The Salt Lake tribune. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1890-current, 1906-12-26
JUST A STORY
ABOUT CHRISTMAS
AND THE LONG AGO

The clock in the Joint building had
struck Twelve. The echo OF the last
stroke Of The clock came family and the
man at his desk fell asleep. The echo
was there as he closed his eyes and,
somehow, he dreamed dreams. And In
that he dreamed OF the long ago And he
had heard that echo of the bell In the
clock of the Joint building as the last
stroke rang out for many years. How
time flies! And as the echoes. the rever-
beration came. there passed before him
in his dream. what7 procession of
children, all girls they were, because his
baby boy had joined the angelbood OF
heaven In the long ago And as the
procession passed by his babies. his
girls. they beckoned him TO look, and he
did, and there was the old home. the
place his babies were born And I'm the
corner OF the big room by the old fash
ioned fireplace stood big tree-a Christ
mas tree, and it was lighted with old :
fashioned candles and the strands and
strings OF popcorn which were mixed
with the green were dazzling white: and
the bright red OF the long strings of
cranberries, which had been thrown over
and above the green OF the pine tree,
more crimson than he had ever seen
which swung from the boughs were more
beautiful In their golden glow, too, than
he had ever noticed before Then. too,
lNe Snlnlnor ana SneeD OF the HDanElep
seemed brighter than ever before: and
the highly co)ored Autograph picture OF
the Virgin Mary and the Nazarene
which crowned the tree stood out more
prominent than he had ever before OBJ
served,
And still ne dreamed.
AS he looked there was mist over his
glasses he wore glasses now: and as
he wiped this mist from his glasses and
again adjusted them TO his eyes an arm
was placed around his neck and a velvet
cheek was placed against his old bearded
face. II was his wlfes: his bride Of
years ago, and she said; ''Oh, papa, is IL
not beautiful"
And still he dreamed.
Then came the g1rls-their girls; and
how their eyes sparloled at the beautiful
tree, There were dolls and dishes; there
were gowns and gowns for those dolls,
and there were cornucopias filed with
candy; and there were little dressers and
beds, and ever so many things to glad
den the eyes Of those four girls. and
EXPLANATIONS of delight. they still ring in
the ear.
And still he dreamed.
Then the scene changed: but he stir
dreamed And other Christmas ewes came
and passed In review, The first one and
ono baby girl was missing, some one had
stepped in and taken her away, Three
were left for this Christmas.
And still he dreamed.
And another Christmas eve came, and
In addition TO the Christmas tree a tiny
stocking was hung from tho mantel and
Santa Claus was glad that he lived and
that long stocking was filed to the top
and overtlowed. When another Christmas
eve came another stocking was hung
from the. mantel. The one OF the year
before was gone: the beautiful boy who
had worn it was sleeping the long sleep
in Mount Olivet
And still he dreamed
And the other Christmas ewes came
and went. and his other girls were taken
and the fanily was broken UP and hun
dreds OF miles separated loved ones, and
the grandchildren looked for the box
from grandpa and grandma and the mos
sage OF love which IL carried of Peace
ON earth and good will toward men"
And still he dreamed.
It is Christmas again. Christmas of
1906. In his home this dreamer's home,
his good wife waits. There are no tiny
stockings suspended from mantle or from