Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1919-02-19
sFrom Santa Claus for sartl"

the company which gathered around
me o. held the treasure in my trem'
bling hands.
'sThis is for Bart, too" Uncle Pea
body shouted as he took down q bolt
Of soft blue cloth and laid 1t In my
arms. "Now there's somethin' that's
Jest about az slick az Kittens ear.
Feel Of 1t. It's for suit O. clothes.
Come al the way from Burlington.
Now get-ap there. You've got your
load"
moved out Of the way In q hurri'
cane Of merriment. It was his one
great day of pride and vanity. He dlo
not try to conceal them.
The other presents doated for mo-
ment In this Irresistible tide of laugh.
ing good will and found their owners.
] have never forgotten how Uncle ia
bex 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 Deel's room to
feast our eyes upon 1t 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
5, 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
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 a decent-looking dress OF gray
homespun cloth and white cloud
iOoped over her head and ears and tied
around her neck and good pair OF
boots.
merry Christmas" we oil 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 mittens
newly knitted Of the best yarn. Then
my aunt brought some stockings and
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, abandoned
soul had seen merry Christmas and
shared its kindness. did not fail to
observe how clean her face and hands
lookedi 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
had seen upon 1t. The old stern look
returned for moment as she held one
finger aloft in gesture which only !
and my Aunt Deel understood. We
knew 1t signalized q peril and mys-
terry. That l should have to meet 1t,
somewhere up the hidden pathway, ]
had no doubt whatever.
Dinners 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 and
we were all surprised at her good man
ners.
We TESTED and laughed and drank
cider and reviewed the years history
and ate as only they may eat who have
big bones and muscles and the vitality
Of oxen. I never taste the flavor Of
sage and currant jelly or hear a hearty
laugh without thinking Of those holt
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 ] 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