The Parma herald. (Parma, Idaho) 1903-1917, 1908-12-26
/ The Christmas STOCKING !;
S |e;l' ss 3 ,s

Mr. and Mrs. Reminiscent sat com
fortably back in soft leather chairs
watching the crackle and flame of {
real log In the CRATE.
what an odd custom It is. isn't il
John-that OF hanging up ones stock
Ing on Christmas eve?" said Mrs. r
Yes, 1t is queer. wonder who
first thought of IT."
II haven't the falntest idea. In fact
l never even wondered about 1t be.
fore"
THAT part of 1t doesn't matter. af-
ter ALL observed Mr.. Reminiscent.
ut isn't necessary to know the origin
OF everything In this world But that
stocking Idea was a good one. DO
you know, of all the memories Of my
life, | believe that of hanging I'D my
stocking on Christmas eve and look
ing into 1t in the morning was really
the happiest ~
Il hadn't thought of 1t In years."
but now that you mention It, believe
! agree with you" and as she stopped
speaking, Mr.. Reminiscent looked a
little more thoughtfully into the fire.
isn't 1t odd, too, the way one re-
members those things?" said John.
"Why, know just the way that stock
Ing felt, when l was little toddler.
and used to hang mine up. The first
mes remember were red"
milne were black, always, think"
"Yes, dear. was older than you.
Black ones became the fashion soon
after | put on long trousers. But the
first stockings l hung up were red"
Mrs. Reminiscent smiled. "And did
you wear copper-toed shoes, JohnT
yes" he admitted, slowly. 81 think
did,"
How perfectly delicious I wish
could have seen your
IL don't blame you for laughing. l
think 1t must have been funny. But
had good times in those old days 7"
Mr.. Reminiscent leaned a little more
comfortably back, and was silent-ab-
sorbed In the tender thoughts of those
red stocking days away back forty
years ago.
John, dear" said his wife, who had
Kept quiet as long as possible.
"Yes?"
Were there ever any holes In those
red stockings?"
DO you know" he laughed, 81 was
just thinking Of that. l guess as long
as boys have toes. there will be holes |
In stockings. was just thinking of
one Christmas when had hung IN n
pair of stockings with hole in the toe
can see that jumping jacks leg that
was sticking out OF that hole, in the
morning, just as plainly as If | were
looking at it now Isn't It queer thar
We don't forget those little things. when
so many bigger things since then have
gone completely from our memoriespp
IN wager you can't tell what
rave you for Christmas last year ="
aughed his wife. apropos OF testing
he idea. Mr.. Reminiscent thought
moment and then shook his head ~
haven't the faintest ideaw
"A solid silver toilet set"
"And use the things every dov,
Veil, it's funny. isn't It? And vet
an remember everything that was in
he stocking with that jumping lack
here was a brass stem-winder watch
or one thing"
Mr.. Reminiscent was silent again
lie was looking so serious that after
iatchlng him curiously for a while
is wife laughingly asked what was
he matter.
Il was thinking Of that watch" he a
well. what became Of itY Q
1T was a rare toy. I'm those DAYS o
nd until that moment OF my life had {
ever possessed anything so perfectly Z
II made more noise than n
ock. TO wind 1t up. and then II wou,a "
D IKE lightning. for a few seconds p
have never known time to iy as fast c
II did on that watch" and he laugh. r
as he thought OF tile way the llttle v
Ass hands dew around the dial.
What finally became OF It. dear, o
Id you wear Il with your red STOCK. s
IS and copper toesy' 81
He shook his head negatively. d
Il think the ending OF that watch n
as the greatest blow Of my life. You Il
low Stanislaus Blankg' n