The Brookings register. [volume] (Brookings, Brookings County, S.D.) 1903-1971, 1919-02-20

lue OlueT pTtScnlS HOutcu IOi INV
ment In this irresistible tide of laugh
ing good will and found their owners.
i have never forgotten how Uncle ia
bez chased Aunt Minerva around the
house with a wooden snake cuDningly
carved and colored. l 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
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 a decent-looking dress of gray
homespun cloth and a white cloud
looped over her head and ears and tied
around her neck and a good pair Of
boots.
merry Christmas !" 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 OF
her head while Kate drew her mittens
newly knitted Of the best yarn. Then
my aunt brought some stockings and a
shawl from the tree and laid them on
the lap of old Kate. What a 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 a merry Christmas and
shared its kindness. / did not fail to
observe how clean her face and hands
looked! 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 II. The old stern look
returned for a moment as she held one
An0ar alnft In N unCf,rn xyhtnh ,-I, n
and my Aunt Deel understood. We
knew 1t signalized a peril and a mys-
terry. That / should have to meet II,
somewhere up the hidden pathway, I
had no doubt whatever.
dinners ready T. exclaimed the
cheerful voice Of Aunt Deel.
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.
rers.
We TESTED and laughed and drank
cider and reviewed the years history
ind ate as only they may eat who have
big bones and muscles and the vitality
Of oxen. / 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 q 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 10
hitch up their horses.
So, n by one, the sleighloads left
Is With CHEEKY good-bys and a grind.
ing of runners and a jingling Of bells.
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 seemed!
there's one thing I forgot" I said
as / proudly took out Of my wallet the
six one-dollar bills which I had earned
by working Saturdays and handed
three of them to my aunt and three to
my uncle, saying:
"That Is my Christmas present to
you. / earned II myself"
1 remember so well their astonish-
ment and the trembling of their hands
and the look Of their faces.
sIt's grand-ayes" Aunt Deel said
In q low tone.
She rose In O moment and beckoned
to me and my uncle. We followed her
through the open door to the other
room.
"TIl tell ye what I'd do" she whis-
pered. "pd give 'em to OF Kate
ayesl She's goin' to stay with us I'LL
tomorrow"
.Good idee !" said Uncis Peabody.
80 L took the money out Of their
hands and went in and gave It to the
Silent Woman.
..Thafs your present from me-" I
nd.