The Montana plaindealer. [volume] (Helena, Mont.) 1906-1911, 1907-12-20
TX THEN John Raynor began to see
w the the hold j .a advertisements ri f.a1 t5 in

AAE ~ 11A ~ 49, N
Christmas furry in the air, he
announced to his family with an air Of
6nality, tinged with defiance, you needn't
expect anything il the way Of Christmas
presents from me this year"
"Why, John % his wife 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 %
It."
'The children ~ John returned with
fine scorn, 'they're grown now and it's
time for them to get over such nonsense.
l positively refuse to have anything to
do with Christmas"
John Raynor persisted in making him
self miserable and in bringing to bear
ell the arguments he could think oil
against the prevailing manner OF oDserv-
ing Christmas. Figuratively speaking. he
pounded the table n grew purple IN the
face in his endeavors to hammer in his
remonstrances against holiday customs.
In spite of himself he could not help
enjoying the sights and sounds, heralding
the approach of the holiday season. The
gala dress of the shop windows appealed
to his color-loving eye, and when the
Christmas green's began to soften the
grim, winter streets with their ~verdure,
they took him back to the days when as a
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 a 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 the
coming holiday. In an unguarded mo-
ment his son inquired if a set Of books
they had purchased had been delivered
Without being told, his father knew
those books were designed for him. They
were something he had secretly longod
for. but had denied himself, because the
needs. real or imaginary, of his family
were his paramount consideration. An
now they we're to be his in spite of his
declaration there was nothing he wanted
He began to wish that ne had some
thing with which to give his family
happy surprise. They will give ms
things. and they will give things to on,
another and there will be nothing iron
me-" he thought.
Sitting alone with his paper, he hear,
surreptitious rustlings as of packages be
ing handled, and the low murmur o
voices from his vile and daughter, inter
runted with lfttle bursts Of gay laughte
that showed something joyous was goin.
on. lie had nothing for anyone, and to
morrow when they gave him tokens o
their thought and attention, he shoul
feel like an exile from home. 4 sudde'
resolve took him in possession.
alice" he. called to his wife, I'm
going out for awhile. Is there anything
can do for your
Nothing. thank YOU" she returned
unless you want to bring home som
candy for tomorrow. Oh, | forgot" sd
said in the next breath. you won't wan
TO trouble about it. Never mind, We
manage some way"
1t is astonishing how quickly one
mind can be changed. John Raynor's ~
derwent a lightning Transformation. II
boarded a car and rode to the shOppin
district with his mind filed with nothiu
hut Christmas presents. lie felt like
how turned loose With money to spend an
none to restrict his fancy. lie pushe
and iostled and wrestled with the crow.
exhilarated by the contact with peop
bent on holiday shopping. His past moo
slipped away like a cast-of garment. /
had caught the Christmas spirit and b
revulsion Of feeling amounted almost
I~ntoxication.
There you are, sonny" he told a new
boy, bestowing a dime in exchange for
pape he did not want.
He helped to keep the kettles boilin.
for the Salvation Army Christmas Dime
and he thought he had never heard a ga
er sound than the j~angling Of the bel
the Salvation soldiers kept in motion
call attention to their needs.