Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-12-22

"And your brother, Tiny Tim, and
Martha warn't as late last Christmas
day by half an hour"
Here's Martha, motherw said a girl.
appearing as she spoke.
Here's Martha, motherv cried The
two young Cratchits. "Hurrah. There's
such goose, Marthaw
"Why, bless your heart alive, my
dear, how late you arer' said Mrs.
Cratchit, kissing her a dozen times
and taking off her shawl and bonnet
for her with officious zeal.
WED deal of work to finish up
last night" replied the girl. land had
to clear away this morning. mother"
"Well, never mind so long as you
are come" said Mrs. Cratchit. ''Sit ye
down before the fire, my dear, and
have warm, Lord bless YEP
mo, no! There's father coming"
cried the two young Cratchits, who
were everywhere at once. 'sHide, Mar
tina, hider
So Martha hid herself, and in came
little Bob, the father, with at least
three feet Of comforter, exclusive Of
the fringe, hanging down before him
and his threadbare clothes darned up
and brushed to look seasonable and
for Tiny Tim. He bore little crutch
and had his limbs supported by an
iron frame.
"Why, where's our Martha?" cried
Bob Cratchit, looking round
"Not coming" said Mrs. Cratchit.
mot comingw said Bob, with sud-
den declension In his high spirit, for
he had been Tins blood horse all the
way from church and had come home
rampant mot coming upon Christ
mas dayw
Martha didn't like to see him disap-
pointed, If 1t were only In joke, SO she
came out prematurely from behind the
closet door and ran into his arms,
while the two young Cratchits hustled
Tiny Tim and bore him off into the
washhouse that he might hear the
pudding singing in the copper.
"And how did little Tim behave?"
asked Mrs. Cratchit when she had
rallied Bob on his credulity and Bob
had Rugged his daughter to his hearts
content
"As good as gold" said Bob, "and
better. Somehow he gets thoughtful
sitting by himself so much and thinks
the strangest things you ever heard.
He told me coming home that he
hoped the people saw him in the
church because he was a cripple and
1t might be pleasant to them to re-
member upon Christmas day who
made lame beggars walk and blind
men see."
Bob's voice was tremulOus when he
told them this and trembled more
when he said that Tiny Tim was grow
ing strong and hearty.
His active little crutch was heard
upon the floor, and back came Tiny
| Tim before another word was spoken,
escorted by his brother and sister to
his stool beside the fire, and while
Bob, turning up his cuffs-as if, poor
fellow, they were capable of being
made more shabby-compounded some
hot mixture in a jug with gin and
lemons and stirred it round and round
and put it on the hob to simmer Mas
ter Peter and the two ubiquitous
young Cratchits went to fetch the
goose, with which they soon returned
In high procession.
Such hustle ensued that you might
have thought goose the rarest of all
birds-a feathered phenomenon, to
which a black swan was a matter Of
course-and in truth it was something
very like it in that house. Mrs. Cratch-
it made the gravy (ready before
hand in little saucepan) kissing hot,
Master Peter mashed the potatoes
with incredible tig6r, Miss Belinda
sweetened up the apple sauce, Martha
busted the hot plates, Bob took Tiny
Tim beside him in a tiny corner at
the table, and the two young Cfatchits
set chairs for everybody, not forget
ting themselves, and, mounting guard
upOu luclT pOStS, CTduu1eU SPOONS 1uLO
their mouths lest they should shrek
for goose before their turn came to
be helped. At last the dishes were
set on, and grace was said. It was
succeeded by a breathless pause as
Mrs. Cratchit, looking slowly all along
the carving knife, prepared to plunge
1t In the breast, but when she did and
when the long expected gush of stuff
ing issued forth one murmur Of de-
light arose all round the board, and
even Tiny Tim, excited by the two
young Cratchits, beat on the table
with the handle of his knife and fee
bly, cried "Hurrah!'
There never was such goose. Bob
said he didn't believe there ever was
such a goose cooked. Its tenderness
and favor, size and cheapness were
the themes Of universal admiration.
Fixed out by the apple sauce and
mashed potatoes, it was a sufficient
dinner for the whole family. Indeed,
as Mrs. Cratchit said, with great de-
Tx