Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1914-12-26

at it with one eye closed.
| Rabbit" he said.
'where is it?" her father demanded.
ut was n young one. not as big as
! your fist" Ellen said. Il let il out be-
! fore he got there. Where's mother"
Just because a things young it amt
| holy water" the old man complained.
! Last time it was a squirrel you let go
| because it was young It's like being
| spendthrift with manna," he went on.
| Ellen's mother appeared. gave over to
Ellen the supper preparations. content
ed herself with auxiliary offices of Chi
ma and butter getting and talked the
while pleased that she had something
to disclose.
Ben Holders stopped in" she told.
Hes going to the city tomorrow.
What do you s'pose after: A boy.
He's going to take him to bring up and
work on the farm
where's he going to get the boy -
Ellen asked.
Her mother did not know. but Mrs.
Holders was going to have new di-
agonal. and she wanted the number
of Ellen's pattern. Ben would stop for
it that night.
Evenings their kitchen was a sitting
room. and when the supper had been
cleared away and the red cotton spread
covered the table, Ellen asked her bus
| band to bring in the little tree. She
found a cracker box. handily cut a
hole with a cooking knife and set up
the little tree by the window in the
kitchen.
What under the canopy"-said her
mother. her voice cracking.
"Oh. something to do in the even
ing" Ellen answered. Fathers going
to pop me some corn to trim it with.
aren't you. father? Mother. why don't
you get you n good big darning needle
and string what he pops?"
It'll make a lot of litter" said her
mother. but she brought the needle for
something to do.
Hey. king and country" said her
father: I'D ought TO have somebody
here to shell it for me-
"Who you trimming up a tree for?"
her mother demanded. II thought they
wasn't to be any in town this year"
1T amt Christmas yet" Ellen said
only. II guess it won't do any hurt
two days before"
While the two worked. Ellen went to
the cupboard drawer. and from behind
her pile of kitchen towels she drew
out certain things-walnuts. wrapped
in shining yeast tinsel and dangling
from red yarn: wishbones tied with
strips of bright cloth: tiny box, made
like house. with rudely cut doors
and windows: eggshells penciled as
faces. handful of peanut owls. a
glass stoppered bottle. long neck
lace of buttonhole twist spools. A GER
tain blue paper soldier doll that she
had made was upstairs. but the other
things she brought and fastened to the
tree.
Her husband smoked and uneasily
watched her. He saw something with
in her plan, but he was not at home |
there. IF the boy had lived and had
been upchamber asleep now" he
thought once. ltd be something like |
to go trimming up a tree But this |
way
what you leaving the whole front of |
the tree bare for?" her mother asked.
The blue paper soldier goes there. |
l want it should see the blue paper |
soldier first thing" Ellen said and stop |
ped abruptly.
lyon talk like you was trimming the |
tree for somebody" her mother observ
ed. aggrieved.
Maybe something might look in the
window-going by" Ellen said.
Get in there. Get your heads in
there. We beggars," said the old man to
the popcorn. I'D ought TO have some
body here to pick up them shooting
Kernels he complained.
In a little while. with fat footed
Ben Holders came in. When
be had the pattern number. by labor
ious copying against the wall under the
bracket lamp, Matthew said to him:
Going TO get boy to work out, are
you:"
Holders laughed and shifted.
Hes going to work by and by" he
said. We allow to have him to our
selves Il spell first
Keep him around the house till
'pring?"
More said Helders. You see.' he
added. Its like this with Instantly
Ill gone. all married and got their own
We figured to get hold of little shaver
Ind have some comfort with him be-
ore he goes to work for life
Adopt him." said Matthew Gu
iously.
That's pretty near it" Holders adj
nitted. We've got one spoke for at
he City Orphan asylum"
Ellen Bourne turned. How old:"
he asked.
Around fve-six. we figure" Hell j
ers said it almost sheepishly.
Ellen stood facing the men. with the
white festoons OF popcorn in her
lands.
Matthew" she said. "let him bring .
IS one" )
Matthew stared. You mean bring d
IS II boy?" he asked.
II don't care which-girl or boy.
young" Ellen said.
Good Lord, Ellen" Matthew said,
With high eyebrows, amt you got
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