Hill Grace Brooks - The Corner House Girls' Odd Find стр 9.

Thank you, Mr. Sprague, replied the girl, gravely, for she made it a rule never to laugh at the prophet, as he was called, and who people said was demented upon religious subjects.

Thank you for your good wishes, said Ruth. And what have you brought the cats?

For Sandyface and all her progeny had come to meet the prophet and were purring about him and otherwise showing much pleasure. Even Almira had left her young family in the woodshed to come to meet Mr. Seneca Sprague.

From a side pocket of his duster Seneca brought forth a packet. He broke off a little of the pressed herb in the packet and sprinkled it on the stoop. The cats fairly scrambled over each other for a chance to eat some of the catnip, or to roll in it.

They did not quarrel over it. Indeed, the intoxicating qualities of their favorite herb gave the cats quite a Christmas spirit.

Mrs. MacCall brought a shallow pan of milk and some more of the herb was sprinkled in it by the old prophet. The kittens Starboard, Port, Hard-a-lee and Mainsheet lapped this up eagerly.

Its very kind of you to bring the catnip, Mr. Sprague, Ruth said. Wont you come in and taste Agnes Christmas cake? She is getting to be a famous cake baker.

With pleasure, said the queer old man.

After Seneca Spragues old hut on the river dock was burned at Thanksgiving, and the Corner House girls had found him a room in one of their tenements to live in, he had become a frequent visitor at the old Corner House. Ruth would have ushered him into the sitting room where Mrs. Eland and her sister were; but Seneca shrank from that.

I am not a society man nay, verily, quoth the prophet. The sex does not interest me.

But it is only Mrs. Eland and her sister, who are our guests to-day for dinner, Ruth said, as she led him into the dining room, while Agnes sped to get the cake.

Ha! Those Aden girls, said Seneca, referring to the hospital matron and the red-haired school teacher by their family name. I remember Lemuel Aden well their uncle. A hard man was Lemuel a hard man.

I believe he must have been a very wicked man, declared Agnes, coming back with a generous slice of cake, and overhearing this. See how he let people think that his brother was dishonest, while he pocketed money belonging to the clients of Mrs. Elands father. Oh! we know all about it.

Ah! said Seneca again, tasting the cake. Very delicious. I know that you put none of the fat of the accursed swine in your cake as some of these women around here do.

Lard, he means, whispered Ruth, for Seneca followed the rabbinical laws of the Jews and ate no pork.

Lemuel Aden was a miser, the prophet announced. He was worse than your uncle, Peter Stower, he added bluntly. All three of us went to school together. They were much older than I, of course; but I came here to the Corner House to see Peter at times. And I was here when Lem Aden came last.

We know about that, too, Agnes said, with some eagerness. Did did Uncle Peter really turn him out, and did he wander over into Quoharie Township, and die there in the poorhouse?

Seneca was silent for a minute, nibbling at the cake thoughtfully. It comes upon my mind, he said at last, that Peter Stower was greatly maligned about that matter. Peter was a hard man, but he had soft spots in him. He was a great sinner, in that he ate much meat which is verily against the commandment. For I say unto you

softly.

Nobody said anything more to the tender-hearted little girl; but Dot brought her the nicest piece of Christmas candy in the dish a long, curly, striped piece, and Agnes hugged her.

Ruth was worried a little about the dinner arrangements. The meal was almost ready to serve, but Neale ONeil had not come over from Mr. Con Murphys, where he lived.

You were cross with him, Agnes, and he wont come back, she said accusingly to the beauty. And Mrs. MacCall wont wait.

Oh, he wouldnt disappoint us! declared Agnes. He knows we depend on him. Why, half our fun will be spoiled

He evidently isnt coming to dinner.

At that moment Uncle Rufus came to announce that all was ready, and he tucked a twist of paper into Agnes hand.

Oh, Ruthie! look here! the second sister said. Read this.

The oldest Corner House girl saw it was the handwriting of their boy friend.

Dont worry. Santa Claus will appear according to schedule. Oh! that is all right, then, Ruth said. Hes not coming till after we get through.

Well! I think thats too mean of him, cried Agnes.

But Ruth was somewhat relieved. They went in to dinner, a quiet, but really happy party.

The old dining room looked lovely, and the lighted tree in the corner was a brilliant spectacle. Ruths idea of lighting the room completely by candles proved a good one. The soft glow of the wax-lights over the ancient silver and sparkling cut-glass was attractive.

Mrs. MacCall presided, as always. The girls would not hear to her only directing the dinner from the kitchen. Aunt Sarah Maltby, in her best black silk and ivory lace, seemed to have imbibed a share of the holiday spirit, for once at least. She was quite talkative and gracious at the other end of the table.