The daily Gate City. [volume] (Keokuk, Iowa) 1855-1916, 1912-12-30

irest Of the Paxtons, augmented by all
lsix OF our family. availed nothing.
Zoe insisted: GO home!D
But little Red Zoe Is only two and
q half, and easily diverted. So |
searched IN the Christmas pie and 1
found a drum knew 1t contained in
package bearing his name. And it
| took him ten minutes to unwrap It.
The sticks took ten minutes more, so
the drum saved our dinner party.
When everybody Was through with
! the first course, most of the little Pax
tons left the table. and edged toward
the Christmas pie in the living room.
/ But there is Ice cream, said Aunt
sLettie.
The little Paxtons almost cried.
There was Ice cream, and they were
Etoo full to eat It.
Then Mary and Uncle Hiram saved
their little hearts from breaking and
their little stomachs from bursting by
taking them out of doors for romp-
Mary jumped rope with the four little.
igirls, and Uncle Hiram drove horses,
little Red Joe and Harryup and
down the yard till the rest of us had
lcleaTed the table and washed the
1 silver and cleaned few of the worst
j spots OF the table cloth
Il And Uncle Hiram narrowly averted
la real tragedy, for Harry, with his
new gingham shirt waist Ca size or
two too large) and his little grey
I trousers Ca size or two too smalll
| suddenly parted company in the
/ middle
II Uncle Hiram carried him upstairs
and carefully deposited him across his
i knees. Aunt Lettie got lot OF
| safety pins. Uncle Hiram fastened
i a dozen OF them, Indian file. around
! Harry's waist band, and the day was
: saved.
s While the children PLAYED out Of
r doors. Aunt J.ettie decided that we'd
) better have our Christmas pie first
: and leave the desert till four or FIVE
d o'clock.
A wonderful Christmas pie it was!
i. Wonderful to those eager, gratefu
K children, and wonderful to us be
0 cause of the Joy they got out Of It.
eli 1t happened that the first three o.
e four gifts drawn out Of the Pile, as WI
d took our turns going around the cir
Gle of the room were for members o
Il our own family. / unwrapped thu
E, srst-
e "Oh, may have the red string?'
It begged Susie
8, Give me the tissue paper, please.
d pleaded Pearl.
al And when they began to get pack
aSes OF their own, there were sucl
n smiles and bsaming eyes that we wer
j. touched deeply.
il Harry drew a tin horn.
q "oh, look. Martha. Look Susie.
If Each one had to see each gift receive
,e by each person.
le And that process kept things lively
" for each one had several package:
!. Helen tof our family had bought
,e tooth brush, q wash-rag and two hand
sc kerchiefs fo- each little Paxton An
tx there was musical toy for each an
d, come other toy for each, and for eac
at some practical gift snck as stockings
n a purse for Martha, some money; an
rs there was plenty of candy.
OF When The packages from the pi
we're all unwrapped, each OF the littl
a Eaxtols he'd a piece of tissue pape
IN and red string and red ribbon, car
n fully folded and preserved; and eac
TO had TO have a big empty box fro
ed our attic, in order TO ret everythir
ie- safely home.
y, TheE we had the second course
ca CIR dinne--ice cream and cake ar
as fruit and nuts and more candy, ar
nc the little German Christmas caks
with pink and white icing.
Ill, Nellie saved her little cake
in white bear with a pink nose and tv
vs. pink feet, saying she was going
nd take it home to ner papa. Then eat
8, CT them wanted to take him som
tie thing. and each had TO carry {
les orange or cake or a banana from tt
ne table to HIS own treasure box The
so we're carefully tied, the children
wraps were pat on again, and at Fl
Toe o'clock they started hcme.
zee Merry Christmas Nellie sal
led as heartily az any departing que
.ay ever said. She had had lovely tin
srs And they all cried Merry Christina
rry 10 each Of VI, ali around.
,ed Then affectionate little Susie put
lily, her pretty mouth 70 be kissed gcodb
me by Aunt Lettie, whereupon each
be tie. little Paxtors had TO be kiss
rye goodbye b. each Of our family.
ily.. And after they had gone. Aunt i
and tie and ! tearfilly kissed each 9th
az we said:
This war Christmas dinner II
the Twas truly worth while. s. NJ. q