Iowa County democrat. [volume] (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1877-1938, 1910-12-29
Mrs. Lasbury stared For the land!

What do you mean?" she demanded.
Alzina pointed toward the window
where the feathery plume Of the cedar |
branches tapped the pane. That's |
my Christmas tree she smiled brave
ly. "When the birds come tomorrow
they'll find bits of suet and other
goodies, and little Chip. the squirrel
that lives in the hollow oak. will find
a handful of nuts. Then there's the
red mittens for Jimmie and a jar of
mincemeat for old Mrs Peterkin. Why.
Wen have quite a merry Christmas
here, after all. | wish I'd thought
of it before" Alzinas cheeks grew
quite pink, and her gray eyes sparkled.
MY land, Alzfna, you're almost
pretty" she admitted graciously
''Tney was asking down to the sewing
circle why you never encouraged any
company. There's plenty of young
men would like to call on you, and
most of them would like to marry you.
1 thought young Fred Pierson was
quite smitten when he walked home
from meeting. Well. you needn't look
50 I1du, +AlIllld. NOSI gins NOuiu W
glad to have him looking at EN-"
Here is Mr. Beebe," remarked Al
zina, turning from the window with
hot, flushed cheeks Il hope you'll
have a lovely time, Cousin Eliza"
81 expect | shall" said the widow
complacently. She bundled herself in
a large cloak and tied a wooden shawl
over her head. 81 shall stop in the
postoffice and see if my present has
come from Elderville. Do you really
mean you're going to have q CHRIST
mas tree, AlZina, like you said!' AND
as Alzina nodded assent Mrs. Lasbury
tucked her double chin in the folds of
her shawl and added cOndeScendinSly
''Well, l wish you joy Of it,
When she was alone Alzina thought
about the Christmas tree she had so
bravely planned in Mrs. LaSbury
presence and she tried not to remem-
Der that she was all alone and that her
natural reserve had shut her away
from the few friends she might have
possessed. There was no one to re-
member her this lonely Christmas eve,
and so she must try and remember the
few people she knew She tied bright
dime in each thumb of the red nit
tens and, wrapping them in white It's
sue paper, placed them in the milk
pail outside the door. She CROPPED down
cellar for jar of mincemeat and made
it ready to take to old Mrs. Peterkin IN
the morning.
When she opened the pantry door to
find some bits of suet for the birds she
met a surprise. There on the broad
shelves the conscience stricken Mrs.
Iasbury had arranged two mince pies
and a golden one of pumpkin. There
was small roasted chicken and
dish of cranberry sauce, besides sew
eral vegetables ready to be warmed
up. The hot tears welled into Alzina's
eyes,
"That just shows that everybody is
better hearted than l think they are"
she murmured as she closed the door
on Cousin Elizas mute but substantial
offering. 'I'm ashamed of myself
when 1 think how much Pm missing
of all the goodness just by being so
narrow minded"
Before she went to bed AlZina read
the beautiful story of the first Christ
mas, and although she had read it be-
fore, it never held so much tender
meaning for her as it did this ami
versary of the blessed birthday.
She awoke cheerful and contented,
and, while there was no Christmas
greeting awaiting her from the silent
rooms of the house, she resolved that
when another year had rolled around
the Christmas season would find a
happy gathering under her own roof
the lame and the halt and the blind
Aye, she would find them in the high
ways and byways. There would never
be another lonely Christmas.
When she opened the sitting room
door she saw the tree. After her first
start of amaZement she stood silently
looking through the windows at the
beautiful sight. Somebody had shaken
the snow from her cedar and dressed
the branches with tinsel and strings Of
popcorn. Somebody had tied oranges
and candy canes and popcorn balls to
the stems, while there were several
mysterious looking packages depending
from the lower branches.
Alzina tiptoed out Of the door and
like one in dream approached the
tree. Her slender feet made deep
tracks in the snow, and the morning
sunshine turned her brown hair into
maze of gold. Almost reverently she
touched the branches that bore the
Christmas fruits, and then she united
one Of the packages and slowly opened
it, Inside was a dainty white apron
with a Christmas card, '"To Alzina
from Sarah Beebe." There was an
other present from Mr.. Beebe and one
from Esther and a real present from
Cousin Eliza Lasbury-a knitted af-
CHAN. Then there was big box of
candy from Fred Persons mother,
and, lastly, very tiny box hanging all
alone
When Alzina opened it she found
heautiful little turouOise ring and in