Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-12-29


trunks ard their pockets for treasures
that might 90 to fill comrades stock
ing. POcketknives, handkerchiefS, a
watch chain, a key ring, neck handker-
chiefs, pair Of spurs, tobacco, CT
CARS, a patent pencil, matchbOXes-all
changed hands deftly from pockets to
one or another Of the yawning stock
ings. When the little store Of articles
gave out they had recourse to the
magazine and lavished 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 to graft 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 large
dish Of candy, which Ducie placed in
the middle of the table.
Bring in the coffee, Sam, when l
hOller," said Ducie tremendously
Then he turned to the grinning cow
punchers surrounding the fire. Lets
see what Sanity Claus has got for u.s.
eh, boys|
"You first. Ducier' they insisted, and
IL Io1; oh tod l,o
brought forth from the stocking q 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 givers and thanked them warmly.
81 have feeling that this here is to be
a kind Of 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 Mr.. Ducie in the
stimulating black liquid with much
flattery.
When the meal was concluded Ray
mond StOrrS sang a song III his tine
tenor voice. 1t was a Christmas carol,
one that they all knew, and they Joined
in the chorus with q vim. Frankie de-
livered an Amusing mOnolOgue, and the
taciturn Miller gave an absurdly funny
imitation Of fashionable lady buying
q hat There were other songs and
Rotations and the quatfing of weird
ly constructed bowl of punch that Sam
Huh had laboriously put together from
several cOOkbooks and unlimited adj
vice from the different members 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.
'It's all right! It's been a bully one!
Couldn't be better! Up to us to thank
Ducier' were some Of the comments
on the occasion.
There was the sound Of hoofs pound
ing in the snow outside and 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 MI.
West came over from the big house to
open the mail bag. 1t had stopped
showing, and the stars were blazing in
a cold, clear, dark sky.
Letter for you, and you, and you"
ratified MI West as he tossed letters
here and there among his employees.
They grasped them eagerly and then
tucked them away for private perusal.
1t happened that each one received at
least one letter, and Raymond Storrs
received several with a San Francisco
postmark, IS we'll as 4 wooden case
that was dumped on the floor ere the
letter carrier drove away.
Storrs ripped off the cover while they
hung DreaIQIeSSly over lllLI. ALOIu Alu-
merous careful wraDDin@s he drew
forth a large photograph with morn
ing glory horn and a collection of wax
music rolls Deity StOrrs fitted the
parts together and placed the machine
on the table and wound it up There
was q cylinder in the machine, as if
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 a low, buZZing sound, and
then there came forth from that in
strument Of wood and metal u sweet
soprano voice singing with q delicate
violin accompaniment:
"Oh, holy night, peaceful night"
AS the hymn rang out every hat was
whipped off and the little group stood
bareheaded in the open doorway look
Inc out at the same brilliant stars that
had shone down over Bethlehem that
long ago holy night when the first
Christmas was sung over one who
bro,1rbt nnaco 0Od GOOD will into the