The Ocala evening star., 1910-12-17

to the skies, while he mot proud, al
though his collars nearly choked him
blew the fire until the slow potatoes
bubbling up, knocked loudly at the
saucepan lid to be let out and peeled.
what has ever got your precious
father, them" said Mrs. Cratchit
"And your brother, Tiny Tim, and
Martha warn't as late last Christmas
day by half an hour
'Here's Martha, mother" said a girl
appearing as she spoke.
| Here's Martha. mother" cried the
two young Cratchits. "Hurrah, There's
such goose, Martha"'
"Why, bless your heart alive. my
dear, how late you are-' said Mrs.
Cratchit, kissing her a dozen times
and taking OF her shawl and bonnet
| for her with oficious zeal.
''We'd a deal Of work to finish VI,
last night" replied the girl 'and 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 a warm, Lord bless ye..''
mo, no! There's father comi.g.'
| cried the two young Cratchits. VIII;
were everywhere at once Hide. MAJ
| tina, hidev
So Martha hid herself, and in G.: ;,
little Bob, the father. with at ~"
three feet of comforter, exclusive
the fringe, hanging down before Il.
and his threadbare clothes darnel l..
and brushe3 to look seasonable ~
Tiny Tim upon his shoulder. "A:
Tor Tiny Tim. He bore little crutch
and had his limbs supported by al
iron frame.
why, where's our Martha:" cried
Bob Cratchit, looking round.
'Not coming" said Mrs. Cratchit.
Not cOming!" said Bob, with a sud
den declension in his high spirit. for
he had been Tins blood horse all the
way from church and had come home
rampant. Not coming upon Christ
mas day.
Martha didn't like to see him disan-
pointed, If it 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 hugged his daughter to his hearts
content.
"As good as gold" said Bob, land
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 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 a hustle ensued that YOU might
have thought goose the rarest of all
birds-a feathered phenomenon, to
winch black swan was a matter of
course-and in truth it was something
very like it in that house. Mrs Cratch-
1t made the gravy (ready before
hand i'll little saucepan, kissing hot.
Master Peter mashed the potatoes
with incredible vfgor. 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 Cratchits
set chairs for everybody. not forget
ting themselves, and, mounting guard
upon their posts, crammed spoons into
their mouths lest they should shrek
Tor goose before their turn came to
be helped. At last the dishes were
set on, and grace was said 1t was
succeeded by breathless pause as
Mrs. Cratchit, looking slowly all along
he carving knife, prepared to plunge
t In the breast. but when she did and
when the long expected gush of stuff
ng issued forth one murmur Of de-
light arose all round the board, and
wen Tiny Tim, excited by the two
7oung Cratchits, beat on the table
With the handle of his knife and fee
,ly cried "Hurrah!''
There never was such a goose. Bob
aid he didn't believe there ever was
uch goose cooked. Its tenderness
nd flavor, size and cheapness We're
he themes OF universal admiration.
aked out by the apple sauce and
mashed potatoes, it was a sufficient |
inner for the whole family. Indeed.
S Mrs. Cratchit said, with great de-
ght, surveying one small atom of a
one upon the dish, they hadn't eaten
all at last. Yet every one had had
nough. and the Youngest Cratchits in
artlcuIar were Staopa1 in Soro ap1