Montgomery County sentinel. [volume] (Rockville, Md.) 1855-1974, 1911-02-10
They got busy and searched their

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
froms 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 tremendously.
Then he turned to the grlnning cow
punchers surrounding the fire. Let's
see what Sanity Claus has got for us,
Ell, boys"
"You first DucleI' they insisted, and
they watched him dellghtedly as he
brought forth from the stocking q pa
per Of his favorite tobacco, which
Storrs also carried, and silver watch
chain.
"That was a great idea Of mine,"
chuckled Ducie after he had Identified
the givers and thanked them warmly.
~ have feeling that this here Is to be
a kind OF a merry Christmas, even II
the mail don't get In"
After that there was no end to the
fun Each man found several surpris-
Ia. III la, Oh aud thapa
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 a pot
of steaming coffee, and they gathered
about the board and ate of the refresh
ments aud toasted Mr.. Ducie in the
stimulating black liquid with much
dattery,
When the meal was concluded Ray
mond Storrs sang a song In his line
tenor voice. 1t was Christmas carol,
one that they all knew, and they Joined
in the chorus with a vim. Frankie de-
livered an amusing monologue, and tho
tacltun Miller gave an absurdly funny
imitation Of a fashionable lady buying
a hat There were other songs and
recitatiOns and the qua1fing Of a weird
ly constructed bowl OF punch that Sam
Huh had laborlously put together from
several cookbooks and unlimited ad-
vice from the different members or the
party.
whats the matter with this Christ
mas1" demanded frankie excitedly as
IL o'clock was struck on the tall clock
In the corner.
1T, wight! It's been bully one!
COuNs 81 betterl Up 10 us TO thank
Ducie!tJw some Of the comments
on the occasion.
There was the sound Of hoofs pound
ing In the snow outside and a loud
shout Every man was on his feet
with interested faces.
1.-THE mail at last" cried Miller ex-
citedly. "Now Wen see what's what!'
They crowded about the door Ms Mr.
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"
rs.t,ad NJ wost os nc tossed letters
marc ard tbere among his employees
Thav 1rasnod tbcm eagerly and then
tnaSoA ,haro awav for nrIv9te perusal
~ hor,srod thot ooch one received nj |
ioos, ~ Latter and Ravmond storrs |
racotvod sovoroi with a San Franclsco |
nos,,norv as weII os n wooden case |
~ no dumned ON the aoor ere the |
,a,.a. na .u.or drovo away
S.n.na s,nnoS IN tbe cover while they
-. ,...,.'t,',..,,,, ,,,ar him From mn.
s 1871 urannino. no drew
Sa..,, j ~ ' ,'hoooaranh With morn.
- p" nd . onIIec,,on NJ wox
s s'' ~ nv naetv s,orrs ottad the
80. III Ill and ,laood tho MACHINE
- - So" and wonnd n nm There