Camas Prairie chronicle. [volume] (Cottonwood, Idaho) 1901-1917, 1907-12-20
4 1HEN John Raynor began to see


NNI the holiday advertisements in
w the papers and to feel the
Christmas furry in the air, he
announced to his family with an air of
fnality, tinged with defiance, you needn't
expect anything in the way of Christmas
presents from me this year"
"Why, john" his wife exclaimed, 1--WE
are not going to do very much. just
few gifts in the family to mark the day,
and then the children think so much OF
It"
"The children p John returned with
fine 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
ell 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
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
he approach of the holiday season. The
nla dress of the shop windows appealed
% 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
boy he roamed the woods in search of
ground pine for holiday decorations and
Die 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 the
coming holiday. In an unguarded mo-
ment his son inquired if set of books
they had purchased had been delivered.
Without being told, his father knew
those books were designed for him. They
we're something he had secretly lOnged
for. hut had denied himself, because the
needs. real or imaginary, of his family
were his paramount consideration. And
now they were to be his in spite of his
He began to wish that he had some
thing with which to give his family
happy surprise. 'They will give me
things, and they will give things to one
another and there will be nothing from
me-" he thought.
Sitting alone with his paper, he heard
surreptitiOus rustlings as of packages be-
ing handled, and the low murmur OF
voices from his wife and daughter, inter
Fupted with little bursts of gay laughter
that showed something joyous was going
on. He had nothing for anyone, and to,
morrow when they gave him tokens OF
their thought and attention, he should
feel like an exile from home. sudden
resolve took him in possession.
Alice" he called to his wife, I'm
going out for awhile. Is there anything
can do for you"
Nothing, thank you" she returned
unless you want to bring home SOM
candy for tomorrow. Oh, forgot" sh
said in the next breath, you won't wan
to trouble about it. Never mind, wei
manage some way"
1t Is astonishing how quickly one
mind can be changed. John Raynor's un
derwent a lightning transformation. ID
boarded a car and rode to the shoppin
district with his mind filed with nothin
but Christmas presents. He felt like
OOy turned loose with money to spend an
none to restrict his fancy. He pushe
and jostled and wrestled with the crow,
e1nlarated by the contact with Peep
vent on holiday shopping. His past moo
n'pped away like a cast-off garment. /
aad caught the Christmas spirit and h
tevalslon of feeling amounted almost
htOIication.
There you are, Sonny" he told new
wy Destowing a dime in exchange for
PoPer he did not want.
ne helped to keep the kettles boiling
WI The Salvation Army Christmas dinn'
u ne thought he had never heard a ga
sound than the jangling of the be-
saT salvation soldiers kept in motion
sEtentiOR to their needs.