The Mena weekly star., 1916-12-21
MiIes of Christmns Trees.

Having some newspaper business to look after in a small town on the railroad six miles east of the county seat, and owing to indifferent train service that would require at least .2i hours to make the trip, l struck out afoot across the country. The road lay for most of the way along the ridges of the rugged hills, and afforded splendid views of the sur rounding country especially of the broad valleys of a clear mountain stream that wound it's way thru the mountains. Herds of cattle browsed lazily upon broad fields of alfalfa, and here and there big white farm houses nestled in the sleeping val leys.
 What attracted my attention and interested me more than these fine views of country life, however, was the dark green forest of cedar trees thru which my load wound it's way. There were millions and millions of the graceful trees, of all ages and sizes growing close by the roadside, and could hardly keep from stop ping to admire every one of them. They looked so c0Zy and home-like, with their feathery foliage starting almost from the ground, and taper ing to a slender point, like an emer- aid pyramid, and they formed a striking contrast to the tall majes- tic pine trees to which ] had been accustomed for several years. In fact the cedar tree is just the oppo- site of the pine, with the exception of the color of it's graceful leaves, but the greatest difference is found in the fact that the wind sighs thru the pine tree with a moanful sound that is almost saddening, while it whispers thru the feathery foliage of the cedar as though trying to tell a message of good cheer and the happy Christmas time.
 It was a bright, warm day early in December that I journeyed along thru miles and miles of toyless Christmas trees and becoming a bit tired sat down on big rock by the roadside to rest few minutes. As l sat there in the drowsy sunshine looking dreamily into the cedar for est, l saw something move stealth fly thru the shadowy trees. At first l thought it must be a deer, and I began to wish l had a gun, but pres ently got better view of the nov ing object, and l made out the muf- fled figure of human being with a strange looking pack on his back. The mysterious individual kept nov ing softly thru the trees as tho searching for something, and I be- came so much interested in what I saw that l kept still as a moHse. 1t was all such a strange and creepish sight that l wasn't sure whether was awake or dreaming. Finally the figure, which was bundled up in a big fur coat and cap that seemed out of season for such a warm day, went up to a small cedar tree, un- strung his pack, and began to string a lot of toys on it's branches. First he wound a lot of tinsel among the boughs and then fastened great lot of small wax tapers to them. After hanging all the toys and can dies on the little tree that it would hold, he took a big wax doll, almost as large as a live baby, from his pack, placed it in sitting posture at the base of the Christmas tree, lighted all the litle tapers, shoul- dered his pack and disappeared in the forest. Then out of the shadows. Tn their night clothes, came rushing Ia little girl and boy, their eyes wide with delight as they beheld the beautiful Christmas tree, while their joyful shouts --. Then 1 woke up from my dream and continued my journey thru the millions of toy less Christmas trees.
 Fisherman.
 Melville, Ark December i7. 1916.