in some way.
All | hear sleigh bells"
Catching Mamie up again. he turned
toward the window, and coming up the
driveway were seen three immense
siedges drawn by strong horses and filled
with merry faces, the owners of which
were soon clambering out. The front
door was thrown open. and Madame
Yarrow's tears vanished in the hearty
handshakings and embraces of sisters,
cousins and aunts.
Even Great-grandmother Hartwell
had come, for this year it was Mary
Yarrow's Christmas feast and all had
come to make the old house ring with
JOY and laughter until after New Year.
That night a merry crowd sat down at
the supper table. There was Brother
John Hartwell, his wife and eleven chill
dren. There was Great-grandmother
Grandmother Hartwell. Mr.. Yarrow's
father and mother were present, as were
| also his two brothers and one sister with
| their wives, husband and children. In
all there were thirty-three.
One might well wonder where all this
goodly company were to sleep, but If you
had gone into the great garnet you would
have ceased wondering, when you saw
the trunde beds for the little ones OF
course, the very smallest babies slept In
their mothers rooms.
Christmas Eve the children were al
ways allowed an extra half hour around
the Preside to listen to the stories of
their elders, while the corn popped and
chestnuts burned black, or else hoped
across the floor.
On this evening Mamie sat In her
favorite place on Cousin Rodericks knee.
| Uncle Tom had just been saying that
few days previous he had heard that
the Indians had been causing trouble
for the farmers. They were stealing
the boarded corn and wheat, and in one
instance, after taking the grain, they
| had set fire to the granary.
| Cousin Rod saw the look of terror in
the eyes of some of the little ones. and
interrupted with the words, "Well, now,
Aunt Mary. wouldn't it be a great joke
/ IL these hungry Reds should get into
your storeroom and carry off all those
pies and puddings l know you have
/ there for tomorrow
Are they really so hungry, Cousin
RodY' asked little voice from his lap.
! Yes, dear, an Indian is always ready
/ to eat one out of house and home"
! Late that night no one heard the
"pit-pat Of tiny bare feet along the
dark, cold hall, as a little white figure
emerged from the attic, and flew down
stairs in the moonlight, which flooded
the house with Its kindly rays.
She went directly to the storeroom.
! Al the same instant a tall, dark form,
that had but momsnt before climbed