Milford chronicle., 1910-12-09

ing. Pocketknives, handkerchiefs. a
watch chain, a key ring neck handker
I chiefs, pair of spurs, tobacco, ci-
I gars. patent pencil, matchbOXes-all
changed hands deftly from pockets to
one or another Of the yawuing stock
ings When the little store of articles
gave out they had recourse 10 the
magazine and layished all sorts Of
autographed gifts upon each other.
They all entered into the spirit of
the thing with an abandonment that
was pathetic when one considered the
barrenness of the ground upon which
they tried 20 graft a Christmas. What
ever else the occasion lacked. the
Yuletide spirit was there.
When Ducie Case emerged from the
kitchen with the thoroughly cowed
Sam Huh in his train they were laden
with plates of red apples and yellow
oranges, plates Of crisp cakes fresh
/ from their paper boxes and a large
! dish of candy. which Ducie placed in
| the middle of the table
Bring in the coffee. Sam, when
! holler." said Ducie tremendously.
Then he turned to the grinning cow
punchers surrounding the fire Let's /
see what Sanity Claus has got for us, |
eh, boys?'
"You first, Ducier' they insisted, and .
they watched him delightedly as he
brought forth from the stocking a pa
per Of his favorite tobacco. which
Storrs also carried, and a silver watch
chain.
"That was a great idea Of mine"
chuckled Ducie after he had identified
the giyers and thanked them warmly.
Il have a feeling that this here is to be
a kind of a merry Christmas. even if
the mail don't get in"
After that there was no end TO the
fun Each man found several surpris
ing gifts in his stockings and there
was much merriment in identifying the
giYers and more interchange Of good
feeling than the Double Star had known
in some time.
Presently sam Huh brought in a pot
Of steaming coffee, and they gathered ,
about the board and ate of the refresh !
ments and toasted Mr. Ducie in the :
stimulating black liquid with much
dattery
When the meal was concluded Ray
nond Storrs sang song in his fine
enor voice. It was Christmas carol. E
me that they all knew. ana they Joined
II the chorus with a vim. frankie de-
ivered an amusing mouologue, and the G,
aciturn Miller gave an absurdly funny nj
of a fashionable lady buying W
hat There were other songs and Sc
ecitations and the quatling of q weird 81
Y constructed bowl of punch that sam to
Iuh had laboriously put together from b,
eyeral cookbooks and unlimited adj ",
ice from the different members of the iu
arty. IN
Whats the matter with this Christ w
las 2" demanded frankie excitedly as la
l o'clock was struck on the tail clock sh
} the corner. tn
Its all right! It's been a bully one! fo
ouldn't be better! Up to us to thank FOL
ucie," were some of the comments
O the occasion ch
There was the sound of hoofs pound W:
.g in the snow outside and a loud wi
lout Every man was on his feet ne
ith interested faces. at
"The mail at last." cried Miller eE- rol
tedly. Now Wen see what's what" TIL
They crowded about the door rs Mr. TO
est came over from the big house TO hel
zen the mail bag. 1t had stopped wa
lowing. and the stars were blazing ia hat
cold, clear, dark sky. "
Letter for you. and you, and YOU am
tiled Mr.. West as he tossed letters q
re and there among his employees the
Iey grasped them eagerly and then i
rked them away for private perusal Th
happened that each one received at her
st one letter and Raymond Storrs Eg!
,eived several with San Francisco yea
stmark, as well as wooden case G
1t was dumped on the floor ere the rog
ter carrier drove away. my'
'torrs ripped off the cover while they & 81
ne breathlcsSly over him. From nu- all
rous careful wrappings he drew pre-
tn n large phonograph with a morn 1o
glory horn and a collection Of wax nav
sic rolls DeftIv Sto,rs 6,rad no tury
is together and placed tie machine
the table and wound il up. There ..
$ cylinder in the machine. as If -
sweetheart who had sent it, had sun
It there that he might hear the Gu
tinuatiOu of melody she had been ""l
ging Lon Loi.
here was a low. buzzing sound, and sto,'
n there came forth from that in 80 :,
lment of wood and metal a sweet ,i,t.
rano voice singing with delicate so,.,,
in accompaniment: 49,,
)h. holy night peaceful night" 80
5 the hymn rang out every hat was 70,
pped off and the little group stood H.
eheaded in the open doorway look e.
out at the same brilliant stars that sron
shone down over Bethlehem that
: ago holy night when the first
istmas was sung over one who
lght peace and good will into the l u
Id sun
'terward, as they followed Mr.. us
It across the yard toward the big sun