Connecticut western news., 1919-02-20

"From Santa Claus for Bsrtl" the company which gathered around me as held the treasure in my trem- bling hands.
 "This Is for Bart, too," Uncle Pea body shouted as he took down a bolt of soft blue cloth and laid 1t in my arms. "Now there's somethin' that's jest about as slick as a kittens ear. Feel of 1t. It's for suit O clothes. Come all the way from Burlington. Now get-ap there. You've got your load"
 moved out of the way In hurri- cane of merriment. It was his one great day of pride and vanity. He did not try to conceal them.
 The other presents floated for a mo- ment in this irresistible tide of laugh ing good will and found their owners l have never forgotten how Uncle Ja- beg chased Aunt Minerva around the house with wooden snake cunnlngly carved and colored. l observed there were many things on the tree which had not been taken down when we younger ones gathered up our wealth and repaired to Aunt Deers room to feast our eyes upon it and compare our good fortune.
 The women and the big girls rolled up their sleeves and went to work with Aunt Deel preparing the dinner. The great turkey and the chicken pie were made ready and put in the oven and hn nd hn nd n winter squash were soon boiling in their pots on the stovetop. Mean while the children were playing in my aunts bedroom and Uncle Hiram and Uncle Jabez were pulling sticks in a corner while the other men sat tipped against the wall watching and making playful comments-all save my Uncle Peabody, who was trying to touch his head to the floor and then straighten up with the aid of the broomstick.
 In the midst of 1t Aunt Deel opened the front door and old Kate, the Silent Woman, entered. To my surprise, she wore decent-looklng dress of gray homespun cloth and a white cloud looped over her head and ears and tied around her neck and a good pair of boots.
 "Merry Christmas l" we all shouted.
 She smiled and nodded her head anc sat down In the chair which Uncle Pea. body had placed for her at the stove side. Aunt Deel took the cloud on her head while Kate drew her mittens newly knitted of the best yarn. Then eNn shawl from the tree and laid them on the lap of old Kate. What a silence fell upon us as we saw tears coursinR down the cheeks of this lonely old woman of the countryside-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. I did not fail to observe how clean her face and hands looked! She was greatly changed.
 She took my hand as I went to her side and tenderly caressed 1t. A gen. tier smile came to her face than ever I had seen upon 1t. The old stern look returned for a moment as she held one finger aloft in a gesture which only l and my Aunt Deel understood. We knew 1t signalized q peril and a mys- tery. That I should have to meet it. somewhere up the hidden pathway, I had no doubt whatever.
 "DInner's readyl" exclaimed the cheerful voice of Aunt Deel.
 Then what stirring of chairs and feet as we sat down at the table. Old Kate sat by the side of my aunt anS wt were all surprised at her good man. ners.
 We tested and laughed and drank cider and reviewed the years history nnd ate as only they may eat who have big bones and muscles and the vitality of oxen. never taste the flavor of sage and currant jelly or hear hearty laugh without thinking of those holi- day dinners in the old log house on Rattleroad.
 That Christmas brought me nothing better than those words, the memory of which is one of the fullest towers in that long avenue of my past down which have been looking these many days. About all you can do for boy, worth while, Is to give him something good to remember.
 The day had turned dark. The tenn perature had risen md the air was dank and chilly. The men began to hitch up their horses.
 So, one by one, the sleighloads left us with cheery good-bys and grind