The Ely miner., 1926-10-29
CHAPTER w
The Rayished Nest

1t would be difflcuit to say winch
enjoyed the doll house more, Lydia or
Patience. 1t would be difficult to say
which one was the more tsuched, Liz
zie or Amos by the package each
found on the breakfast table. Amos
unwrapped his to find therein a pipe
tray fashioned from cigar box wood
and stained with Lydia's walnut dye.
Lizzie's gift was fiat black pin
cushion, with "Lizzie, with rive from
LYDIA embroidered crazily on 1t In
red. Lydia and Patience each wore
pinned to her dress a 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, woolen dress
pattern for Lizzie, blue sailor suit
for Lydia, a 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
shrieked:
my ducks! My ducks!' and bolt
ed for the kitchen.
"The pier' cried Lizzie, painting
after her.
Don't tell me they're spoiled!' p
groaned Amos, as with John and the
baby, he followed into the kitchen.
"Safe p shouted Lydia, on her knees
before the oven. "Just the pope's
nose is scorchedl The pie is perfect
Lets eat before Anything else hap.
pens," said Amos, pesvously.
"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 LydM
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.
"Whered 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 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 i'll. 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 a 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 su-
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
a stupor The doctor sent Lydia away
while he made his examination. The
child clenched her fists and walked
up and down the livingroom cheeks
scarlet, eyes blazing. Suddenly she
dropped on her knees by the window
and lifted her clasped hands to the
stars
"Godi 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 die!"
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. mo, that
won't do. Suffer little children to
come unto me. Oh, no, no.
The door opened and Lizzie came