Smyrna times., 1935-12-26
"A WINTER DAY"
AN XMAS STORY
Compiled and Contributed by
Mrs. Lucy Guseman of
Clayton

/ 1Hefe! guess Indt Will nave
to do now" and Mrs Ro5y looped
up the snow white curtain, fasten-
ed on it a small cluster of holly
and stepped back to survey her
work.
II wonder if any one would sus-
pect that a good-sized patch is
hidden beneath those pretty leaves.
I wonder if it will be nothing but
patch, patch all my days There
is Mrs. Orr, who doesn't work half
as hard as I do and she has a new
carpet and pretty wall paper while
here | have worked two days to
make this room presentable. The
carpet is all patched and darned;
the paper is faded and shows many
prints Of the children's fingers. For
lack Of something better I had to
take the old red comfort to make
chair cushion and sofa cover.
They look bright and cozy / know
but blue chintz embroidered with
white floss would have looked SO
much prettier. One would scarce
ly know the pictures in their new
frames of pebbles and pine cones.
But they are not as pretty as hers.
Oh, well, | guess complaining will
do no good. I will just have to do
and bear. Oh you sweet little
flower. How you do brighten the
room. I am glad you are not
patched too. And she placed her
one geranium where it would re-
ceive the full benefit of the light.
II wonder where the children are.
l am SO afraid they will let the
baby get his feet wet. OH hear
them on the porch now. Now for
the kitchen. There are the pies
and bread to bake and the floor to
scrub and I am SO tired now. Fred
will not be at home for dinner.
though, and | will just give the
children some bread and butter"
She paused a moment to replace a
rug and then went on into the
kitchen. Despite the many inter-
ruptions of the children at four
o'clock the bread was baked and
wrapped in a white linen cloth and
the pies were cooling on the pantry
shelf. There were golden ones
made of pumpkins that she had
raised with her own hands; also
mince pies that were enough to
tempt the appetite of anyone. Not
poor mans pie, surely, but Fred
was so very fond of them and she
always tried to have some at
Christmas time. Then there was
plate of doughnuts for the children.
They do not taste like mothers
though" she said as she placed
them on the shelf. 81 wish 1 had
one of hers now"
The kitchen floor was as white
as two hands with soap and brush
could make it. A few pieces of
tinware hung over a clean
newspaper ON the wall The dishes !
she had brought from home glist-
ened in the old fashioned cupboard.
There, I am done at last. Now
l will have half an hour to read
that delightful story I have been
wanting so much to read all day."
She had just settled herself in the
rocking chair and had become
interested in the story when
small voice said, Mamma will
you tie my shoe ?" The shoe is
tied and she had just found her
place when the same voice asks I
again, Mamma, how long is it till I
Tismas?" Only day yet besides
day-day. Now don't bother me
anymore. well" She has not /
read more than a dozen words
when another voice says 'I wonder
{ Santa Claus ever spanks his bab-
es, or has he got any, mamma ?"
i do not know" Didn't the min
ster say one day at Sunday School 4
that our hands weren't to strike