New-York tribune., 1909-12-12
Canfeld's Phantom Feast
C9nanasd fy9n Page
Continued from page 8

finally a young tree. the result of his last
expedition 70 the distant grove. was stationed
IN one corner of his none too spacious quarters.
The labor was finished by dark, and Garfield
sighed with content when at last he stood back
and reviewed his handiwOrk.
Fine. isn't it, old chap" he commented
addressing the dog Smells good, doesn't it,
Tell you what, old boy, | never appreciated
half the pleasure of Christmas Eve before! Our
COmpanyl be delighted when they see IT, ehs
But, say that tree looks sort of lonesome. I'll
have 20 fix that up bit, and then for another
half-hOur he worked steadily upon the manu-
facture of various sized packages, wrapping
them with exceeding care. writing names on
them. and finally tying them % the branches
OF the tree. Too bad we haven't any candles,
old man" he muttered once; but on the
whole | m glad Of il. 1t would never do % run
the risk Of FIRE out here and Hooper would be
sure to start one If there was hall a chance
He backed away and surveyed the tree CrIt1-
cally. 1T will do" he said with conviction
" Even Katherine couldn't find any fault
with that! And when she discovers what's IN
that package addressed 20 her-well. 10 quote
Pete again, she'll sure like il. and then some,
And the rest of the bunch Will Ike their presents
too, take it from mei | didn't forget YOU, old
chap; don't you ever think it, And now we'll
have dinner, and after that a smoke, and then
after little, We'll hang up our stockings and 60
to bed m dog tired II anybody should ask YOU
CHRISTMAS morning was like every other
- morning that had come and gone since the
great storm, clear and as cold as the heart of
an iceberg; but the heart Of SUNNY Jim Can
neld was as warm and glowing as a midsummer
day. He was up with the sun. and before he
dressed he thrust his hands into the two stock
mgS-they were socks, TO be eXaCt-and drew
forth two slips of paper.
Now what do YOU think of that. ROvals"
he demanded turning upon the dog, which was
watching the procedure critically. Here Is
what Santa Claus brought 10 YOU" He read
aloud from one of the slips of paper. ~ brand
new silver mounted collar with your name en-
graved on il from Who do YOU suppose. old
chap' From Katherine by the hand of Santa
Claus Tell YOU what, she doesn't forget old
friends. does she? And look what I've goti
How in the big world do YOU suppose she knew
exactly what | wanted' See it, y scarf pin
made of the letters h and l."
Garfield put the papers aside and brushed
the back OF one hand across his ewes. 1t
lsnt all JOY, this Christmas Dav business is IT,
ROyals There IS always a little sadness mixed
up with it-but | suspect that Is all right too.
II wouldn't do for us 70 get too CAV. YOU know"
He dressed himself. prepared his breakfast
cared for the two horses that remained 70 him.
and then set about the preparation of the feast
and he did il with all the directneSs of purpose
that would have marked the undertaking Of an
actual function Indeed the idea of the enter
tainment had so grown upon him that he was
more than halt ObseSSed by IT, IL had ceased
10 be mere pretense; II had become an ac ctualitv
Inc StotehOuSe was well stocked a dozen
hearty men might have feaStcd from its con-
tents all winter. There was frozen Sagehen. he
roasted three of them. He boiled a ham: he
baked batch of potatoes he Stewed squash
and turnip, and boiled some onions and some
sweet potatoes. He even attempted a squash
PIE. and prided himself that he succeeded
admirably. Orange marmalade took the place
or cranberry sauce, and an Indian pudding
uSurped the prerOgatives of the plum variety
Ot course all these preparations for the feast
were nicely timed and everything was done SO
that an would come out evenly. While things
were baking and boiling and Stewing and other
wise getting cooked Garfield prepared the
table and the chairs. a sheet did duty as a
tablecloth; of napkins, there was none, but
there were plates and knives and forks and
spoons galore which he brought to the cabin
from the cOOkhOuse.
a L one o'clock he made hurried survey of
things THAT were cooking and baking. and
ne sighed with cOntentment tie resumed his
char near one of the windows and after a mo-
ment raped sharply against the wooden seat
OF It with hiS knuCkles The dog raised his head
rom between hls paws and looked alertlv
round the room. Garfield started To his feet and
crossed To the door thrDuytut, -