Ottumwa semi-weekly courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1916-1918, 1917-05-25
CHAPTER XIV.
COMPLIMENTS OF The SEASO

And Christmas came with such
silent and swift approach that the
three Brookes were not aware until it
was fairly upon them. Then they
gasped at their own unpreparedness,
Christmas was always ceremony in
the Brookes mansion, albeit an ex.
pensive one. But the Brookes were in
poverty, even though they were admir-
ably filled with the spirit
We'll, what are We going to give
mind was normally of practical pur.
pose.
Greetings said Billy, turning his
pockets inside out.
Constance frowned, cat least we will
have the usual tree" she remarked
with finality. I'VE have a few tradi-
tons left"
yes. We are strong on tradition, -
affirmed Billy But can't buy anything
with tradition"
Except happiness"
you can't buy ten cents worth Of
that" from Alice 1--WE can't even buy
tree"
'E. f. can said Constance "He can
buy anything-but he won't"
Except a hat" Billy observed say
agely.
Constance smiled reminiscently. She
an achievement.
Tut" she counseled. Lets keep in
the spirit, anyhow
So. always in the spirit. they ap-
preached H. Hedge on the subject of
Christmas.
Il do not approve of Christmas
gifts announced the efficiency man
There won't be many gifts" said
Constance sadly. But there is always
the Christmas spirit
yes? What is the Christmas spirit,
Miss Brooke?"
Constance stared.
What is it? Why
The efficiency man waited patiently
for the remainder of the answer, but
Constance had lost her voice in won
derment at the question Alice an
swered.
"A tree she said
SO you regard tree as the Christ
mas spirit?"
"Symbolical," remarked Billy Off
handedly, who was so pleased with the
way the word rolled out that he said
it again-"Symbolical.'
Alice nodded.
1T may symbolic something" ad-
mitted Hedge, but do not approve of
a tree"
The Brookes drew slightly away
from him.
I'VE always have a tree said Con.
stance.
"And it is always decorated with
candles and we always hang up our
stockings supplemented Alice.
Il have no objection to your hanging
up your stockings" observed the eff
cheney man judicially. 81 cannot see
that it does any harm, except to lend
encouragement to foolish myth and
possibly to breathe the fallacy of ex.
pecting something for nothing. But as
to a tree and candles-no."
Whats the reason we can't have
tree?' demanded Billy.
They're unsafe for one thing.
There is liability to fire"
I'VE use electric candles"
"a waste Of current A tree also en-.
tails an unnecessary amount of clean
ing in the house. Furthermore, it is
wicked, because it represents an at.
tack upon the natural resources of the
country The decorations that are plac-
ed on it are tawdry and without arts
tic merit. Such gifts as are hung upon
it or placed under it are almost in
variably foolish and unnecessary. The
entire custom and practise relating t.
Christmas trees is wasteful and serves
no useful purpose. No tree
The Brooke children studied the ere
atnre who had thus developed newly
horrid aspect Alice still secure in her
daily pittance, rallied
Very Well she said haughtily. "If
you will not get us a tree, I will buy
one
You may buy it." H. Hedge inform
ed her. "but it will not enter the
house,"
No"
why. We have always had tree
right in this very room You can't
have Christmas without one"
You can have the 25th of December
without it, at any rate answered the
man. THAT is what we will
"Why-even the poor have trees
Sure, we're entitled to one" added
Billy with fine irony
NO tree"
Just little one.'' pleaded Alice.
No
why, even the servants have
tree,'
DO they? I'm glad you mentioned
it," said Hedge. making a memoran-
dunn. the sinister character of which
the three Brookes understood
This is the last straw" cried Con-
stance.
We'll, it shows which way the wind
blows returned the efficiency man
brutally.
He wanted to end the argument. and
he succeeded. The three ,Brookes. as
had become their habit under such
circumstances, retired for conference
As an Interchange of counsel and ad-