Evening times-Republican. [volume] (Marshalltown, Iowa) 1890-1923, 1919-02-13
4 Tale Of the North
Country In the Time
~ Silss Weight
0y
IRVING DACHELLEN
AssAsl q ~gbss Hsllsn." ~D'h snl
SkscsisG % win Llssis.' I'VE. sss.


left us thirty.eight hundred dollars.
1t was old Uncle Ezra Baynes o.
Hinesburg. Died without a chick or
child. Your aunt and me slipped down
to Potsdam an took the stage an
went over an got the money. It was
more money than I, ever see before
I'm my life. We put It In the bank in
Potsdam to keep Il out o. 0rimshaws
hands. I wouldn't trust that man as
fur as you could throw q bull by -the
tnil."
It was a cold. clear night, and when
we reached home the new stove was
swapping with the heat In its firebox
and the pudding pufnng in the pot
and old Shep dreaming In the chimney
corner. Aunt Deel gave me . hug at
the door. shep barked and leaped to
my shoulders.
"Why. Barti You're CROWN like
weed--ain't yel-ayes 70 be-" my
aunt said as she stood and looked at
ne. "Set right down here an warm
ye-ayesl-I've done all the chores
ayes!"
How warm and comfortable was the
dear old room with those beloved faces
in 1t. wonder II paradise. itself can
seem more pleasant to me. have had
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.
ster and cheese and pumpkin pie which
Aunt Dsel gave a that night.
Supper over,4 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." % they called 1t.
What pride and attention they gave
me then!
My fine clothes and the story Of how
had come by them taxed my inge-
nuity somewhat, although not improp-
erly. I had to be careful not to let
them know that I had been ashamed
of the homemade salt. They somehow
felt the truth about 1t and . little
silence followed the story. Then Aunt
Deel drew her chair near me and
touched my hair very gently and
locked into my face without speaking.
ayes! I know" she said presently.
in kind Of caressing tone. with .
touch Of sadness In 1t. "They amt
used to coarse homespun stun down
there In the village. They made run
g ye-didn't they. Bart7"
Il don't care about that" I assured
them. 1.-THE minds the measure Of
the man." 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 q moment
without speaking.
you amt goin' to have to suffer
that way no more" she said In low
tone. We're goln' to be- moro comfts.
ble-ayes. Yer uncle thought we better
90 West, but couldn't bear to 20 of
so fur an leave mother an father an
sister Susan an all the folks We loved
iayin' here In tho ground alone-I
want to lay down with 'em BY an BY
an wait for the sound O. the trum-
Iet-ayes i-msbbe It'll be for thou
sands O. years-ayesl
To our establishment the clock
struck twelve.
"Hurrahi It's merry Christmas T"
said Uncle Peabody - no 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 tho
fashion Of singing master.
"On with yer boots, frisndi" he ex-
claimed when the stanxa 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
knee-how familiar Is the process, and
yet / haven't seen 1t In more than half
a century! I lighted . candle and
scampered upstairs In my stocking
feet, Uncle Peabody following close
and shaping my thigh a. II my pace
were not fast enough for him. In the
midst Of our skylarking the candle
tumbled to the floor and I'had to 60
back to the stove and relight 1t.
How good It seemed to be back in
the old room under the shinglesl The
heat Of the stovepips had warmed its
hospitality.
TITS been kind o lonesome here"
said Uncle Peabody 40 he opened the
window. II always let the wind come
in to keep mo company-it gits %
warm"
"Ye can't look at yer stockin' yit,"
said Aunt Deel when I came down.
stairs about eight o'clock, having slept
through chore time. remember Il
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 . bright,
cold winter morning with such provo
cation1
"This Amt no common Christmas
I tell ye." Aunt Deel went on. Santa
Claus won't ut here short o. noon !
wouldn't wonder ayesl''
About eleven o'clock Uncle Hiram
and Aunt Eliza and their I'VE 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 ub their horsesi remember
how they laid their hard, heavy banda
Oh my head and shook It little a.