The daily Alaskan., 1919-03-25

mousse vIrn c wooden snake cunnlngiy carved md colored. observed there were many things oh the tree which had not been taken down when we younger ones gathered up our wealth and reI aired to Aunt Deel's room to feast our eyes upon 1t and eompare 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 the potatoes and the onions and the winter squash were soon boiling In their. pots on the stovetop. Mean while the children were playing In my aunt's 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 deeent-looking dress of gray homespun cloth and a white cloud Iooped over her head and ears and tied around her neck and 8 good pair of boots.
 "Merry Chris'masI" we all shouted.
 She smiled and nodded her head and 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 mittenB newly knitted of the best yarn. Then my aunt brought some stockings and 6 shawl from the tree and laid them on the lap of old Kate. What silence fell upon us as we saw tears cOursing down the cheeks of this lonely old woman of the countryside-tears of joy, doubtless, for God knows how long 1t had been since the poor, Rbandoned soul had seen . merry Christmas and shared it's Kindness. did not fall to observe how clean her face and hands lookedl She was greatly changed.
 She took my hand aR Invent to her side and tenderly lcaressed 1t. i gen. tier smile came to her face than ever I had seen upon It. The old stern look, returned for moment as she held one finger aloft in a gesture which only l and my Aunt Deel understood. We knew 1t sEgnaliEed peril and tnys.- tery. That I should have to meet 4it, somewhere up the hidden pathway, l had no doubt whatever. .. ....
 Dinners ,readyl' exclaimed the, cheerful voice of Aunt Deel. E.-..
 Then what a stirring of chairs and feet as we sat down at the table. Old Kate sat by the side of my aunt and we were all surprised at her good man- ners. ....-..,
 We tested and laughed and drank elder and reviewed the years history md ate as only they may eat who have big bones,and mNscles-and the vitality of oxen. I never taste the flavor of sage and currant jelly or hear a 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 tallest towers In that long avenue of my past down which I 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 and the air was dank and chilly. The men began to hitch up thelr horses.
 So, one by one, the sleighlos6s left us with cheery good.bys and aagrsnd-N Ing or runners ana Jingling Of beIlA'' When the last had gone Uncle Pea body and went into the house. Aunt Deel sat by the stove, old Kate by the window looking out at the falling dusk. How still the house seemedt
 '"There's one thing forgot" said db pGOuNlg lOOh O'sN Ol my "u'lSe NAA~ six one-dollar bills which had earned by working Saturdays and handed three of them to my aunt and three to my uncle, saying:
 "That is my Christmas present 10 you. l earned It myself" 70 .
 remember so we'll thelr. astOnish- ment and the trembling of their hands and the look of their faces.
 "It's 1grand--ayes!" Aunt Deei said ln low tone. .....-..
 She rose In a moment and beckoned to me and my uncle. We followed her through the, open door to the other. room. .......... -t
 "rll tell ye what I'd do" she whis- pered. 1'Td give 'em to or Kate ayest She's goin' to stay with us till tomorrow" ... ,..... ... -s ..-.s-. z.
 Good ideew said Uncle Peabody.
 So I took the money out Of their hands and went sn and gave 1t to the Silent WOman.aa .. .. -s
 "That's your present from me-" ! said.
 How can I forget how she held my arm against her with that loving SfA-