Norwich bulletin., 1921-01-01

and this little pig stayed at hens- sn ten wee tfpturned toes t To have given up Robbie fer q mere husband A husband who no longed loved her, who was 50 heaftiess he could stay out thers in the barn, men6tng an old plow when his wife. needed him 90 desperately The eheery sound of a whistle ap- pfoeehed--z sans brisk step on the porch.
 It was Jamie. He was esantns inta the house. Why couldn't he let her alone. to cry in peace7
 ssw1ii, iittie eiriy said a pleszant ,voike behind her. as she steAlthiiS dabbed away her tears, "Any sseoial neWs fvom the l land of heatherT' Tt wasn't q regular letter. she replied eoolly. /.Just one of BoSbie's love scrzNIs dad had only addressed the envelope" Say. cali that mean trick" said Jamie. 'to get up your expectations for nothing"
 A little red spot iiarvd ct each of Mag. gie's cheeks and her eyes biased. l. How dared he insitnate that o.N of Bobbie's pveeiou1 lettera was fothiSE But the anger hef eyes shot fell short of their n1ark-Jsrnie had spied the plum pudding.
 "HeIlo.r he laughed. ''so that Is what was in the box. I'd just about given it up. It's some pudding. all right, isn't it7'' he went on adnirinsiy. Since we couldn't have it Christnias, lees celebrate tonisht l .l-speed the parting guest of the old year and welcome the new, you know. But came in to tell you I'm going over to Biy- ly's to take a. look at the brooder he wants to sell So if youli give me that picture book of Behbie's. I'll stop at inc poor farm as pa5s and leave it for the little chap who got there too late for Santa Claus. They say he's terribly lonesome and homesiek, poor little kid and maybe it will cheer him up'
 The set line of Mageie's lips tyitched.
 At the time it had seemed such . simple thing to propose, to give Boobies picture book, packed with her own bq9ks by mis- take. to the new orphan arrived at the farm the beginning of the week the poor year old child whose mother had died on Christmas day in lonely shack up in the mountains.
 'You can take the book another time, q sh ee~aded, picking up her shuttle and tatting like mad. T can't bother about ' today"
 Jamie looked at her, surprised, puzzled
 Why, l csn get 1t as we'll aa you. dear
 he said gently. 'Its on the table in oul
 room. isn't it?''
 She threw down the tatune and sprani , ups .g. .Tn get 1t myself" she said ferceiy and shot into the adjoining room. When she brought him the book he eyes were rimuaed In great red circles IDut Jamie. impatient to he of, did no
 notice. or thought the redaess came iron , her cold
 l As the front door banged after him e camphor bottle in hand. Maggie sank bacl 6 in the neafest Armchair and gave hersel l, Iup to being miserable
 s But Jamie was gone over an hour-tirn | for conscience and camphor to work-an 7 thoroughly shamed of herself, her hea | much clearer, she greeted his return wit - rising spirits, which fell precipitousl e when he nouchalantly informed her h t had invited over the Blylys and Joe d Thornton and his wife and the HopkIn y girl to spend 1he evening and eat piul Is pudding with them. d ."Oh. Jamie. why did you7" she zai. e despairingly. T feel like anything b.
 company tonight"
 But the guests had been invited an
 there was nothing to do but make the be.
 of it.
 Yet. as gaIlaptly as she tried. the DO, little bride could not shake on her hom
 sick forlornness.
 It was ffve minutes of 12 by the Iivir
 room clock when the hot chocolate ar
 the plum pudding in it's blaze of eloi
 were brought in, and as the first stroke
 midnight fell upon their talk and taught
 with lifted cups all sprang to their fe = and drank to the new year. deep al
 long. \ AL that is. except Maggie MacKenz N She took only hurried sip at her che
 olate; then put down her cup and ran al . opened the front doer. tt
 Maggie 2, cried Jamie. ''yvhat arc y nd opening the door for7''-
 Tn lo itl IF, m ~ tne NC" Tear, aeAr. sne ry piaiheo "ith a forced gaiety. Don't