Heppner gazette. [volume] (Heppner, Morrow County, Or.) 1892-1912, 1905-12-28
NANN|E'S XMAS IN 1893.
BY JULES ADAMS POWELL.
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~~o-~~~~O~~~o.
7 I was the day before Christmas
Dame Yarrow stood in the store-roon
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 pumpkin-ffteen mlnce-hf'
ty custard cups and two plum puddingi
-eighty-two In all. not counting Nan
nie's three little turnovers. l think that
will do for the holidays this year, though
Brother John Is coming with those ten
boys and one little girl. How cold 1t 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 a door blowing open just
at that moment, at the other end of the
pasageway, she hurried off to close 1t
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 a 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
mine" 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 l saw
Ter for tho 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 ono of great hap
piness, marred only by one sorrow. If
he-our eldest child-our Henry-were
alive to-day, he would be a 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,
1t 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 10 very wrong for
you to hope for the return Of one who
has been so many years from US. I 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 tho window, and coming up the
driveway were seen threo immense
sledges drawn by strong horses and filled
with merry faces. the owners Of which
were soon ciambering out. Tho front
door was thrown open. and Madame
Yarrow's tears vanished in tho hearty
handshakings and embraces Of sisters.
cousins and aunts.
Even Great-grandmother Hartwell
had come. for this year 1t 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 Broth er
John Hartwell, his wife and eleven chill
dren. There was Great grandmother
Hartwell and her daughter la w,
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
oil there were thirtythree.
One might well wonder where all this
soodly company were to sleep, but II you
had gone into the great garret you would
have ceased wondering, when you saw
the trundle 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 firesde to listen TO the stories OF
their elders, while the corn popped and
chestnuts burned black, or else hopped
across the floor.
On this evening Mamie sat In her
favorite place on Cousin Roderick's 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
II these hungry Reds should get into
your storeroom and carry off all those
pies and puddings I 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
10 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 hgure
emerged from the attic. and few down
.ta;rs in the moonlight. which flooded
the house with its kindly rays.
She went directly to the storeroom.
AT the same instant tall, dark form.
] that had but q moment before climbed