CHRISTMAS [N AMERICA. ies ll

tasted. Here she is,’ added grandmother, catching up the

plump pullet and handing her to Grandfather Pool, who looked

as though he had been called upon to execute a child.
Grandfather Pool went out with the pullet, which did not

He went to the woodhouse where
the chopping-block was, and sat
down in an old arm-chair, in the

 
 
   
  
  
 
 
   

sun. The woodhouse was open
in front, and the chopping-block
stood in the opening.

“Are you really going to do
it?” said I.

“T wish one of those Old
Testament miracles would turn
that
pullet
into a
cho p-
ping-
block,
for she
has said it must be
done, and nothing
but a miracle will
ever save the poor
thing from the ga/-
lows.”

Grandfather Pool rose up and laid the chicken on the block.
He measured the distance with the hatchet.

“Oh, let me run,” said I.