The Ely miner. [volume] (Ely, Minn.) 1895-1986, 1932-12-09

kv|UFF1E ANN adjusted her furS
IA A e. and arose. her round black
IN - ! eyes refusing to meet the
EkE al piteous gaze of the little old
RSsHA lady before her.
EE8 81 know you'll be reason
able, mother" she conclud-
- ed, "and see that, needing
money as Edwin does right now, he
couldn't do differently. When pa died
and Edwin bought this house Of you to
help you out, he had every notion of
letting you stay right here, as he told
you; but the $1,000 is absolutely need
ed to set us on our feet again-and
with a customer turning up right now
and willing to pay cash-well, twas
nothing short of providential, and the
deed was made out last night"
She bit her lip and redeemed as she
shot a furtive glance at the bent fig
ure, then rushed on, nervously: "Of
course you're to come right over with
us as soon as Christmas is over. Pack
ing up will be easy, for, knowing you'd
have no further use for your furni-
ture, Edwin's told the customer he
could buy it just as it stood, and, of
course, the money'n be yours-a nice,
tidy sum-for Mr.. Craig was all car
ried away with your braided rugs and
old dishes and furniture; said it made
him think of his boyhood home.
Hes over to the Glendale sanitari-
um now for his health-got nervous
dyspepsia, or some such thing. Well,
/ must be rushing along"
Hating in the doorway, she called
back sharply: ''If that good-for-noth-
ing brother OF Edwin's comes round
here tomorrow asking for us, you send
him about his business lively. He can
smell a Christmas dinner a mile off.
He's terrible tall and skinny-youll
know him the minute you set eyes on
him. Well be home day after tomor-
row, and Edwin'l be right over after
you. You be getting your things
ready"
The door closed resoundingly.
Sunshine poured into the spotless
kitchen in a golden flood, fingered low
ingly on the bright braided rugs and
china closets laden with willowware,
china and pewter. The grandfather
clock licked contentedly in a corner.
The kettle hummed drowsily. Gleeful,
the canary sang one exultant song aft
er another.
The table with its cheerful red cloth
had been drawn UP to the window,
daintily set for grandma's luncheon.
1t was the same tranquil scene upon
which her eyes had rested on hun
after tomorrow, they would never rest
again. And tomorrow was Christmas!
"a day when the friendly ghosts of
all the ChristEases that were would
steal lovingly back, only to flee in
horror at lack of festal board and
Christmas cheerI
1t must have been the affecting pic
ture of those disappointed ghosts of
other Christmases that impelled grand
mother to sit erect, swab her red eye
lids, stiffen her trembling chin and
resolve to thrust her troubles into the
background It'll Christmas should be
over. "I'l have a Christmas dinner"
she planned. "just as if nothing had
happened and-why, I'll invite Edwin's
brother!"
Feverish with excitement, grand
mother hurried to do her marketing,
and for the rest of the day the old
kitchen abounded with tantalizing
cooking odors.
Christmas morning grandmother
was early astir. Sprigs of holly
graced the many-paned windows. The
deep armchair had been drawn invit-
ingly before the fireplace. The plump
and tender turkey was turning an ir-
resistible brown. Onions, turnips,
squash and potatoes white and
''sweets'-were cooking merrily. The
cranberry sauce had been strained and
set to cool upon the pantry window