Hot Springs weekly star. (Hot Springs, S.D.) 1892-1917, 1897-12-24

would hardly guess you to be six years
older thar l."
NO. ttllsln:. they wouldn't. One thing,
I'm II good deal fleshicr III you. I'm kind
o sprlscd to see you SO kind o. all skin
and bone.'
Come. now. 1 amt quite that. Joel.
weigh 139.'
Us that all: why, Hi, I weigh IT'S
and"
Come. Uncle Joel, I want to show you
some of the family portraits in the par
Tor. said Madge. noting grandpa's rising
coior. This left Uncle Harvey and grand
pa together.
Joel and Henry were always unneccs-
sarily blunt in their Speech" said grand
pm.
Yes. but they gen'ally hit the nail on
the head said Uncle Harvey. you do
look as if the wind would blow you away.
iilrafm, and l notice you've II iii of limp
in your gait"
I've nothing of the sort. Harvey My
Ter, and l amt more than t%wo-thirds us
bald as you are and not half so gray"
"oh, YOU amt; I'll count gray hairs with
you any time, and I'll bet you Il jews
harp that"
Come, Uncle Harvey" l said, "let us
20 to the stable. want you to give me
our opinion of Il horse I've just bought"
me combined efforts of Madgc and Nell
ana suf'iced to maintain peace ut the
uihher table. We kept up such Il rattling
III" OF conversation that the four broth
efS had hardly IL chanc to speak to each
".hcr. VIC SAW grandpa vince when I'm
cle Henry ate his mashed potatoes with
MS knife. and we knew the full extent of
orr grandsirc's agony when Uncle Joel
poured his coffee into his saucer and blew
1t before drinking it. Uncle Harvey spoke
nut once. but that was once too often, for
ne said, eNpiosively:
"oh. say. boys, do YOU remember that
Sary Jane Skimmerhorn Hi used to be
so sweet on when We al Went to the Hop
vine school? You member how he used
TO Kiss or there at the end of the lane?
Well. she's Twin yit. an I'd give n deal
to see Hi kiss 'cr now. She weighs 800
pounds and has a beard that Tom here
might be proud of, an she's had fifteen
children an they're all Twin. 1 was jest
thinkin' what if Iii had married 'er as he
used to swear he woHld! Eth, Hip
Uncle Henry and Joel roarcd with
laughter and Joel choked on 81 mouthful
of coffee. Grandpa turned pale and it re-
quired all of Nell's clevcruess to prevent
Il scene.
All of the cousins and unclcs and aunts
in the city had been invited to come III
that evening To enjoy Il Christmas eve
reunion of the family and to he entertain
ell With family rcminiScencc by the four
OLD and reunited brothers. AT s o'clocN
we gathered around Il great open fire To
hear our aged relatives ''reminis,' as
Ma'lgc miSchicvously put it.
Tel us all about when yon were buys
together said Cousin Ned Drayton. II
guess There wasn't much time nor money
wasted celebrating Christmas when you
were boys"
We'll. | guess there wa'n't.' said Uncle
joel. II g'css-O. say. boys. do YOU re-
member that Christmas we four boys
went bear hunting back there in the
Mainc woods when WE want none of lis
fully grown:'
II remember it as we'll as if it was yes
terday.' said Uncle Henry. II rcincm-
Der ,iist how that bar suuealcd when /
shot i'm"
"Nou still stick to it that you shot i'm.
Henry" said Uncle joel. "nn' l am as
s're as I'm Twin that it WAS my shot that
fetched i'm"
I'm Il horn ii wns!' said Uncle Henry.
testify. Your bullet went clan. over the
bar and lodged in that big pine We found
with II bullet hole in it,
"Thcir's no use in Henry an Joel spat-
tin so about which killed that bar" put
in Uncle Harvey. flor I've an idce the
beast would AVE got up am walked off
with both your bullets. 1t was my knife
thrust that finished the beast"
YES. it was" snccred Joel. "Oh. yes;
to he sure it was snortcd Uncle Henry.
Il guess that the blows l rained down
on the beasts head with the club l car
ried, had something to do with finishing
him. said grandpa. calmly.
Well. yc amt got over drawin' on your
Imagination for facts, hev We. IIi?' said
Uncle Henry. 1.-The rest of us kin re-
member how We hid in the bresh trenholm
am bcllcrin' until we was almost ready
To skin the bear an then you come out
Will. Your little club and give the beast a
whack or two."
Henry Mylcr. that is not true.!"
IF it ain't I'll eat my hat!'
Il ciubbei the life out of him. said
grandpa.
Il tell We l killed that bear myself,"
"Yc didn't"
Il know l did,
My club counted for more than"
Your club! Pooh.'
Now. Henry, l won't stand it to-" !
I'D like to see We help yourself"
"Shet up. all of We. for L"
Don't We tell me to shot up"
The dispute waNet. hot and hotter un-
TIL Madge got Uncle Henry off to his room.
and Nell had lone the same service for
Uncle Harvey, while 1 dragged Uncle Joel
away for Il smoke with me in my own
room. where he beratcd his brothers fear
fully. Grandpa stalked off to his own
room.
We managed to keep the four old hot
heads from getting into n row On Christ
mas. but Uncle Henry and grandpa did