The Snowflake herald. [volume] (Snowflake, Ariz.) 1913-1969, 1917-01-12
Christmas
After All
And a Very Happy
One
By CLARISSA MACKIE


snowstorm. Che wind howled among
the bare branched locust trees and
whistled down the wide chimneys
Inside the house the low ceiled
kitchen was warm from the glowing
stove and from the big lamp on the
supper table. James Drayton and his
wife. Hannah, had finished the even
ing meal and were sitting quietly be
fore the uncleared table. They were
listening for the sound of sleighbells
and the shrill whistle of the r. F. d
man. Tonight they should receive let
ters from their married children telling
them whether or not they would be
down to the old home nest for Christ
mas. Bob lived in New York with his
wife and one child, while Ellen, the
! only daughter lived at Sheerbrook,
only twenty five miles across the island
from her parents
Jingle, jingle, jingle!
There he ISL cried Hannah. nerv-
ously pressing the gray hair back from
her temples. "Oh. James. hope they
are comingr'
Presently her husbands form emery
ed from the flying flakes. He stamped
his feet on the doorstep and came into
the house, his broad shoulders powder
ed with white In his hand were two
letters.
Hannah began fitting ON her glasses
and tearing at the envelope in her
hand. AS she read the letter her chin
trembled ELLEN can't come father
she quavered "She says Asa's folks
expect them all over there and they're
sending a box to US and hope we won't
mind very much" Tears were falling
fast now.
"Bob-BOb-says they can't come
either" said Hannah at last. 'Louie'S
folks are coming to spend Christmas
with them and she don't know how to
entertain them all in her little fiat
either He says they are sending a
box down. Oh. James" she suddenly
! cried. II don't want their boxes
want them, the children | raised. 1t
will be 50 lonesome without them 1t
won't he ChristmaSi
L.
| but his face worked strangely. He told
her that it would still be Christmas.
but that the selfishneSs of others might
mar it a little For should not these
children have planned so that their
parents should not be left alone on this
! day Of days?
The next day would be Christmas
| e II
aration for the holiday. for James
Drayton insisted that the usual prep
arations be made for the day. He had
spent a sleepless night, but in the
morning there was look Of stern de
termination on his face
"Well, Hannah, do you feel like en-
tertaining a bunch of children tOdayT
he said children that amt got no
folks-that is, no folks to make Christ
mas for them"
"Who in the world do you mean.
James Drayton?" she demanded. Be
Sore he could answer she added quick
ly. "You mean the Flecks|
He nodded. watching her face
"And you know we haven't been on
speaking terms with Cousin Peter
FIeck's folks since-since-- cheated
you out of that forty acre pastureT
! she asked breathlessly.
81 know it. Hannah. | know that
! Peter lost it all before he died and
that Ada Fleck is having hard time
trying to bring up those four children
! They're nice children too The Oldest
girl Beatrice-makes me think OF Ell
len," he added refectively.
"Ada's been doing sewing" said
Hannah. land heard she was taking
home work from the bag factory.
expect it will be a poor Christmas for
them ALL
81 met little Fred. and he told me
that they didn't expect Santa Claus to
stop at their house this year"
"Will you go after them. James. or
shall go?" asked Hannah.
James Drayton smiled down at her,
and. suddenly STOPPING from his tall
height he kissed her lips. warm
blush invaded her faded cheeks.
1--WE will both go after them" he de-
cided I'm going ont now to harness
up"
The door slammed after him. Han
nah gave one glance out into the
snowy world outside. The sun was
coming out, and everything was a-spar-
kle with reflected glory She hastily
banked the fire in the stove. dressed
herself warmly and. locking the door
went out to the barn. where old Gray
was harnessed to the double cutter.
you'll have to cut Christmas tree.
father" she said gayly.
"I'll go out before dark and do that.
he said as they started of
Little Fred saw them coming and
ran TO open the door for them. There
was little embarrassment at first. for
the Draytons and the Flecks had no.
been on speaking terms for many years
But James Drayton's kindness ane
Hannah's sympathy soon bridged the
gap. and when the invitation came fo'
the whole family to pack themSelve'
into the sleigh the children broke inff
IL,