Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1902-12-25
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ent," and the .all man found himself
imprisoned by a pair of warm arms,
while a sweet young face vas held
upto his own.
"Glad to see you, Puss. You look
as your ma did at your age. 1T was
kind of you % give up city holidays
and come into a country village in
the dead of winter"
"Oh, l came to visit sou, and you
are not dead nor cold" laughed Jes-
sic, mesrily.
A thrill of new life went through
the old bachelors heart. Then his
sister had not let her children know
what a selfish old fellow he was.
The large Kingsley family had
scattered east and west. all except
took in the old homestead he was
able to start a bank in the village.
The more he enlarged in his worldly
possessions the more contracted be-
came his heart. He lived in the old
brick homestead alone, except for
the presence of a faithful old do
nestle and the hired man. He did
not often visit his relatives or ask
them to visit him. but Mary a a
minister's wife and her husband had
churches in the large city near, and
the sister determined to try to win
the lonely man back to himself.
I am AFRAID you will find this
dark house very STILL" said the uncle.
sob, we'll throw up the shades and
let in all the light, and Wisconsin has
the brightest winter sunshine in the
world. While l IN here we will have
in all of your old friends. My head
Is tired from studying, but my hands
are all right, and I'll help cook and
work"
Nancy is a Tartar; you had bet
ter keep out of her Kitchen" warned
the uncle. II do not dare give too
many orders" But Jessie went in
and conquered at once. She always
expected the very best Of everyone,
and in hunting for the o s side of
every nature she, some way, got
around the thorns without bringing
them to the surface.
Uncle John could hardly believe he
was in his own house when he saw
1t all open, warm and light, with
flowers in th windows. and Nancy
looking kind instead of naughty and
severe. He heard such merry peais
of laughter from the kitchen he ven
tured into those sacred precincts to
help pop cor and crack hickory
nuts. Man is a domestic animal. and
the odor of frying doughnuts and
the sight of the raisins being stoned
and eggs growing into snow white
foam, bring up pleasant sensations.
JesGie had a pleasant way Of going
TO meeo her uncle, and u quickened
his old heart to see : le bright face
under the red cap coming his way.
After supper she brought his slip
pers and put the table near the glow
ing CRATE, for she insisted that there
was nothing poetical in heat coming
out Of the fG J, and then would sit
down and talk. One ev.ning she
said:
~ hope you haven't made all Of
your Christmas plans 1t would be
such fun to help you make out your
list"
my what?" asked the uncle. in
surprise.
"Why, the list Of what you are GO
ing to do for Santa Claus. He prob
ally has exchanged his sleigh for an
automobile this year and will visit
nor people. Seriously, | mean, un-
Gle. II Is hard to plan to make O lot
Of people happy on Christmas, you
know"
He did not know. for he had mot
tried IT. He had long ego made the
holy Christ-time an ordinary day.
Jessie went right on as II lie had
been enthusiastic.
ut IL Q thank-otfering year, you
know, and we must do more than
usual. The children have Been maxi
ing scrap bocas and fxin4 up old
toys ~. months. apd w. xnit nit