The Knoxville independent. [volume] (Knoxville, Tenn.) 1894-current, 1919-07-19
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"That's sound!" Uncle Peabody ez

claimed with enthusiasm.
Aunt Deel took my hand in hers and
surveyed it 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
go West, but I couldn't bear to go off
so fur an leave mother an father an
sister Susan an all the folks we loved
layin' 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 !-mebbe it'll be for thou
sands O. years-ayes
To our establishment the clock
struck twelve.
"Hurrahl 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.
ION with yer boots, friend!" he ex-
claimed when the stanza was finished.
"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
knee-how familiar is the process, and
yet haven't seen it In more than half
century! l lighted a candle and
scampered upstairs in my stocking
feet, Uncle Peabody following close
and slapping my thigh as if my pace
were not fast enough for him. In the
midst Of our skylarking the candle
tumbled to the floor and I had to go
back to the stove and relight it.
How good it seemed to be back in
the old room under the shingles! The
heat of the stovepipe had warmed its
hospitality.
tits been kind o. lonesome here"
said Uncle Peabody as he opened the
window. Il always let the wind come
In to keep me company-it gifts SO
warm"
Eye can't look at yer stockin' yit,"
said Aunt Deel when / came down
stairs about eight o'clock, having slept
through chore time. | remember it
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 a bright,
cold winter morning with such provo
cation?
"This amt 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 horsesl I remember
how they laid their hard, heavy hands
Oh my head and shook it little as
they spoke Of my "stretchin' up" or
gave me playful slap on the shoulder
an ancient token Of good will-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 If it could
have been applied to their relief. They
stood thick around the stove warming
themselves and taking off it's griddles
and opening its 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 a wonderful sight was the
Christmas tree-the first we 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 Til grab the hull tree
an 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 its branches. The thing that
caught my eye was a big silver watch
hanging by 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 BartI"
A murmur of admiration ran through
the company which gathered around
me as I held the treasure in my trem-
bling hands.
"This is for Bart, too" Uncle Pea
body shouted as he took down a bolt
OF soft blue cloth and laid it in my
arms. "Now there's somethin' that's
jest about as slick as a Kittens ear.
Feel of It. It's for 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 merriment. It was his one
great day of pride and vanity. lie did
not try to conceal them.
The other presents aoated for a mo-