The Aberdeen weekly., 1908-12-18

And 1t would keep four or five fam
lilies warm all winter
-Four or fve9" said her father.
With economy, half again as
many"
Done, them exclaimed Kath-
crime. And 1 see the gold chain
and baroque pearl I was to have go
ing up in smoke
And my set of Pater.H ruefully
And my amethyst heart"
"A real holocaust" said their IA
Their
Father" said Bob. I've an idea
worth two of that. You know that
| piece of swamp land of yours up
country. on the old PEBBLES farm?
There's enough wood in that for so
families-black birch, gray birch,
yellow birch, brown ASH don't
/ know what-and-alI-"
But, Bob. that's splendid
/ piece Of forest l should hate TO cut
/ it down"
/ Even to keep so families. or
maybe 100. from distress? The
girls money will pay for cutting
and hauling and kilndrying and dis
tributing, and it can all be done
/ before Christmas-and there you
arei"
Bob" said Mr.. Champion. you're
a genius, There we are"
There we are!" said the girls in
one brave breath. 1T will be a good
Christmas present for them, went it
pa?"
1t makes me all of a glow now to
think of it." said Rose. I wonder
what Donald will say. Fifty or 100
families made comfortable by going
without some trinkets-though l did
want that English edition of 'Pater
Why, we don't know 100 poor fami-
lies"
The General Charitable does When
shall we begin. father? I'll oversee
it for you" said Rob
Tomorrow morning, early" said
his father. There won't be an hour
to spare if you want that wood de-
Iivered by or before Christmas. III
have drains put in as we go along
and get a good piece of grass land out
of it. Well, I shall sleep better to-
night
If the people on the knoll had lis
tened that next day and many a day
thereafter. they might have heard. or
thought they heard, sound of chop
ping in the swamp woods. faint far
off, muffled in the rustling of falling
leaves and the crashing of branches.
But the painting people were busy
with Old Purple at the back of the lit
tie red house, and little mother was
getting her mince meat ready for
Christmas. and what with stoning
raisins and slicing citron and sitting
spices and boiling down cider, she was
too much occupied TO think of any
thing but her work and of Asa's and
Lauryss homecoming.
1t seems to me the woodpeckers
are dretful busy down in the swamp
she said once.
''ProbIy the trees hev borers," said
her husband.
why. that's too bad" she said with
her quick habit of kindness, and
went on about her work.
She had just put her mince meat in
to its stone crock to mellow. when
sudden access of her rheumatism sent
her to bed with jugs of hot water at
her feet and opodeldOc fiannels all
over her, and copious draughts of COM
position powder. her eyes following
her husband through the open door
in fright and dismay at his attempts
to do her work. till the painting lady,
as they called her, happened up the
hill. and, stranger though she was, her
hi int
shape and cooked enough to last till
Laury should come, having written to
Laury to make haste. Il wouldn't
send for her." she said. but we have
to go and arrange our exhibition, and
sell our things But l shan't go till
Laury comes. We're coming back TO
have our first Christmas together here
but we must go as soon as we can"
You're real good" sighed the little
woman. I'm more obleeged to you'n
can say. l hate to see him stewing
about like a kitchen-coloneL But, oh.
| did want to be around when Laury
come. 1 be a little better" She took
the painting lady's hand and raised it
to her lips oh. you mustn't" the
lady cried; and she bent down and
kissed the withered cheek.
The LordH reward you for the
good you've done. an the cheer you've
give" said the little mother. EFF he
don't in no other way, he's done a
mighty lot for you in maxim you jes'
you"
And so it came to pass that two
or three weeks later the stage set
down the painting people one night
at point on the highway a few rods
from the little red house in PEBBLES
pasture, and they picked their way
along through the dark in some con-
Germ over a bright light shining from
the windows. 4 sensed you'd be com
in about this time, said Laury, open
ing the door And | fought 'twould
be kinder Ionesomelike for you in the
dark an cold. and l come down an
lighted the fires ar got you some
supper, an some of mothers mince
pies And I've had real good time
lookin' at the thin's you've hung up.
They've learned me lots. Mothers a