Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-09
CHAPTER XII.
(Cnnfinued.l

She smiled and nodded her head
ana sat down in the chair which
Uncle Peabody had placed for her
at the stove side. Aunt Deel took
the cloud off her head while Kate
drew her mittens-newly knitted Of
the best yarn. Then my aunt
brought some stockings and a
shawl from the tree and laid them
on the lap of old Kate. What 81
lence fell upon us as we saw tears
coursing down the cheeks Of this
lonely old woman of the country
sidel-tears of joy, doubtless, for
God knows how long it had been
since the poor, abandoned soul had
seen a merry Christmas and shared
its kindness. / did not fail to OBJ
serve how clean her face and hands
looked. She was greatly changed
She took my hand as l went TO
her side and tenderly caressed it.
A gentler smile came to her face
than ever I had seen upon il. The
old stern look returned for mo-
ment rs she held one finger aloft in
a gesture which only l and Aunt
Deel understood. We knew it sig
nalized peril and a mystery. That
/ should have to meet II, some
where up the hidden pathway, l
had no doubt whatever.
Dinners ready" exclaimed the
cheerful voice of Aunt Deel.
Then what a stirring of chairs
/, and feet as we sat down at the ia
! BILE. Old Kate sat by the side of
my aunt and we were all sur
prised at her good manners.
Uncle JabeZ, a member of the
white church-prayed for a mo-
ment as.we sat with bowed heads.
! ! have never forgotten his simple
eloQuence as he prayer for the poor
and for him who was sitting in the
/ shadow of death q knew that he
referred to Amos Grimshaw and
whispered amen) and for our for
| giyeness.
We TESTED and laughed and
| drank cider and reviewed the years
/ history and ate as only they may
! eat who have big bonc and mus
cles and the vitality of oxen.
never taste the flavor of sage and
| current jelly or hear hearty
| laugh without thinking of those
holiday dinners in the old log house
on Rattleroad.
Some of the men and two of the
women filled their pipes and smok-
! ed while the dishes were being
| picked up and washed. By and by
/ the men and the big boys went with
us down to the brook where we
chopped holes in the ice to give
the sheep and the cattle a chance 10
drink. Then they looked at the
| horses.
peabody you mus be gittin'
rich" said Hiram Bentley.
| mo l amt I've had to give up
here, but a little windfall come to
US 'tother day from an old uncle in
| Vermont. 1t amt nothin' to brag
of, but it'll give us a start an we
thought that while we had the
money we'd do somethin' that we've
been wantin' TO do for years an
years-give a Chris 'mas-an' we've
done it. The money1l go some way
| an we may never have another
! chance. Bart is a good boy an we
made up our minds he'd enjoy il
better now than he ever would
gin"
That Christmas brought me moth
! ing better than those words, the
memory of which is one of the tall
est towers in that long avenue OF
my past down which 1 have been
looking these many days. About
al you can do for a boy, worth
while, is to give him something
good to remember.
The day had turned dark. The
temperature had risen and the air
was dank and chilly. The men be-
gan to hitch up their horses.
kind O thawin' a little" said
Uncle Hiram as he got into his
sleigh and drove up to the door
Come on, there. Stop yer cack-
lin an git into this Sleigh" he
shouted in great good humor TO the
women and children who stood on
the porch "ItU be snowin' like
Sky fore we git home"
So, one by one. the sleighloads
left us with CHEEKY good-bys and q
grinding of runners and a juggling
of bells. When the last had gone
Uncle Peabody and l went into the