Five Mile Beach weekly journal., 1914-12-04

Hey. king and country said her
father: I'D ought to have somebody
here to shell it for met.
"Who you trimming up a tree for:s
her mother demanded. Il thought they
wasn't to be any in town this year"
ut amt Christmas yet" Ellen said
only. 81 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 alnuts. wrapped
in shining yeast tinsel and dangling
from red yarn; wishbones tied with
strips of bright cloth: a tiny box. made
like a house. with rudoly cut doors
and windows: eggshells penciIed as
faces. a handful of peanut owls. a
glass stoppered bottle. a 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 nneasiIy
watched her. He saw something with
in her plan. but ne was not at home
there. IF the boy had lived and hatl
been upchamber asleep now" he
thought once. it'd be something like
to go trimming up a tree. But this
way
What you leaving the whole front o.
the tree bare for?" her mother asked.
1.-The blue paper soldier goes there.
l want 1t should see the blue paper
soldier first thing" Ellen said and stoF
ped abruptly.
"You talk like you was trimming thu
tree for somebody" her mother observ
ed, a%ggrieved.
Maybe something might look in the
window-going by" Ellen said.
sect 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 shem shooting
kernels" he complained.
In a little while. with fat footed
stamping. Ben Holders came in. When
he had the pattern number, by labor
ious copying against the wall under the
bracket lamp, Matthew said to him:
Going to get a boy to work out. are
your"
Holders laughed and shifted.
Hes going to work by and by" he
said. I'VE allow to have him to our
selves a spell first"
keep him around the house till
spring.,
More said Holders. You see," he
added. its like this with Instantly
all gone. all married and got their own.
We figured to get hold Of a little shaver
and have some comfort with him be-
fore he goes to work for life"
adopt him?" said Matthew GU
riously.
That's pretty near it." Holders adj
mitted. We've got one spoke for at
the City Orphan asylum
Ellen Bourne turned. "How old?'
she asked.
Around 6ve-six. we figure Hell
ders said 1t almost sheepishly.
Ellen stood facing the men. with the
white festoons of popcorn in her
hands.
Matthew" she said. "let him bring
us one"
Matthew stared. "You mean bring
us a boy ?" he asked.
II don't care which-girl or boy.
Anything young" Ellen said.
Good Lord. Ellen" Matthew said.
with high eyebrows, .ain't you got
your hands full enough now?"
Ellen Bourne lifted her hands slight
~ and let them fall. NO." she an
swered.
The older woman looked at her
daughter. and now first she was solic-
itous as a mother.
Ellen" she said. you have. too. got
your hands full. You're wore out all
the time"
That's it." Ellen said. 'and I'm not
wore put with the things 1 want to
do"
Hey, king and country the old
man cried. upsetting the pepper.
Don't get a child around here under
foot. I'm too old. J. deserve grown
folks. My head hurts me-
Matthew" said Ellen to her hus-
band. ''let Holders bring US one. To
morrow-for Christmas, Mat"
Matthew looked slowly from side to
side. 1t seemed incredible that so
large u decision should lie with a man
so Intellectual.
Seems like we'd ought to think
about it awhile first" he said weakly.
Think about it." said Ellen. when
haven't l thought about it? When
have l thought about anything else
but him we haven't got any more?"
ELLEN" the mother mourned. you
don't know what you're taking on
yourself
flush. mother" Ellen said gently.
"You don't know what 1t is. You had
me-"
She faced Holders. will you bring
two when you come back tomorrow
nights" she said. And one OF them