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

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that night. he found himself standing
| before his own gate.
He carted the tree around to the
back door, and with Mrs. Philander's
help it was taken into the house and
set up in the parlor.
Mr.. Philander thawed himself out in
front of the kitchen stove and quaffed
fragrant coffee that his grateful wife
had prepared.
ut is a beauty, James," she said
gleefully; the finest we ever had.
How delighted the children will be.
am sorry. though. you are so tired.
dear"
"Oh. I'm oil right now, Bella" said
Philander cheerfully. II was worried
after l found that had forgotten the
tree, but closed out that deal with
Wells today. and was busy every mo-
ment."
How lovely that you got the con-
tract, James" cried his wife excitedly.
"That is fine Christmas present for
your
.You bet your life it is" returned
Fhilander loosely. Nov let us get
the tree ready for the kiddies. Every
thing handy?"
There isn't thing for you to do.
dear. save to hang them on the tree"
said his wife. leading the way to the
i irh
its symmetrical branches glistening in
the light and exuding fresh balsamic
odor.
by Jove. it is the handsomest tree
we ever had" exclaimed Mr.. Phian-
der. surveying the shapely confer ad
miringy
They were soon at work. and pres
entity the beautiful tree blossomed
forth in glistening festoons of gold and
silver tinsel A radiant star tipped
.he highest point. while dainti!y dec
Grated gifts burdened the branches and
We're heaped at the base.
1t was with unusual satisfaction thai;
the Philanders retired that night. They
We're 10th to leave the resplendent tree.
but utter WEAKNESS drove them to bed
1t was daylight when the first de-
lighted Shrek from small Philander
awoke his tired parents. Mr. Philan
der groaned disma|ly He ached from
head to foot. and he was sick from
lack OF sleep. Mrs. Philander was
equally tired: but. with the self alb
negation of mothers in general and
mothers in particular on Christmas
morning. she got up and went down.
stairs to enter into the joys of the hap
py children.
When Mr.. Philander came down
stairs to breakfast the children gath
cred about him eagerly.
Father" asked Jack. the eldest. "is
this the very tree we saw last Sunday
when we walked along Turkey hill
road? Is this the very tree?''
"Who told you that, JACKIE" asked
Mr.. Philander sharply.
ooh. mother did. told her had
1t was that very tree"
II fought Sanity Claws bringed itv'
walled Bessie, dragging her new doll
remorselessly by it's tlaxen hair.
AN linked it came that way, toov
protested Robin Indignantly.
Its Santa Claus tree. babies. sc
don't feel bad about it. Run away
and play" said Mr.. Philander reassur
ingly. Then he turned to Jack, Yes
it's the very same tree. my boy" be
said proudly.
"It doesn't look like it. father" sale
Jack bluntly.
Doesn't. eh? What's the matter
with it?'
"Oh, nothing. It's fine, but it ISM
the tree we saw" insisted the boy OBJ
stinately.
Never mind. never mind" returned
Mr.. Philander good naturally.
He sought his wife, who was helpin:
Norah with the breakfast. "Our tret
was great success, my DEAR" he sait
genially.
ut is beautiful" replied Mrs. Philan
der happily. THE children are so de
lighted"
well, I'm glad of that. was tell
Ing Taylor yesterday morning goin.
down on the train that Christmas wa
not Christmas without tree. and b,
said that it wouldn't be Christmas a
their house. then. for they were no
going to have one"
How stranger uttered Mrs Philan
der. why not. pray?"
"Oh. don't know. He said some
thing about hard times. He said tn,
good. old fashioned Christmas suitet
them we'll enough; that they would
hang their stockings before the fir,
and all that, you know"
Dear. dear! think the children
prefer tree just the same" said Mrs
Philander regretfully. Poor little Tom