University Missourian. [volume] (Columbia, Mo.) 1908-1916, 1914-12-23
THE LIGHT IN THE KITCHEN WINDOW

pleasure on every face and the mer
ry Christmas spirit sparkles in ev
cry eye; outside the wind drives tn
snow and sleet against the window
panes while darkness falls on th'
passing hills and towns.
One more stop, one little run L
the next station and then out home
A lonesome feeling creeps into m!
stomach and stirs craving for sup
per and the thought of a night drive
sends cold chills up my back, ye'
these are forgotten when the SOUND
of the whistle comes back to the
coaches. The train slows up, the
cars culver as the brakes go on, the
lamps rattle and then are still.
Down the steps into the whirline
storm-a brothers hearty hand
shake-into a bundle OF storm
robes-a hot rock in the buggy to
keen feet warm-behind the old
sorrel mare that goes without whip
or coaxing-past the lights of town
through the shallow, icy river
over the frozen roads to the coun-
try towards home.
Time is precious now and the
short cuts must all be taken. We
go through the gate at the back OF
the farm and follow road through
the woods pasture. AS we make a
turn in the road a ray of light
flashes amidst the trees and its
slender beams seem warm, though
shining far through the bitter cold.
It's the light in the kitchen window!
In its gentle radiance is the dawn
of the glories of the holidays at
home.
Did you ever, after being away
from home, go back on a winter
night and see the light in the kitch-
en- window as you approached? Did
you notice how the bars of light
danced on the snow, then sprang
up to your face from side to side,
iarted back to the window and
cached out again swinging, beckon-
ng and drawing you onward? If
you know the bigness and hospita-
Die greatness of a country kitchen
hen you can understand the bounti-
'ul measures of joy and happiness
hat glow from the light in the
window.
While l gaze into the welcome
light it unfolds vision to me. The
xitchen stove is full of roaring fire
Ind groaning under load of good
hings boiling, baking and frying.
The burdened table is covered with
/ turkey-red cloth and fringed with
'nowy china plates. In the middle
If the table is the lamp and around
t are the fats and sweets of the
season; fresh sweet ham and old
ashioned gravy, real country but
er and blackberry jam, heaped
fishes of steaming fruits, a pitcher
If sorghum molasses half full of
sugar, a plate of overgrown hot
oils just from the oven, broad
pies three deep on the
anne plate to save space, glasses Of
ely still holding the bushes of
ummer fruit, preserved pears and
AIMED peaches that make a mouth
vater in gentle streams and a
lately milk pitcher looking down
'ver all as the queen of the Wand
calm. The vision vanishes.
The old dog barks from the wood
he'd but his barking seems more
f welcome than a warning. His
ignal is heard in the kitchen and
he light is frequently cut off as the
inmates pass between the lamp and
he window.
Another fancy-fashioned scene is
'efore me-a circle of bowed heads
round the table. Mother at one
nd, father at the other asking the
lessing. Two boys on the bench
n one side and those who have been
ut in the cold on the other side
ext the stove. The "amen" is said
nd up come the familiar faces
milling in turns around the circle
through the savory smoke while !
lother from the depths of her gen.
rous heart says that she is sorry |
he supper got cold. Fathers cheeks
roaden in fun as he looks at her
through the steam from the gravy |
owl and fills the plates for the 1
oys. What a feastl Talk about |
he sumptuous banquets of the mill
onaires or the celestial festal
oard on Mount Olympus where am
rosia is served on plates of pearl
nd nectar is shipped from golden
is the real thing. All