The Hays free press. [volume] (Hays, Kan.) 1908-1924, 1919-04-10

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.
"Of with yer boots, friend!" he ex-
claimed when the stanza was finished.
1--WE don't have to set up and watch
like the shepherds"
We drew our boots on the chair
round with hands clHsped over the
knee-hOw familiar is che process, and
yet 1 haven't seen it il more than half
century! 1 lighted a 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
tumbled to the floor and I had to go
back to the stove and relight it.
How good it seemed TO be back in
the old room under the shingles The
heat of the stOyepipe had warmed its
hospitality.
ITS been kind O. lonesome here"
said Uncle Peabody as he opened the
window. 81 always let the wind come
In to keep me company-it gifts so
warm
Eye can't look at yer stockin' yit,"
said Aunt Deel when 1 came down
stairs about eight o'clock, having slept
through chOre time. 1 remember it
was the delicious aroma Of frying ham
and buckwheat cakes which awoka me /;
and who wouldn't rise and shake of
the cloak of slumber on a bdight,
cold winter morning with such Provo
cation2
This amt no common Chris has
[ tell ye," Aunt Deel went on. SANTA
Claus won't git here short o. non 1
wouldn't wonder-ayes! ~
About eleven o'clock Uncle H fam
and Aunt Eliza and their five chil.iren
arrived with loud and merry greet gs
Then came other auntS and uncles and
cousins. With what noisy good ca Ger
the men entered the house after they
had put up their horses! I remen per
how they laid their hard, heavy hat.ds
OH my head and shook it q little as
they spoke Of my "stretchin' up OR
gave me playful slap on the shout ger
an ancient token of good will-lhe
first form of the accolade, I fairy.
What joyful good humor there was ia
those simple men and women-eneUsh
to temper the woes of city if it could
have been applied to their relief. They
stood thick around the stove Warraing
themselves and taking of it's gridGIes
End opening it's doors and surveying It
inside and out with much curiosity.
snow for the Christmas tree" said
Uncle Peabody as he led the way into
our best room. where a fire was burn
ing In the old Franklin CRATE. "Come
on. boys an girls"
What a wonderful sight was the
Christmas tree-the first we had had
In our house-a fine spreading balsam
loaded with presentsI Uncle Hiram
jumped into the air and clapped his
feet together and shouted: "Hold me,
somebody, or I'll grab the hull tres
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
caught my eye was a big silver watch
hanging by long golden chain to one
of the boughs. Uncle Peabody took 1t
down and held it a1oft by the chain,
so that none should miss the sight, say
/ ing:
"From Santa Claus for Bartl'
A murmur of admiration ran through
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 it. It's for a suit o. clothes
Come all the way from Burlington
Now get-ap there. You've got your
load"
I moved out of the way in a hurri-
cane of merriment. It was his one
great day of pride and vanity. He die
not try TO conceal them
The other presents f1oated for a mo
ment in this Irresistible tide Of laugh
ing good will and found their owners
1 have never forgotten how Uncle ia
bez chased Aunt Minerva around the
house with a wooden snake cunningly
carved and colored. 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 Il
feast our eyes upon it and compart
our good fortune.
The women and the big girls rOlleG
up their sleeves and went to work witt
Aunt Deel preparing the dinner. Tit
great turkey and the chicken pie wer'
made ready and put IN the oven AMI
the potatoes and the onions and thu
winter squash were soon boiling Il
their pots on the stovetop. Mean
while the children were playing In N,
, aunt's bedroom and Uncle Hiram ant
Uncle Jabez- were pulling sticks in
corner while the other men sat tippes
: against the wall watching and making
playful commentS-an save my Uncf
: Peabody, who was trying to touch hi
I head to the floor and then straightel
up with the aid of the broOmStick.
In the midst of it Aunt Deel opene'
the front door and old Kate, the SiIen
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