The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1907-12-21

/. y
the papers and to feel the
Christmas furry In the air, he
announced to his family with an air Of
inality, tinged with defiance, "you needn't
expect anything In the way of Christmas
presents from me this year"
Why, John !" his wits exclaimed, I'VE
are not going to do very much. Just a
few gifts in the family to mark the day,
and then the children think so much Of
It,"
THE children" John returned with
line scorn, they're grown now and it's
time for them to get over such nonsense.
positively refuse to have anything to
do with Christmas"
John Raynor persisted In making him
self miserable and In bringing to bear
all the arguments he could think of
against the prevailing manner of observ-
ing Christmas. Figuratively speaking, he
pounded the table and grew purple in the
lace in his endeavors to hammer In his
circumstances against holiday customs.
In spite of himself he could not help
anJoying the sights and sounds, heralding
The approach of the holiday season. The
Eala dress of the shop windows appealed
to his color-loving eye, and when the
Christmas greens began to soften the
grim, winter streets with their verdure.
they took him back to the days when as
boy he roamed the woods in search of
ground pine for holiday decorations and
The cedar or evergreen tree on which his
mother would hang their Christmas pres
ents. He felt little of the old thrill of
delightful expectation when these things
came back to his mind, but his reverse
mood was the stronger and he persisted
In keeping to his decision.
He was firm until the night before
Christmas. Then his wife and children
broke bondage and discussed openly tha
coming holiday. In an unguarded mo-
nent his son inquired If Il set of books
they had purchased had been delivered.
Without being told, his father knew
hose books were designed for him. They
we're something he had secretly longed
Tor, but had denied himself, because tbe
needs, real or imaginary, of his family
we're his paramount consideration Ard |
now they were to be his in spite of bis |
declaration there was nothing he wanted
He began to wish that he had Soma
hing with which to give his family
happy surprise. They will give me
-hings, and they will give things TO ono
mother and there will be nothing from
me-" he thought.
Sitting alone with his paper, he heard
rustlings as of packages ha-
ng handled, and the low murmnr of
oiees from his wife and daughter, inter
upted with little bursts of gay laughter
hat showed something joyous was coins
n. lie had nothing for anyone. and 70.
morrow when they gave him tokens of
heir thought and attention, he should
eel like an exile from home. A sudden
esolye took him in possession.
Alice" he called to his wife apr,
ding out for awhile. Is there anything
an do for your"
Nothing, thank you" she returned
unless you want to bring home some
andy Tor tomorrow. Oh, | forgot She
aid in the next breath, you wont want
trouble about it. Never mind VOL,
manage some way"
1t is astonishing how ouickIv 49,,
ind can be changed. John Raynor,s ms
arwent a lightning TRANSFORMATIONS ~.
oarueu car and rode to the shopping
's'rlct with his mind filed with notbin9
Ut christmas presents. He felt lika .
" turned loose with money to spend and ;
one 10 restrict his fancy. He nnsbad
az Jos'ied and wrestled with tbe crowd
Nhliarated by the contact with no S~r'
,nt on holiday shopping. His MAST r,ans
ipped away like a cast-off sarmsnt 'y Ua
IA caught the Christmas spirit and 49,,
'vuisiorl OF feeling amounted almos. us
toxication. ALMOST TO
: Aner.' you are, sonny" he told a news
W pes owing a dime in exchange for
aper he did not want. A''
ne helped to keep the kettles bo,,,.
Z tne salvation Army Christmas dias
ID ne thought he had never basra ..nner'
'O S tnan the jangling of the belis
!, oaivation soldiers kept in motion 70
II attention to their needs '''0n TO
DE carried his merry mood homo n,,.h
Ia ana the moment he entered ths 49, 49,
s. FAMILY felt the difference. W 10o'
ne could not keep his secret ,r.;,
q ..r1 tuoush ne told ii only to his wife
a 81 are some little things for Won
- !" -.ne children, Alice" he said w 5ou
- were alone, dropping the pactara.
=. s'essy on the table, She lookad 30
~ eyes ailght, and with an ernrasu,s
wen Ina tod him ne had done well. bur 's sha
rug woman of wisdom. mads sne'
W, W., 20 remind him of past events 'A
,r mnen 'ohn Raynor fell asleep tha.
,.i'.mas eve, through his mind w.s ' ,;a
- Ano juggling the merry old rafro is