Iron County record. [volume] (Cedar City, Utah) 1893-1982, 1919-06-27

Aunt Deel TOOK my hand in hers ana
surveyed 1t thoughtfully for moment
without speaking.
You amt goln' to have to suffer
TINT way no MORE" she said in low
tone. We're goin' to be more comf'ta-
ble-ayes. Yer uncle thought we better
go West but / couldn't bear to go or
so fur an leove mother an father an
sister Susan an all the folks we loved
lnyin' here In the ground alone-I
| want to lay down with 'em by an by
an wait for the sound o. the trum-
pet-ayes l-mebbe itll be for thou
sands o. years-8yesW
To our establishment the clock
struck twelve.
"Hurrahi It's merry Christmas I"
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 singing master.
ION with yer boots frlendw he ex-
claimed when the stanza was finished.
ave don't have to set up and watch
like the shepherds"
We drew our boots on the chnir
round with hands clasped over the
knee-how familiar Is the process, and
yet haven't seen II In more than half
IA century! 1 lighted a candle and
| scampered upstairs In my stocking
feet, Uncle Peabody following close
and slapping my thigh as II my pace
were not fast enough for him. In the
midst of our skylarking the candle
tumbled to the floor and 1 had to 60
back to the stove and relight 1t.
How good 1t seemed to be back In
the old room under the shingles The
heat of the stovepipe had warmed its
hospitality.
"It's 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"
"Ye can't look at yer stockin' yit,"
said Aunt Deel when l came down
stairs about eight o'clock, having slept
through chore time. l remember Ii
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?
'Thls amt no common Christmas
l tell ye," Aunt Deel went on. "Sana
Claus won't git here short o. noon
wouldn't wonder-ayes !"
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
on my head and shook II little as
! they spoke of my "stretchin' up" or
gave me n playful slap on the shoulder
I'm 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 1t could
have been applied to their relief. They
stood thick around the stove warming
themselves and taking Off its grlddles
end opening It's doors and surveying II
inside and out with much curiosity.
snow for the Christmas tree" said
Uncle Peabody as 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 W. 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
IN 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 It's branches. The thing that
caught my eye was n big silver watch
hanging 10y long golden chain to one
Of the boughs. Uncle Peabody took II
down and held It aloft by the chain,
so that none should miss the sight. say
ing:
"From Santa Claus for Bart"
\ murmur Of admiration ran through
the company which gathered around
me as held the treasure In my trem-
hing hands
"Thls is for Bart, too" Uncle Pea
body shouted ms he took down a bolt
of soft blue cloth and laid It In my
arms. "Now there's somethin' that's
Test about as slick as n kittens ear
Feel of It. It's for II 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 merrlment. II was his one
great day of pride and vanity. He did
not try TO conceal them.
The other presents floated for mo-
! ment in this irresistible tide OF laugh