Wausau pilot. [volume] (Wausau, Wis.) 1896-1940, 1909-12-07
RANKH.SWEET


informed him. There is only tle ,lii ss::
Jessie. and our mother has gone to
nurse a sick neighbor. and she won't
be home until morning"
So Peter went back to the carriage
and reported to the princess.
~ shall freeze out here" said the
princess. Il will go up to the house
and sit by the fire while you look for
some one to help you with the car
riage"
She climbed out of the carriage, and
with Peter in the lead she plodded
through the woods. and the wind
blew her long coat this way and that,
and at last, wet and painting. she came
to the little house.
And once more Peter knocked, and
once more Jenny came to the window.
Then she flung the door wide open,
and so tall was the princess that she
had to stoop to enter it. 1t was a
dingy little room, and there was
dumpy black stove in the corner, with
a bubbling iron pot that gave forth a
most appetiZing odor.
ooh, oh. how nice and warm it is!''
said the princess as she held out her
hands to the fire.
In all their lives the little girls had
never beheid such a wonderful per-
son, fer the princess wore a long red
cloak and a black velvet hat with
waving plume. and her muff was big
and round and soft, and she had
scarf of the same soft fur about her
neck. Her hair was pale gold, and shs
had the bluest eyes and the reddest
lips, and her smile was so sweet and
tender that Jenny ran right up to her
and cried. ''Oh, am so glad that you
Gamer
Jessie from her little chair echoed
her sisters words But she did not
run, for there was a tiny crutch beside
Jessie's chair in the square window.
"And | am glad to be here" said the
princess. whose quick eyes were TAX
Ing in the details of the shabby room.
Its so nice and warm and cozy."
"Isn't it?' said Jenny happily. "And
we are getting ready for tomorrow"
On a small round table beside Jes-
sizes chair was a tiny cedar bush, and
Jessie's fingers had been busy with
bits of gold and blue and scarlet pa
per.
''We are going to pop some popcorn.
Jenny explained. land string it and
hang it on the tree"
ooh, may help?" the princess asked.
81 haven't popped any corn since was
a little girl"
Jessie clasped her thin little hands.
Il think it would be the loveliest thing
in the world" she said, 'if you would
stay"
"Peter is going to find some one to
help with the carriage, and l will stay
until he comes back"
And when Peter had gone the prin-
cess slipped off the long red cloak,
and underneath it she wore a shining
silken gown, and around her neck was
a collar of pearls.
"And now if you will lend me an
apron" she said, 1--WE will pop the
corn"
But Jessie and Jennie were gazing
at her speeches.
"Of, you must be fairy princessp
gaspci little Jessie at last.
gga...o beautiful lady laughed joyously.
Peter calls me the princess" she
said. "He has lived with me ever
since / was a little girl. But really |
am just an everyday young woman
and am going to spend Christmas with
some friends in the next town."
She dismissed the subject with a
wave of her hand.
"And now to our popcorn" she said.
Jenny brought a green gingham
apron, and the princess tied the apron
on, making a big butterfly bow of the
strings in the back, and then she
danced over to the dumpy little stove
and peeped into the bubbling pot
"Did You ever smell anything so
good?" she asked. II am as hungry
as a bear"
The little girls laughed joyously.
sIfs bean SOUP" Jenny said, and we
are going to have it for supper, with
some little dumplings in it. was
afraid it wasn't nice enough for you"
''Nice enoughI' the delighted lady
exclaimed. Il think bean soup and
little dumplings are-um-um" And
she flung out her hands expressiyely.
81 thought" Jessie remarked faint
IL. "that fairy princesses only ate
honey and dew"
(which shows that l am not true
princess said the beautiful lady, "for
honey aud dew would never satisfy
me-"
Jenny got out three little blue bowls
and set them on a table that was
spread with a coarse but spotiess
cloth. There were crusty loaf and
clover sweet butter. and last and best
of all there were the bean soup and
the bobbing little dumplings served to-
gether in an old mulberry tureen.
1t was perfectly wonderful to see
the princess in her shining gown az
the head Of the table, and little lame
Jessie said: you were just sent TO us
for Christma4 Why. its just ike
THE night before Christmas. when all
through the house
Not a creature was stirring. not even
mouse.
The stockings were hung by the chimney
In bopes that st. Nicholas soon would be
there.
The children we're nestled all snug In
While visions Of sugar plums danced In
their heads
'sBut our stockings weren't hung
VET. and we weren't In bed" said
Jenny
1T was too early for that" said the
princess. but lets go on WIN tne
rhyme. just for fun see you Anow
it all through. 50 you mustn't nina my