Manchester Democrat. [volume] (Manchester, Iowa) 1875-1930, 1919-02-12

Sccu more pheasant 10 Iue. Au'S h"u
( the best food this world can provide.
In my time, but never anything that
! ate with q keener relish than the
pudding and milk and bread and but
ter and cheese and pumpkin pie which
Aunt Deel gave US that night.
/, Supper over, I wiped the dishes for
my aunt while Uncle Peabody went
out to feed and water the horses. Then
we sat down in the genial warmth
while I told the story of my life IN
"the busy town." as they called It.
What pride and attention they gave
me then!
My fine clothes and the story or how
had come by them taxed my 1nge-
nuity somewhat, although not improp-
erly. had to be careful not to let
them know that I had been ashamed
of the homemade suit. They somehow
felt the truth about it and a little
silence followed the story. Then Aunt
Deel drew her chair near me ana
touched my hair very gently and
looked into my face without speaking.
ayes! know" she said presently,
in a kind of caresslng tone, with q
touch of sadness in it. 'They amt
used to coarse homespun stuff down
there in the village. They made fun
O. ye-didn't they, Bart?"
II don't care about that" I assured
them. "The minds the measure OF
the man," quoted, remembering the
lines the Senator had repeated to me.
That's sound!" Uncle Peabody e1'
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 a low
tone. We're goin' to be more comf'ta'
ble-ayes. Yer uncle thought we better
60 West, but couldn't bear to 60 on
so fur an leave mother an father an
sister Susan an all the folks we loved
layin' here In the ground alone-l
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 Christmasl !"
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!" he ez.
claimed when the stanza was finished.
I'VE don't have to set up and watch
Ike the shepherda."
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 halt
q century, I lighted candle and
scampered upstairs In my stocking
feet, Uncle Peabody following Gloss
and slspping 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 80
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 ita
hospitality.
TITS been kind O. lonesome here"
said Uncle Peabody as he opened the
window. II always let the wind come
In to keep me company-it gits q
warm"
"Ys can't look at yer stockin' yit,
said Aunt Deel when I came down,
stairs about eight O'Clock, having slept
through chore time. I remember II
was the delicious aroma Of frying ham
and buckwheat cakes which awoke me;
and who wouldn't rise and shake OF
the cloak of slumber on a bright,
cold winter morning with such provo.
cation?
'.This amt no common Christmas
! tell ye." Aunt Deel went on. "Santa
Claus won't git here short o noon
wouldn't wonder-ayesl"
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 I remember
how they laid their hard, heavy hands
Oh my head and shook it little az
they spoke Of my "stretchin' up" OF
gave me playful slap on the shoulder
an ancient token of good will-the
first form Of the accOlade, 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 griddles
and 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 q wonderful sight was the
Christmas tree-the first we had had
iK 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
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