The Denison review. [volume] (Denison, Iowa) 1867-current, 1909-12-29

JACK.
my Taylor. We must invite him over
to see the children's tree this after
noon
"Yes. indeed. that will be an excel
lent plan. Suppose we invite few
people to spend the evening and enjoy
the tree with u.s. We can put on some
small remembrances and have a Jolly
time." said Philander. warming I'D to
the subject as he proceeded.
THAT will be delightful" agreed
Mrs. Philander. LET us ask the Tay
lors."
Sure. Wen ask them" chuckled
Fhilander. I'll show Taylor the way
to keep Christmas"
That afternoon Mrs. Philander busted
herself in preparing for the evenings
entertainment. The Taylors had ac-
cepted gladly. and so had the other in
vited guests. and Mr.. Philander, who
was the soul of hospitality walked
about and rubbed his hands with pleas.
ant anticipation.
He made sundry trips to the cellar
for apples and cider and cracked great
bowls of nuts. He carried in huge
arm loads Of wood for the fireplace and
surveyed the roaring blaze with com
placent satisfaction.
1t was at that moment that Jack
Philander burst noisily in. "Oh, ia
ther. what do you think"- he began
breathlessly.
well. mJ boy. what is it now?" ask
ed Mr.. Philander indulgently as he
warmed his coattails comfortably.
II heard Mr.. Taylor telling some men
that somebody chopped down the tree
from his front lawn last nightv'
"What tree?" asked Mr.. Philande,
absently.
"Why. that tree-you know. the Nor
way pine that stood on their from.
lawnw
"What pity" exclaimed Mrs. Phi
lander. "Mrs. Taylor told me 1t was
the pride Of her husbands heart"
How did 1t happen. JACKIE" asked
Philander, with interest.
Mr.. Taylor said his wife heard some
one chopping about half past II last
night. but she didn't think anything OF
it, and this morning they found the
tree was gone-only the stump left"
That's very strange" observed Mr.
Philander. Hard luck for Taylor"
"And, father" continued Jack ear
nestly. II was in the woods on Turkey
hill road today and that little tree W,
saw last Sunday is there yet. 70,
didn't cut it down. knew that on,
wasn't it,"
Mr.. Philander paled Slightly.
"Why. father pursued the terribl,
Jack with directness born of sudde1
revelation. this is Mr. Taylor's tree
knew I'd seen it beforev'
Mr.. Philander shrank from their hor
rified gaze.
The Taylors will be here in few
minutes. James, said Mrs. Philande
coldly.
my dear. must have got turned
around in the storm. but the Lore
only knows how got in Taylor.
yard
Its on the other side Of the woods
father" said Jack sympathetically
land guess you walked right through
and into Mr. Taylors yard"
81 must have done that" groanet
Mr.. Philander. Then with sudden in
spiration he stripped the tree Of it
ornaments and candles and carried i
through the house into the back yard
He scratched a match. and in five min
utes the Philander Christmas tree wa
a charred ruin.
"'Too bad. old chap" said Taylo
commiseratively as Philander agi
tatedly explained the absence of TIN
tree. That's one reason why | don
believe in Christmas trees. They ar
apt to take fire, and there you are
am glad it happened before we ar
rived!'
$50 am l." calculated Mr.. Philandel
But all the little Philanders agre
that 1T was the most beautiful Christ
mas tree they ever had.