Oxford Democrat. [volume] (Paris, Me.) 1833-1933, 1910-12-20

"oH, PAPA, YOURS IS DE BiGGRsT!'
20 when he came into the great farm
kitchen that night. after the children
had gone to bed. he "ha-ha-hahed"
loudly, while he busied himself filing
up the little stockings.
Next morning the children, fumbling
eIcitedly In their stockings, found only
sticks, stones and corncobs and went
back to bed in chagrin.
Never mind" said Mary, trying to
comfort the others. Santa Claus must
have made mistake, for not one OF
you is bad. Wait until next year aud
perhaps lie will understand by that
time"
OF course she found out oil and went
about with smiling face for two
months before the next Christmas.
She determined that the smaller chill
dren should have Christmas II She
had to make II for them herself She
took no one into her confidence but
her brother Dick. She needed him To
cut the tree, after father and mother
had gone to bed, and help her to set ii
up and trim II.
How noiselessly they worked that
still Christmas eve. And when the
tree was all loaded down with festoons
Of popcorn, red apples, gllded nuts,
paper angels and gingerbread horses.
wonderfully and fearfully made.
IA 81 L., At,xNt t,.,, xt.h h0I
she and Dick went to bed, but he was
too happy to sleep. 1t was not later
than s o'clock Christmas morning when
Mary awakened the younger children
and they all stole softly downstairs.
Dick lighted the lamp, and then such
shouts Of delight filled the big kitchen
that Reuben Snoozer sprang up In bed,
listening intently.
Blame them yOungens" he e1claim.
ed. wonder what they're up to
Meow"
Poor little dearsw sighed their moth
er. might think they'd found gold
mine the way they holler. Just walt
until get down there. Don't be hard
on 'em, Reuben. Remember you were
a child once
"Nevcr had no such foolishness when
| was boy, you may depend on IT,"
and In his haste Reuben Snoozer ran
dow nstars in his bare feet.
He could hardly believe bis senses
when he opened the door that led into
the kite hen, for there was fire In the
great cook stove, decorated Christ
mas tree in one corner and his children
were sitting around on the floor, theF
laps filed with oranges. apples, cake
and candy which they had just emp
tied out OF their stockings, and wheH
little Reuben, his namesake, with great
shining eyes, sprang to him, exclaim-
Ing. Papa. dere's sumpin In you's and
mammals 'tOckin's. too; Santa Claus
didn forget yours neiser," he never
felt so cheap In his life.
With grimace he took down his
great woolen sock from nail and
thrust In his hand, to draw out one OF
Mary's famous gingerbread horses.
"Oh. papa, yours Is de biggest"
shouted little Reuben. "Old Sanity
knowed you like big horses"
Then the farmer took out his hand.
kerchief and snorted into 1t with sus-
picious vehemence.
Later he said to his wife: You could
have knocked me down with feather.
| was never So touched as when them
ar children wanted ME myself to have
Christmas when ! had allus kicked
70 hard against them havin' one. Let's
have turkey dinner, with mince pie
and plum pudding"
The little Snoozers were never so
happy in their lives before, and.
though they have had many delight
ful Christmas since, they declare they
never enjoyed one so much a. the hrst.