The gold leaf. [volume] (Henderson, N.C.) 1881-1911, 1911-01-05

And how did little Tim behaveF
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. 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 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 a hustle ensued that you might
have thought a 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 vigor. 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
for goose before their turn came to
be helped. At last the dishes were
set on, and grace was said. 1t 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 .'Hurrahp'
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-
light, surveying one small atom of a
bone upon the dish. they hadn't eaten
it all at last. Yet every one had had
enough, and the youngest Cratchits in
particular were stepped in sage and
onion to the eyebrows. But now, the
plates being changed by Miss Belinda.
Mrs. Cratchit left the room alone-too
nervous to bear witness-to take the
pudding up and bring it in.
Suppose 1t should not be done
enough! Suppose it should break in
turning out! Suppose somebody
should have got over the wall Of the
back yard and stolen it while they
were merry with the goose. a suppo-
sition at which the two young Cratch-
were supposed.
Hello! A great deal Of steam The
pudding was out Of the copper. A
smell like washing day! That was
the cloth. A smell like an eating
house and pastry cooks next door
to each other, with a laundress' next
door to that! That was the pudding
In half minute Mrs. Cratchit enter
ed. flushed. but smiling proudly. with
the pudding, like a speckled cannon
ball, SO hard and firm, blazing in half
q quartern of ignited brandy and be-
digit with Christmas holly stuck into
the top.
"Oh, a wonderful pudding" Bob
| Cratchit said. and calmly. too. that he
regarded it as the greatest success
achieved by Mrs. Cratchit since their
marriage. Mrs. Cratchit said that row
| the weight was off her mind she
would confess she had had her doubts
| about the quantity Of -Four. Every
| body had something to say about 1t,
but nobody said or thought 1t was at
all small pudding for large family
1t would have been fat heresy to DC
20. Any Cratchit would have blushed
! to hint at such a thing.
| At last the dinner was all done, the
cloth was cleared. the hearth swept
and the fire made up. The compound
In the jug being tasted and consider
| ed perfect, apples and oranges were
! put upon the table and shovelful of
chestnuts on the fire. Then all the
| Cratchit family drew round the hearth
In what Bob Cratchit called circle.
meaning half a one. and at Bob Cratch-
it's elbow stood the family display OF
l
| without a handle.
These held the hot stuff from the
| jug, however. as well as golden COB
lets would have done. and Bob served
It out with beaming looks. while the
ehestnuts on the fire sputtered and
cracked noisily. Then Bob proposed
"a merry Christmas to US all, my
| daar0f God bless I1ST'
Which all the family re-echoed-
God bless every oner' said Tiny
Tim. the last Of all.
He sat very close to his father
side upon his little stool. Bob held
his withered little hand In his as II ht
loved the child and wished to keel
him by his side and dreaded that b
might be taken from him
'sMr. Scrcoge." said Bob-"I'n giv'
you Mr. Ssrooge. the founder OF ths
feast"