Askov American. [volume] (Askov, Pine County, Minn.) 1914-current, 1926-11-04

uAWIdppcu LIE 10 uuu therein pipe
tray fashioned from cigar box wood
and stained with Lydia's walnut dye.
Lizzie's gift was fat black PIN
cushion, with Lizzie, with love from
LYDIA" embroidered crafty on 1t in
red. Lydia and Patience each wore
pinned to her dress cotton handker-
chief, Lizzie's gift.
John Levine appeared at noon, laden
like pack horse. This was his great
opportunity during the year to do
things for the Dudley children and he
took full advantage Of the moment.
Books for Lydia, little tops for the
baby, pipe for Amos, wooden dress
pattern for Lizzie, blue sailor suit
for Lydia, fur hood for Patience.
Johns thin, sallow face glowed, his
black eyes cleaned as he watched the
children unwrap the packages. In
the midst Of the excitement, Lydia
shrisked:
my ducks! Ny ducksl' and bolt
ed for the kitchen.
1.-THE PIER cried Lizzie, painting
after her.
"Don't tell me they're spoiled!"
groaned Amos, as with John and the
baby, he followed into the kitchen.
Safe y shouted Lydia, on her knees
before the oven. "Just the pope's
nose is scorched! The pie is perfect"
Lets eat before anything else hap
pens," said Amos, nervously.
"Lordl' said John Levine, who'd
miss spending Christmas where there
are children? I'd gotten out here
today If I'd had to come barefooted."
The dinner was eaten and pro-
nounced perfect. The gifts were re-
admired. John Levine, with Lydia
and Florence Dombey on his lap,
Amos with the drowsy little Patience
In his arms, and Lizzie, her tired
hands folded across her comfortable
stomach, sat round the base burner
while the wind rose outside and the
boom Of the ice-locked, lake filed the
room from time to time.
Fearful cold when the ice cracks
that way" said Amos.
"The owl, for all his. feathers was
a-cold,'" murmured Lydia.
"Where'd you get that and what's
the rest Of it?' asked Levine.
Selected Gems" replied Lydia.
'It's a girls poem. Gosh, I've been
happy today! Daddy, you thought we'd
have an awful poor Christmas, didn't
you? Poor old daddy! Why, I've just
felt all day as If my heart was on tip
toes.'
1t had indeed been a high day for
the child. Perhaps she remembered
it for years after as one of her perfect
days, because Of the heartbreaking
days that followed.
For little Patience for the first time
in her tiny life was taken Ill. For
three or four days after Christmas she
was feverish and cross with hoarse
cold. When Amos came home the
fourth night, he thought she had the
Group and sent Lydia pelting through
the darkness for the dairy farmers
wife. Mrs. Norton, the mother Of
Billy, was not long in coming to de-
cision.
"'Tain't regular Group. You go
after the doctor, Mr.. Dudley"
Patience, frightened by her difficult
breathing, would let no one but Lydia
touch her. Under Mrs. Norton's SUI
pervision, she packed the baby in hot
water bottles while Lizzie heated water
and stocked the fires till the stove
doors glowed red.
Amos came back with the doctor
about nine o'clock. Patience was In
stupor. The doctor sent Lydia away
while he made his examination. The
child clenched her fists and walked
up and down the living-room, cheeks
scarlet, eyes blazing. Suddenly she
dropped on her knees by the window
and lifted her clasped hands to- the
stars.
Sod! God, up there!' she called
IF you let her die, I'll never pray to
you again! Never! I warned You
when You let mother diel''
She remained a moment on her
knees, staring at the stars while frag-
ments of Sunday school lore flashed
through her mind. Our Father who
art In heaven" she said. "No, that
won't do. Suffer little children TO
come unto me. Oh, no, no."
The door opened and Lizzie came
out, tears running down her cheeks.
Lydia flew to her.
"They say got to tell you. Diph-
theritic croup-her lungs Is full-no
hope"
Lydia struck the kind old hand
from her shoulder and dashed out Of
the house. She ran through the snow
to a giant pine by the gate and beat
her fists against 1t for how long she
did not know. Pain In her bruised
hands and the intense cold finally
brought her to her senses. A self
control that was partly inherent and
partly the result Of too early knowl-
edge of grief came to her rescue.
With long sigh, she walked steadily
into the house and into the room
where the baby sister lay in a stupor,
breathing stertorously.
The doctor and Amos were there.
Mrs. Norton was now soothing Lizzie
In the kitchen, now obeying the doc
tops orders Amos did not stir from