Rock Island Argus. (Rock Island, Ill.) 1893-1920, 1918-07-08
CHAPTER XII.
lContinued.1

"Off with yer boots, friend" he
exclaimed when the stanZa was fin
ished. I'VE don't have to set up
ana watch like shepherds"
We drew our boots on the chair
round with hands clasped over the
knee-how familiar is the process,
and yet l haven't seen it in more
than half a century! l lighted a
candle and scampered upstairs in
my stocking feet, Uncle Peabody
following close and Shaping my
thigh as if my pace were not fast
enough for him. In the midst of
cur skylarking the candle tumbled
to the floor and l had to go back
to the stove and relight II.
How good 1t seemed to be back in
the old room under the shingles,
The heat of the stopepipe had
warmed its hospitality.
Its been kind o. lonesome here
said Uncle Peabody as he opened
the window. Il always let the
wind come in to keep me company
it gts so warm"
l lay down between flannel sheets
on the old feather bed. What
had been, for it was now serving
the third generation of Bayneses!
The old popple tree had thrown off
its tinkling cymbals and now the
winter wind Kissed and whistled in
its stark branches. Then the deep,
sweet sleep Of youth from which it
is a joy and regret to comeSSack
to the world again. l wish that l
could know it once more.
"Ye can't look at yer stockin'
yit," said Aunt DeeI when l came
downstairs about s o'clock, hav-
ing slept through chore time. l re-
member it was the delicious aroma
of frying ham and buckwheat cakes
which awoke me, and who wouldn't
rise and shake off the cloak OF
slumbsr on a bright, cold winter
morning with such provocation
This amt no common Chris mas
= tell ye,' Aunt Deel went on.
Santa Claus won't git here short O.
noon | wouldn't wOnder-ayes,"
by thunder" exclaimed Uncle
Peabody as he sat down at the
table. This is goin' to be day o
pure fun-genuwine an uncOm-
mon. Take some griddlers," he
added, as three or four OF them fell
on my plate put on plenty o.
ham gravy an mOlasses. This amt
no Jackman tavern. l got hold o.
somethin' down there that tasted so
I had to swaller twice on it."
About II o'clock Uncle Hiram and
Aant Eliza and their five children
arrived with loud and merry greet
ings. Then came other aunts and
uncles and cousins. With what
noisy good cheer the men entered
the house after they had put up
their horsesi I remember how they
laid their hard, heavy hands on my
head and shook It a little as they
spoke of my "stretchin' up" or gave
me a playful slap on the shoulder
an ancient token of good will-the
first form of the accolade, I fancy.
What joyful good humor there was
in those simple men and women
enough toatemper the woes of city
if it could have been applied to
their relief. They stood thick
around the stove warming them
selves and taking off its griddles
ana opening its doors and survey
ing it inside and out with much
curiosity
Suddenly Uncle Hiram tried to
put Uncle Pabez in the wood-boX
while the others laughed noisily. |
remember that my aunts rallied me
on my supposed liking for that
Dunkelberg girl"
"Now for the Christmas tree"
said Uncle Peabody as he led the
way into our best room. where a
fire was burning in the old Franklin
CRATE. Come on. boys and girls"
What a wonderful sight was the
Christmas tree-the first we had
had in our house-a fine spreading
balsam loaded with presents I'm
Gle Hiram jumped into the air and
clapped his feet together and shout
ed: Hold me, somebody. or I'll
grab the hull tree an run away
with IL"
Uncle Jabez held one foot in both
hands before him and joyfully hop
ped around the tree.
These relatives had brought their
family gifts. some days before, to