The Jasper news. [volume] (Jasper, Missouri) 1898-1924, 1919-04-03

Ayes ] know" she said presently,
in kind of caressing tone, with
touch of sadness In 1t. "They aln't
used to coarse homespun stuff down
there In the village. They made fun
O. ye-didn't they, Bart?"
81 don't care about that" assured
them. "'The minds the measure of
the man," I quoted, remembering the
lines the Senator had repeated to me.
"That's soundW Uncle Peabody ex-
claimed with enthusiasm.
Aunt Deel took my hand In hers and
surveyed 1t thoughtfully for moment
without speaking.
"YOu amt goin' to have to suffer
that way no more," she said In low
tone. We're goin' to be more comf'ta-
ble-ayes. Yer uncle thought we better
60 West, but couldn't bear to go off
so fur an leave mother an father an
sister Susan an all the folks we loved
layn' here in the ground alone-I
want to lay down with 'em by an by
an wait for the sound O. the trum-
Let-ayes !-mebbe it'll be for thou
sands O. years-ayes
To our astonishment the clock
struck twelve.
"Hurrah It's merry Christmas !"
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.
"Off with yer boots, friend I" he ex-
claimed when the stnnzn 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 clasped over the
EDee-how familiar Is the process, and
yet haven't seen II In more than half
century! lighted a candle and
scampered, upstairs In my stocking
feet. Uncle Peabody following close
and slapping my thigh rs If my pace
were not fnst enough for him. In the
midst of our skylarklng the candle
tumbed to the floor and l 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.
ITS been kind O. lonesome here"
said Uncle Peabody as he opened the
window. ~ always let the wind come
In to keep me company-it gifts so
warm"
"Ie can't look ut yer stockln' ylt,"
said Aunt Deel when l came down
stairs about eight O'Clock, having slept
through chore time. l remember 1t
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 n bright,
cold winter morning with such provo
cution2
This aint no common Christmas
l tell ye." Aunt Deel went on. Santa
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 1t little as
they spoke Of my "stretchin' up" or
gave me a playful slap on the shoulder
an ancient token Of good wili-the
first form Of the accolade. i fancy.
What joyful good humor there was in
those simple men and women-enough
to temper the woes Of city IL 1t could
have been applied to their relief. They
stood thick around the stove warming
themselves and taking OFF Its griddles
end opening its doors and surveying 1t
inside and out with much curiosity.
"Now 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 We had had
In our house-a fine spreading balsam
loaded with presentsl Uncle Hiram
jumped into the air and clapped his
feet together and shouted: Hold me,
somebody, or I'll grab the hull tree
an run away with It,"
Uncle Jabez held one foot in both
hands before him and joyfuIly hoped
around the tree.
These relatives had brought their
family gifts. some days before, to be
hung on Its branches, The thing that