Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-11-22

itself would be hOuse-warming. With
her usual forethought Mrs. Penfeld
had told the members of her family
that it would be a fine spread-thi
time with supplementary details that
added Overwhelmingly to the weight
of her statement. There were to be
mullins and honey for the first course
and for the second, a tapioca pudding.
1t was only the middle of the after
noon, but preparations were already
under way. Crink had been dis
patched to the store to get the
honey. Mrs. Penfield was setting
the table in the dining-room. From
the window she could catch glimpse
of the hills, kissed green by the recent
rains Last week it had been winter;
today it was spring. With the charm
ing caprice that is CALIFORNIA;, Janu-
airy had said: II was trying to give
you some winter, but couldn't hold
to it,
Mrs. Penf1eld's heart was full of
thankfulness as she set out the dishes
ranged a centerpiece, small vase
containing a tea rose from a bush that
Mrs. Sanders had raised. At last the
children were to have the surround
ings that help to nurture the home
feeling, feeling which persists if
it is incorporated in ones childhood,
but which is never built up in exactly
the same way if that childhood passes
without it. Thoughts of other days,
thoughts of the other home that this
one called up, knocked persistently
against Mrs. Penfield's brain, but she
refused to let them enter. Like Miss
Hapgood, she would live in the
present
The pudding was made. Lettie was
beating the white Of the egg for the
frosting.
Jimmy, amt this fun!" she ex-
claimed. Eve always wondered how
it felt to beat an egg. I could keep
at it till kingdom Gomez
Crink burst in at the kitchen door.
"Oh, Penzie," he cried, "ey'rybody's so
excited down to the store! I got to
go right back, but l had to bring the
here's the honey-and tell you quick. !"
Mrs. Penfield took down the can Of
sugar from the shelf above the sink.
what is it, Crink? What's hap
pened?'
He stood in front of her, breathing
hard, his eyes shining with eagerness.
"Oh, there's been a turrible accident,
and the father and mother were
killed, but the baby wasn't and"
"Crink, what are you talking aooutT
demanded Mrs. Penfeld in dismay.
''Why, Penzie, the baby. Ey'ry-
bodys talking bout it to the store.
It hain't got nobody left-not nobody.
It's folks wasn't related to any other
folks. And everybody that comes in
is talking bout it." Crink gasped for
breath, but jerked out his statements
with wild gesticulations "Ev'rybody's
saying what'll become Of the baby,
and it'll have to go to 'stution, and
so l thought mebbe-"
Lettie reluctantly relinquished the
eggbeater, but zealously advocated the
infant. 20 Penzie, let's! It'd be such
fun! GDlly, I'd love to have a."
/ Mrs. Penfield stirred sugar into the
beaten white and spread the frosting
over the pudding. What's your idea,
Crink?" she asked, as she slid the dish
into the oven for the final browning.
ssWell, I thought mebbe we could
| take it. You see we hain't got any
baby now Thad's growing up so fast.
And I'd like"
."Oh, can't we have it, please, Pen
zie," begged Lettie. "a baby's just
what we need. There'd be a heap
more variety if"
eyes, it'd be good way to get
! variety" agreed Mrs. Penfeld, look
| ing from one eager face to the other.
81 expect you're right. Fact is, I been
kind O. worried all the afternoon,
thinking how fine we got ev'rything,
and how much we got to do with, and
how easy it's going to be. Why, /
hain't got a thing to do now but keep
the house and do the washings and
/ look dlIGT YOU ILL &C SAAllQA Gil OOA I
have to watch The Custard Cup t all
any more. know amt going to feel
right if ev'rything's so easy
"Oh, then you will oh, Penzie,
won't you hurry and get there fore
anybody else wants it?"
ssLand. Crink, there amt never such
rush as that But I'll change my
dress right now and we'll go down
wherever it is My goodness, / can't
wait myself to get hold Of that blessed
baby"
Everybody says it's fine one," put
| in Crink enthusiastically. "It's healthy,
you know-and ev'rything."
"Oh, we'll have such fun raising itv'
said Mrs. Penfeld briskly. II just
know it's going to work out grand
1.-THE ENID
Observation-Disclosures.