The Hocking sentinel. [volume] (Logan, Ohio) 1871-1906, 1905-12-21
NANN|ES XMAS IN IV9a. ]
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BY JULES ADAMS POWELL.


doorway, gowned in 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--iifteen mince-fif-
ty custard cups and two plum puddings
--eighty-two in all, not counting Nam
nes 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 it is.
There is surely storm brewing, and ]
hope the folks will get here before it
breaks"
The good woman turned tho key in
the lock, and door blowing open just
at that moment, at the other end of the
pasageway, she hurried of to close 1t
and forgot about the key.
BY 3 o'clock madame was robed in
her pretty gray popln 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 rs he passed through the hall
where sat his wife and little daughter in
"All ready for company, Nancy
mineY 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, "Yes, my
wife, our life has ben one of great hap.
piness, marred only by one sorrow. II
| he-our eldest child-our Henry-were
alive to-day, he would be 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 yet
| he 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 baby-5 years old, and II
there was n woman in that tribe surely
| preserve the life of an inocent babe who
had never done harm to any,"
"Wife, wife, this is very wrong fol-
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
sledges 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 Hartwel
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 merry crowd sat down al
the supper table. There was Brother
John Hartwell, his wife and eleven chill
dren. There was Great-grandmothel
Hartwell and her daughter-n- law
Grandmother Hartwell. Mr.. Yarrow':
father and mother were present, as wer,
also his two brothers and one sister witt
their wives, husband and children. Ii
| all there were thirty-threc.
| One might well wonder where all this
| gcodly company were to sleep, but If yor
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 fireside 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 Roderick's knee.
Uncle Tom had just been saying that n
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 af terror in
the eyes Of some of the little ones, and
interrupted with the words, "Well, now
Aunt Mary, wouldn't it be 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
Rod" 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 tn,
"pit-pat of tiny bare feet along tn,
dark, cold hall, as little white fgur,
emerged from the attic, and flew down
stairs in the moonlight, which hoode,
the house with its kindly rays.
She went directly to the storeroom
At the same instant tall. dark form
that had but moment before elimbe