The Bon Homme County independent. [volume] (Tabor, S.D.) 1904-1913, 1911-12-21
Cap'n Toms Chr;stn1as Supper
Harriet pr..eo.. spoford. In tn. Outlook

Cap'n Tom sat on the poor house
steps with his lieges about him. Alas.
! there We parties In the sad place,
and Cap'n Len had his own party
consisting Of himself-and he sat some
what apart. lie was of the opinion that
the poormaster ought to kill the pigs
now: che other held that h rite
should take place In the winter wealth
er, in order that headcheese. souse.
and sausages might give cheer In the
time Of the nipping frost.
Something. you see. to make good
with, come Christmas" sah Cap'n
"I'm alive. now. said Cap,n Len.
an I do no. wat III be, come Christ
mas"
"The pigs" said Mrs. Dolly, ARE
growing fine. There'll be twice an much
of them for US wen the n flies.
IT'S only q pig itself would rob us
OF all that extry for the sake OF .
tut. tut. Mrs. Dolly" said Cap'n
Tom.
"It's what left him high an dry
here" said Mrs. Dolly. HE amt no
self denial"
u HOW, 6dIu Iuo lduBkllnk yOuIB khk
In the faded and soiled pink frock.
Most or us do" said Mrs. Barnard.
the old woman who sat on the step
beside her husband, and kept her hand
In his, her feet wrapped In strips OF
old cloth for want of shoes.
Hes kind O. pindlin'." said Cap'n
Tom. towering his voice. He amt
nc relish for mush an milk. We was
ship mates to Rio onct. out from Hong
kong, an we was 30 days fightin' the
wind an weather-give W for lost.
An the water was soapy an the beef
you couldn't jes' call Z beef! An his
digesters was never the same seice.
He'd orter be In q house of his w
Std o. here, where the beef's on'y half
as bad-w'en we git 1t. anyway"
wed all orter be In a house Of
our own" said Mrs. Barnard in a
trembling voice.
This Is our own said her hus-
band. waking a little. I'VE paid taxes
for It,"
AN I'm thankful for it, eff 1t amt
like havin' your W sink an cook
stove" said the gentle little woman
AN no poormaster to say you shall
an you sha'n't,' said Isabel, putting
the pretty locks out Of her great blue
eyes.
Some on US needs that" said Mrs.
Dolly, severely.
Some of us needed it long ago." re-
torted Isabel.
"Come. come" said Cap'n Tom.
Were ali on a footin' here. We've
all he'd misfort'n, or we wouldn't a
come here for a refush. We're glad
we've got the refush."
Speak for yerself," growled Cap'n
Len out of his great red beard.
"Misfort'n's," repeated Mrs. Barnard
with a deep sigh, IAN I never rightly
unnerstan' wy. / KEEP my house like
"She did that" said her husband,
waking again. There amt q better
cook in this county"
ia like to make you all some o
my light biscuits an brile We such birds
give we a BURBERRY puddin' tn lem.
On sauce"
WED like to hev' we, Mis- Barnard
AS tits ye're jes' maxim our mouths
water"
$50 I be-" said the old woman wip.
Ing her poor eyes, where the swift
coming ear shone like q spark of fire
l guess were all as tired Of mush an
milk as Cap'n Len"
WAL" said Cap'n Tom, there's
suthin' wuss'n mush an milk, an
that's not havin' SO much as that.
knowed that wen I broke my leg VI
In Labrador. an was on a cake OF
ice all day an all night. pushin' on,
to sea. Cap'n Len here, he come after
In saved me"
Didn't either" growled Cap'n Len
you saved yerself. wavin' yer red
shirt"
Him." said Cap'n Tom. II guess ]
know"
You're here now anyway" said Mrs
Bernard gently, (which makes 1t very
pleasant for U.S."
There's the new moon" cried Isabel
Lets wish"
Bow nine times said Mrs. Dolly
IAN say yer wish. Mebbe you'll get It
But certain you'll hev e present fore
the moons old"
"Heathens." said cap'n Len.
Wal, hurry now. Bow an tell
Therell be fairy stories"
Before we're called in like school
children" said Isabel, with a pout.
"Was you yer to school, Isabel? p
asked Mrs. Dolly after the solemnity
Some. ! was a grand speller. ]
spelled down grown men onct. But ]
couldn't carry 10: I'd liketer hev kept
on. Too late now"
"'Tain't neither too late" said Mrs
Barnard. mr.. Barnard can show you
how to carry 10. He was a great schol.
ard fore he merried me-, his folks sort
o. cast him off. n he begun"
Coin down HILL" said the old man
resting his chin on his cane and look.
ing into the growing dark as the youne
moon dropped it's spark Of gold behind
the woods.
II s'pose wen you go out" said
Cap'n Tom to the girl, you're goin
to turn over q new leaf. Earn vel
money on h square, saw 1t, an &C
to school 18th It,"
''wisht I could said Isabel, hest.
tatingly. twisting ur the unruly hall
again while she held the combs be.
tween her teeth. But / do no.. I do
no."
1.-THE only ways an open door" sait
Mrs. Dolly. "Other ways has the bars
up"
"wai, II / was half a man an hat
the money that belongs to half a man
I'd hev we put to school where'd yor
PM out At to be a missionary said
Cap'n Tom.
That's her wish. l guess. Wat.
your'n, Mis- Barnard?"
my wish? Ef faint toe late for m,
to have wishes, mines a fairy story
an no mistake. I jes. wished / he'd m,
little house out there on Berry Hill
my gardins, my hens, my bees, my
keepin' room, my garnet full o. ole
thin's. my bake beans Sa'days. my fish
balls Sunday mornin's-mebbe a board
err. Oh, yes, / wouldn't never hev as
fer more. excep' a dollar q day as loni
as him an me lives"
"a dollar a day" cried Isabel. 1T
he'd a dollar a day fer every day II
the year, I'd"