Eagle River review. [volume] (Eagle River, Wis.) 1890-1927, 1923-10-18

waste of wax without a justifiable
number of observers. 1t was the
touch. A long-drawn "Oh-h-h!' ex-
pressed the complete qualification Of
all the Penfields. From that time on,
fairyland was an open book. Thads
blue eyes were unbelievably wide, and
he tiptoed about in an awed and silent
ecstasy. Crink was full of important
errands, having gratuitously assumed
responsibilities for salient features Of
the evening.
AS for Lettie, she was not the same
child that had struggled into Mrs.
Penfeld's kitchen three months before,
undernourished, blindly resentful
against the harshness of an unthink-
ing world, ready to fight anything and
anyone to keep her starved soul in her
starved body-a creature forced by the
indifference of society into reversion
to elemental instincts, to primitive
pugnacity. Without volition she had
been shot into scheme of things that
had no place for her, that frowned up
on her with heavy disapproyal. She
had been saved from the attitude that
might have followed-the attitude OF
a society that later holds up its hands
In a shock of horror and repudiates
the menace that its own carelessness
has nurtured. It will always be SO
until that society ceases to Segregate
its human strays, to be housed in cor
rect stone buildings and fed from long
handled spoons, and rouses to the in
alienable right of the individual to in
dividual care
Tonight Lettie was radiant. She
might later know joy that would be
broader and deeper, but it could never
more fully inundate her capacity.
Her thin cheeks were beginning to take
on the curve Of health; her black curls
were neat and glossy; and she was
wearing the new serge dress presented
by Mrs. Sanders. AS she flew busily
through the rooms, she stopped now
and then for look of Indifferent dis
dain at the temper gong. Gould it be
possible that she had needed that-or
ever would again? In her present state
OF beatitude, certainly not. The hours
OF happiness are not the hours of
trial.
"We'll have to play sit-down games"
decided Crink, surveying the tight
rows of chairs which he had borrowed
for the occasion.
"Yes, Crink," laughed Mrs. Penfeld,
''but you can see how lucky its that
this was a barn. If it hadn't been
built big 'nough for horses, we couldn't
never have this grand party"
Even SO, the only thing that made
the space sufficient was previous en-
gagelnents on the part of several ten
ants. In consequence, there were only
thirty-five who gathered and squeezed
happily into the borrowed chairs; but
they all brought their most f1attering
EXPLANATIONS and used them freely.
Even Mr.. Wopple smiled, by which
token the jollity of the others may be
Imagined.
Game followed game, and the mer-
riment increased as by its own momen-
tum. Crink Penfeld was noted in con-
ference with korene Chase, and short
ly thereafter it was made known that
she had a new Christmas song. En-
thusiasm grew. She gave them more
songs. Her clear voice filed The Gus
tard Cup with melody.
All this time the tree stood waiting.
but its turn came at last. Impressive
ly Dick Chase read off the names /:
with prodigal flourish the little Pen
fields made distribution. Surprise was
unparalleled. Exclamations were dou-
bled, trebled.
And even this was not the end.
Rather it was the prelude. Because
Immediately thereafter, refreshments
were served. They were Crink's con-
tribution, and his pride in this acme
of hospitality was well-nigh suffocat-
Ing. A few days before Mr. Drake had
given him a large tin box of cakes
which a wholesale delivery boy had
dropped on the floor The cakes. as
sorted to begin with, had been further
and unsaleably assorted by the fall !;
but there were a few whole ones and
these had been skilfully arranged as
top layers on the plates which were
now passed. Mr.. brakes Christmas
to Crink had been a small package
each of sugar and raisins and a dozen
oranges. Crink, in an embarrassment
which had all but choled him, had
asked If he might have lemons instead
of the oranges. The exchange nad been
Doodo ord tho ono dozan hod hooo,,oo
two marvellous piece of fortune, be-
cause everybody knows that one lemon
is equal to two oranges any day when
1t comes to flavoring a given amount of
water.
1t was long time after the paper
plates and cups had been gathered up
before the party dispersed and left
the Penfields to happy memories. Not
alone memories, either! The tree was
still there, and Christmas day was vet
TO come.
my landy goodnessl" cried Lettie
81 don't never want to see anything
sweller'n that party was. 1t sure hit
the stars for class"
81 guess we're pretty rich," piped
Thad, skinning a finger Of fir to deter
mine exactly how sticky it was.
1--WE sure got rich feelings" agreed
Mrs. Penfeld. "And that's as much as
millions of money can put inside you"
eyes. I s'pose So corrooorated Let
tie politely but with evident reserva-
tions. "Say, Penzie, wouldn't Mr.