American Falls press. [volume] (American Falls, Idaho) 1907-1937, 1919-03-21

"JDhlS SOupu. OHcle EeuDDuy GA
claimed with enthusiasm.
Aunt Deel took my hand in hers and
surveyed II thoughtfully for a moment
without speaking.
"You amt goin' to have to suffer
that way nc more" she said In a low
tone. We're goin' to be more comf'ta-
%ble-ayes. Yer uncle thought we better
go West but couldn't bear to go of
so fur an leave mother m 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 l-mebbe itll be for thou
sands o. years--ayes !"
To our establishment the clock
struck twelve.
"Hurrnhl 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 n singing master.
ION with yer boots, frlendl" he ex-
claimed when the stnnzo 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 l haven't seer 1t In more than half
II century, l lighted a candle and
scampered upstairs in my stocking
feet, Uncle Peabody following close
and slapplng my thigh as If my pace
were not fast enough for him. In the
midst of our skylarking the candle
tumbled tc the floor and / had to go
back to the stove and rellght II.
How good It seemed to be back In
the old room under the ~shlnglesl The
heat of the stovepipe had warmed Its
hospitality.
: "It's been kind o. lonesome here"
! said Uncle Peabody as he opened the
/, window. ~ always let the wind come
: In to keep me company--lt gifts 80
: warm"
/, aye can't look Mt yer stockln' yit,"
! said Aunt Deel when | came down.
= stairs about eight o'clock, having slept
through chore time. | remember II
b was the delicious aroma of frying han
and buckwhent cakes which awoke me
and who wouldn't rise and shake of
. the cloak of slumber on n bright
cold winter morning with such provo
cntlon2
/" "Thls amt no common Christmas
. / tell ye," Aunt Deel went on. "Santu
Claus won't git here short o. noon
wouldn't wonder-nyesl !"
4 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 nnt
a cousins. With what noisy good chez
the men entered the house after the!
. had put up their horsesl | remembel
q how they laid their hnrd, heavy hand!
n ON my head and shook Il Il little II,
they. spoke of my "stretchln' up" o
q gave me II playful slap on the shoulde
a An ancient token Of good width,
first form Of the nccolnde, l fancy
n Whit joyful good humor there was II
those simple men and wSmen-enougl
\ to temper the woes of Il city If IL couli
4 have been applied TO their relief. The.
y stood thick around the stove warming
y themselves and taking Off Its grlddle
md opening its doors and surveying |
inside and out with much curiosity.
n SNOW for the Christmas tree" sal
" Uncle Peabody as he led the way int
Il our best room, where II fire was burr
Ing In the old Franklin crate. "Com
: on, boys an girls"
What n wonderful sight was IN
10 Christmas tree-the first we had I'm
IS Ia our house-a fine spreading hnlsar
loaded with p%rosentsl Uncle Hlrnr
d Jumped into the air and clapped hi
G, feet together and shouted; "Hold m,
NJ somebody, or I'll grab the hull tire
he nm run away with It."
{. Uncle Jabex hold one foot In bot
h hands before him and joyfully hoppe
around the tree.
Or These relatives had brought thel
nj family gifts, some days before, to b
m hung on It's branches. The thing thC
IN caught my eye was a big silver waite
In hanging by a long golden chain to on
It. of the boughs. Uncle Peabody took
down and held II aloft by the chair
SO that lone should miss the sight, sa.
y ing;
e "From Santa Claus for Bartt"
D. A murmur OF admiration ran throug
ct the company which gathered aroun
ed me as l held the treasure In my treu
Nv hing hands.
lie "rhis Is for Bart, too" Uncle Pei
n body shouted MS he took down a DO
of soft blue cloth and laid 1t In m
nd arms. "Now there's semethin' that
~. lest about as slick as n Kittens en-
~, Feel OF Il. It's for n suit o. clothe
a Come all the way from Burlington
az Now get-ap there. You've got yo'
vn load"
un / moved out of the way In a hurr
cane of merrlment. II vas his or
ed great day of pride and vanity. He d
or not try 10 conceal them.
he The other presents fioated for a m