Shoshone journal. [volume] (Shoshone, Idaho) 1884-1931, 1923-08-31
oh, Uncle Jerry" pro, ested Mr.,

| -oh, Uncle Jerry pro rsted Mr..
u' .nne'u' I got ev'rything planned
we're going TO have"
lou wait till get back fore Won
pan, interrupted Uncle Jerry ana no
went out so quickly that Mrs. Pen.
neius expostulations fell on the emntv
air. '''e empty
| hepeated countings failed TO shake
'he conclusion that Plain Mixed bad
yielded only forty-eight candies Three
were apportioned to each tiny NET hso
OF popcorn, since only the vounger
guests were to receive this particular
treat. - 81
early IN the afternoon Mrs. sanders
rang the bell at Number AZ and
Drought three parcels tied with red
ribbons. ''u
They're for the children. she
smiled. w
"Oh, my dear" said Mrs. PenAeId
overwhelmed. "Why, 1t wasn't right
for you to bother bout
Don't say that" interrupted Mrs
sanders. It's been the best thing for
me that ever happened. Mind how I
haint called you over for one of those
those attacks lately? Well. when
I've felt one coming on, I've gone to
work on these things-hard." She
pointed to the gifts. They've been
WHAT'S saved me-but I thought meb-
De the children could use 'em: That's
what started me making 'em, but I
got more good out of 'em than anybody
else will"
You're dear friend" acknowledged
Mrs. Penfeld warmly. 81 hope you
you'll have brighter New Year"
I'm planning TO do diff'runt; that's
one thing sure. I'll tell you about it
pretty soon"
AS Mrs. Penfleld went back into the
house, Lettie came dancing in from a
trip to the yard to feed popcorn to Bon
ME Geraldine.
"Oh, Penzie," she cried, what do
you s'pose I done? You couldn't guess,
ever. l wished Mr.. Wopple a Merry
Christmas. Wasn't that queer thing7
But was feeling so happy that 1 for
got all bout how mean he is-and
ev'rything. And minute 1 said 1t, he
was real decent"
Mrs. Penf1eld laughed. 81 guess
you'd think he was decent all the time
If you was decent yourself all the way
through" she commented mildly.
"What? Amt I"
'Why, Of course you're not. That's
what's the matter. What do you
s'pose Mr.. Wopple thinks of a little
girl that has to beat a temper gong
and storms around and says sharp
things?"
"What does he think Of me?" Lettie
repeated slowly. "Why, I never thought
of that. Ny landy Goshenl I'm gonta
study 1t out after Christmas and see
what there is In it,"
It'll be a good scheme" agreed Mrs.
Penfield briskly. "And now see here,
I'm going to let you open
these here presents right now, If you
want to, cause there may be some
thing in 'em that you'll want tonight"
There ensued a small whirlwind in
the kitchen. Amidst a great rustling
of paper and many shrieks of joyous
surprise, the gifts were drawn forth:
a brown serge dress for Lettie, gray
sweater for Crink, little suit for
Thad. Mrs. Penfield's regret was that
the donor could not have stayed to
know the ecstasy which her thought
fulness had brought to three children,
in the ways Of gifts
Excitement rose again to danger
1usly high point when Uncle Jerry re-
.urned with two wild ducks and bag
IF rice. Would there be Christmas
Inner the next day In the Penfeld
Would there?
Everything was ready for the party
md the financial score ran like this: