Vilas County news. [volume] (Eagle River, Vilas County, Wis.) 1896-1927, 1909-12-15


he repeated the answer and went SO
far as to spell it.
"K-i-n-a-i-r-y. A yellow bird. He
sings-at least, he did ought, but he's
a hen I'm afraid. Never mind, don't
take it to heart, we'll get one tomor-
row as 'ull sing like one o'clock. To
morrow, that reminds met Why,
what's tomorrow? Christmas day?
Christmas day, and we amt got no
plum-puddin'! Why, what are we
thinkin' of? Never mind, don't be
afeerd, we'll go marketin' directly
and get such fine sight O. things as
ull take us all day to eat 'emi Why
shouldn't old Sam GroWls have a
Christmas as well as other people.
now he's got family? Plumpuddin'!
Dash me, he shall have two.
Then he took the child upon his bent
shoulder and capered around the room
with him, stopping at the various ar
ticles of interest to explain their vari-
GUS uses and good points, and starting
off again with a jerk and a shout, I'M
til the little fellow was in a flush Of
happiness and the room was filled
with childhood's happy laughter.
Then he grew tired. The laughter
ceased, and the old man knew it was
bedtime
There was a mysterious piece of
furniture in one corner of the room
which had the appearance of ward
robe with the front falling out
Old Sam pulled this out and let
down bed.
In the middle of this he laid his
little charge, and covered him up
warmly and snugly.
Then he stood at little distance
away and considered.
Could he leave him safely while the
ingredients for the pudding and the
Christmas feast were procured?
He decided to risk it and, taking
the precaution to blockade the little
bed with all the available chairs, he
buttoned the threadbare coat around
his crooked form, rammed battered
hat upon his gnarled, grizzled head,
and sailed out into the streets, where
all the children shrank from his fe-
rocious appearance and even grown-up~
folks drew aside to let him pass as if
he were something to be feared as
well as pitied.
In short time he returned laden,
and, chuckling like goblin, threw his
packages of purchases upon the table.
ASLEEP still, bless his heart; well,
all the better, though, mind you,
was foolish enough to hope as he'd
been up, laughin' an playin';; but
there1l be all the more time to make
the puddin'. I amt quite sure and
certain how to set about it, for amt
what you might call a Inexperienced
cook; he! he! but if I follows the d.
rection of the chap in the shop most
like | shall turn out a first-rate 'un.
Now, let's see. Chop this ere lump of
suet. Well, knows that, you couldn't
put it in whole, Or else some unfOrtu-
nate individual 'ud have all suet and
no plums. Chop the suet; stone
them ERE p1ums-that's the worst job
o. all; put in this ere -four and the
currants an the lemon peel, an stir
'em up with a trif1e o. treacle; then
bile in a clean pocket Handkerchief for
six hours! He! he! | amt forgot. And
now there's nice heyenin's work be-
lore me-
Whistling softly, and going about on
tiptoe, he set about his task with a
gravity and Importance which were
the sublimity OF the absurd He
talked all the while to himself, and
glanced at the bed at intervals with
anxious solicitude.
What should I do if he was to
wake, bless his hearth" he muttered,
suddenly, with look of dismay. 'I
couldn't pick him up with nay hands
all over suet an plums an stuff. What
a beauty he isl never see such
boy, an in his ways there amt an
other like him. Hello, I'm just
thinking as l don't know his name,
and it amt likely he will condescend
to tell me. suppose it's marked In
his pretty little things. I'll look when
We got this ere stuff off my hands,"
The child's clothes lay on the sofa,
where they Lad fallen when they were
taken off, and Sam picked them up
tenderly and examined them
''No. No name on 'em Nothing to
Indemnity him as they says in the
p'lice reports. Hello! what's this?"
and he turned the frock inside out.
"A bundle O. papers tied in the lining.
Letters-old letters aid a ring. Well,
whatever they are they belong to him,
and shan't read 'em or interfere with
EN-. Here, let's put en- away some
where safe and sound and with
hurried nervousness he slowed them
away in corner of an old cupboard.
There must have been some reason
for his determination not to read the
papers? There was. In the old mans
heart had risen the fear that he might
find some clew to the child's parent
hoo and hn1np DIN moro nor