The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-12-30
a Good FeIlo,u's Christmas Dinner

| When / suggested to Aunt Lettie
/ that we invite the six little motherless
Paxtons for Christmas dinner. she
seconded the scheme with charming
enthusiasm.
Well give them cranberry sauce
friz to stir jell,' she said. Just like
the Ruggleses. .
| We delivered our invitation In per
son that very evening, although IT
was ten days till Christmas.
The six little Paxtons stood around
JUS inquiringly Their father said they
might do as they wished. as he would
have to work, anyhow. the eldest.
Martha. twelve years old and the
housekeeper, spoke for the family.
The Y. W. C. a. is going to send
our dinner in she said
i But ne learned that the Y. ". C. A..
was to send no Christmas dinners this,
year, and called on the Paxtonsi
again.
we have come to inquire about
your plans for Christmas dinner I
said.
And without moments hesitation,
We were told in chorus.
We're going to your house"
That settled it. We ordered tur-
key, extra large. and doubled the trim
mings. And re made one OF the
Christmas pies that have become a
tradition in our family pies made in
a huge dishpa1 dressed in red paper
land filled with a multitude OF pack
ages gifts and Jokes for everybody.
We had told the little Paxtons that
dinner would be at one o'clock. and
they arrived promptly.
! The yoursest, little Joe, wore red
Knitted leggins, sweater and cap. all
TO match, and hung to Sister Martha
J with one hand, and to his cap with the
Iother. Moreover, he refused to sur
render that cap to any suspicious LOOK
ing hat-tTee. And when Mary (of cur
family urged him to remove his leg
plain that he had on only his union
suit under them.
The others Marina, Nellie. Pearl
Susie. Harry, in order OF ages-tooh
of their coats and hats, and sat, two
on chair although there were twice
as many in the living room as were
!. required TO go around and looked
uncomfortable and uneasy.
Then Mary while the rest Of cul
family got the dinner on the table
told them Christmas story, and made
: them forget themselves so well tina
7 they all stood around her listening
: and little Red Joe and Harry Leaned
on her knees In order to lose not /;
: word.
= Little Red Joe even put his hand il
4 hers, and could hardly get away again
i for his hand was sticky; and this gay,
). the bath room. followed By the rest o
: the Paxton family; and there each on
Il was given turn at playing under th
Q faucet with TIE running water, ney
a game, both exciting and wholesome.
By the time dinner wss on th
n table and the candles on the tiny tire
Il in the center were lighted, and ST
4 eager-eyed little PaEtons were seated
!. the guests being SO distributed tha
r. they would have one Of their own cia
. next for protection, and one OF our
a on the other side, to see that plenty c
n good things to eat were provided.
Ie Uncle Hiram carved, which is not
II cuiek piece CT work. with fourtee
10 pound turkey 10 serve So in the meal
Il time, each one around the table was I
+ tell what gifts ne or she had receive
!. for Christmas. We began with Nell
10 a doll and an orange and cand
in and a rug that is for NE and Pearl an
:. Susie. It's right by our he'd. and tn
q morning put OUT my feet on il, al
i'd they got just as warm"
II Each little girl had received do
ST gifts OF a neighhor interested
n. them. And the boys had various toy
of And we have a tub of potatoes al
ty said practical Martha. the lit
'u- keeper She feels her responsibility
re deeply and already has minor TOT
OF in her voice too gubtly sad for
=" young girl.
IN Uncle Hiram served little Red J,
ca first Of all and after trying each pie
en- Of silver beside his plate, Joe SETH
I'm down with fruit knife to stow avn
his turkey and stufing and oyste
and potatoes and gravy and cranber
sauce and bread and butter and spic
peaches and mixed pickles and jel
SS all ne u-b;oI, hacouco p,tnoIad a., n
cong Generation on his plate. And |
Of fore Uncle Hiram had time to ser
single member of our own fami
Joe got down from his high chair a
the declared:
ach go home, Go home."
the The efforts Of Sister Martha and t
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