The Bridgeport evening farmer., 1910-12-12

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 large dish of candy, which Ducie placed in the middle of the table.
 Bring in the coffee. Sam, when I holler," said Ducie ceremonIously. Then he turned to the grinning cow punchers surrounding the fire. Lets see what Santy Claus has got for us, eh. boys?"
 "You first, Duciev' they insisted, and they watched him deligbtodly as he brought forth from tho stocking a pa- per oS his favorite tobacco, whic h Storrs also carried, and silver watch chain.
 "That was great idea of mine" chuckled Ducie after he had identified the givers and thanked them warmly. "I have 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 givers and more interchange of good feeling than the Double Star had known in some time.
 Presently Sam Huh brought in pot of steaming coffee, and they gathered about the board and ate of the refresh ments and toasted MT. Ducie in the stimulating black liquid with much fattery.
 When the meal was concluded Ray mond Storrs sang a song in his fine tenor voice. It was Christmas caro! one that they all knew, and they joined in the chorus with vim. Frankie de livered an arv.sing monologue. and the taciturn Miller gave an absurdly funny imitation of O fashionable lady buying a hat. There were other songs and recitations and the quafIing of a weird ly constructed bowl of punch that Sam Huh had laboriously put together from several cookbooks and unlimited ad- vice from the different membcis of the party.
 "What's the matter with this Christ. mas?" demanded Frankie eXcitedly as II o'clock was struck on the tall clock
 
 in the corner.
 "Its all right! It's been bully one! Couldn't be better! Up to us to thank DucieI, were some of the comments on the occasion.
 There was the sound of .hoofs pound ing in the snow outside end a loud shout. Every man was on his feet with interested faces.
 "The mail at last!" cried Miller ex- citedly. ''Now we'll see what's what!'
 They crowded about the door as MT. West came over from the big house to open the mail bag. It had stopped showing. and the stars were blazing ID a cold, clear, dark sky.
 'Letter for you, and you. and you, rattled Mir. West as he tossed letters here and there among his employees. They grasped them eagerly and then tucked them away for private perusal It happened that each one received at least one letter, and Raymond Storrs received several with San Francisco .postmark, as we'll as a wooden case that was dumped on the floor ere the letter carrier drove away.
 Storrs,ripped off the cover while they hung breathlessly over him. From nu- merous careful wrappings he drew forth a large photograph with morn ing glory horn and collection Of wax music rolls. Deftly Storrs fitted the parts together and placed the machine on the table and wound it up. There was a cylinder in the machine, as ii his sweetheart, who had sent it, had left it there that he might hear the continuation of a melody she had been singing.
 There was low, buzzing sound, and then there came forth from that in strument of wood and metal sweet soprano voice singing with a delicate violin accompaniment: "Oh, holy night. peaceful night" AS the hymn rang out every hat was whipped of and the little group stood bareheaded in the open doorway look | ing out at the same brilliant stars that had shone down over Bethlehem that long ago holy night when the first 1 Christmas was sung over one who
 brought peace and good will into tht world.
 Afterward. as they followed MT | West across the yard toward the big | house where he said a feast awaited | them, Frankie nudged Ducie Case witt | a razor-like elbow.
 "I learned one thing tonight" admit ted Frankie graciously, "and that was l you can have Christmas cheer mos anywhere. provided you've got the in 1 gradients in your heart-eh?' Ducie nodded. Everybody has go l the ingredients to make a happy 1 Christmas in their hearts, only they don't stir 'em together to make 'en work properly. Haven't they, Nor | man" He shot this question at tn, tall young man walking beside hin with radiant face upturned to tht | stars.
 Storrs pressed the phonograph tha had registered the singing voice of hi. sweetheart close under his arm ant smiled contentedly.
 l "You betr' he cried emphatically.