The Holly chieftain., 1919-03-13
A TALE OF THE NORTH COUNTRY
IN THE TINE OF SILAS WRIGHT
IRVINE hACHElLER
AUTHoA o.
fleN HOLDEN pn AND |. DARREL or THE BLESSED ISLE
KEEPING uP WITH LlzzE, ETC, ETC


looked into my face without speaking.
ayes! know" she said presently,
in kind of caressing tone. with a
touch Of sadness in 1t. '4They amt
used to coarse homespun stuff down
there In the village. They made fun
O. ye-didn't they, Bartf"
Il don't care about that" assured
them. "'The minds the measure of
the man." quoted, remembering the
lines the Senator had repeated to me.
"That's sound l" Uncle Peabody ex-
claimed with enthusiasm.
Aunt Deel took my hand in hers and
surveyed 1t thoughtfully for moment
without speaking.
"You amt goin' to have to suffer
that way 40 more." she said In low
tone. We're goin' to be more conf f'ta-
ble-ayss. Yer uncle thought we better
60 West, but couldn't bear to go on
SO fur an leave mother an father an
sister Susan an all the folks we loved
layin' here In the ground alone-I
want to lay down with 'em by an by
Let-ayes l-mebbe it'll be for thou
sands o years-ayes I"
To our establishment the clock
struck twelve.
"Hurrah! It's merry Christmasl"
said Uncle Peabody as he jumped to
his feet and began to sing Of the little
Lord Jesus.
We Joined him while he stood beat
ing time with his right hand after the
fashion of a singing master.
"Off with yer boots. friend I" he ex-
claimed when the stanza was finished.
''We don't have to set up and watch
like the shepherds"
We drew our boots on the chair
round with hands clasped over the
knee-how familiar is the process, and
yet haven't seen 1t in more than half
century! l lighted candle and
scampered upstairs in my stocking
feet, Uncle Peabody following close
and slapping my thigh as If my pace
were not fast enough for him. In the
midst of our skylarking the candle
tumbfed to the floor and had to 60
back to the stove and relight 1t.
How good 1t seemed to be back in
the old room under the shinglesl The
heat of the stovepipe had warmed its
hospitality.
TITS 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 gifts so
warm"
''Ye can't look at yer stockin' yit,"
said Aunt Deel when came down.
stairs about eight o'clock, having slept
through chore time. / remember 1t
was the delicious aroma of frying ham
and buckwheat cakes which awoke me;
and who wouldn't rise and shake Off
the cloak Of slumber on bright,
cold winter morning with such provo
cation?
s1This amt no common Chris mas
tell ye." Aunt Decl went on. Santa
Claus won't git here short o. noon
wouldn't wonder-ayesl !"
About eleven o'clock Uncle Hiram
and Aunt Eliza and their five children
arrived with loud and merry greetings.
Then came other aunts and uncles and
cousins. With what noisy good cheer
the men entered the house after they
had put up their horses! remember
how they laid their hard. heavy hands
OH my head and shook 1t little as
they spoke Of my "stretchin' up" or
gave me playful slap on the shoulder
AN ancient token of good will-the
first form Of the accolade, l fancy.
What joyful good humor there was in
those simple men and women-enough
to temper the woes of city If It could
have been applied to their relief. They
stood thick around the stove warming
themselves and taking off Its griddles
end opening its doors and surveying it
inside and out with much curiosity.
snow for the Christmas tree" said
Uncle Peabody us he led the way into
our best room, where fire was burn.
ing in the old Franklin crate. "Come
on, boys an girls"
What wonderful sight was the
Christmas tree-the first We had had
In our house-a fine spreading balsam
loaded with presents! Uncle Hiram
jumped into the air and clapped his
feet together and shouted: Hold me,
somebody, or I'll grab the hull tree
an run away with It,"
Uncle Jabez held one foot in both
hands before him and joyfully hoped
around the tree.
These relatives had brought their
family gifts. some days before, to be
hung on Its branches. The thing that