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

caught my eye was a-big silver watch
hanging by long golden chnin to one
OF the boughs. Uncle Peabody took II
down and held 1t aloft by the chain.
SO that none should miss the sight, say
ing:
From Santa Claus for Bart !"
A murmur of admiration ran through
the company which gathered around
Inc as l held the treasure In my trem.
bling hands.
This Is for Dart. too" Uncle Zen
body shouted as he took down bolt
OF soft blue cloth and laid It In my
arms. Nov there's somethin' that's
Jest about as slick "a Il 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
loud"
moved out of the way In hurri-
| cnne of merrlment. II was his one
great day Of pride and vanity. He did
not try to conceal them.
The other presents floatcd for mo.
nent in this Irresistible tide of laugh.
Ing good will and found their owners.
l have never forgotten how Uncle Jn-
bez chased Aunt Minerva around the
house with II wooden snake cunnlngly
| carved and colored. | observed there
were many things on the tree which
had not been taken down when we
younger ones gathered up our wealth
| and repaired to Aunt Deels room to
feast our eyes upon 1t and compare
our good fortune.
The women and the big girls rolled
up their sleeves and went to work with
Aunt Deel preparing the dinner. The
q eat turkey aud The chicken pie were
made ready and put In the oven md
the potntoes and the onions and the
winter squash were soon boiling In
their pots on the stovetop. Mean
while the children were playing In my
aunt's bedroom and Uncle Hiram and
Uncle Jabez were pulling sticks In a
corner while the other men sat tipped
against the wall watching and making
playful comments-all save my Uncle
Peabody, who was trying to touch his
head to the floor and then straighten
UP with the aid of the brOomstlck.
In the midst of 1t Aunt Deel opened
| the front door and old Kate, the Silent
Woman. entered. TO my surprise, she
wore decent-looklng dress of gray
homespun cloth and q white cloud
| looped over her head and ears and tied
around her neck and good pair OF
boots.
Merry Christmas !" we all shouted.
\
sat down in the chair which Uncle Pea
body had placed for hei ut the stove
side. Aunt pecl took the cloud Off
her head while Kate drew her mittens
newly knitted of the best yarn. Then
my aunt brought some stockings und
shawl from the tree and laid them on
the lap of old Kate. What silence
fell upon Us. as we saw tears coursing
down the cheeks of this lonely old
wolrun of the countryside-tcnrs of
| joy, doubtless. for God knows how long
II had been since the poor. abandoned
soul had seen merry Christmas and
shared It's Kindness. did not fail to
observe how clean her face and hands
looked! She was greatly changed.
She took my hand as went to her
side and tenderly caressed 1t. gen.
tier smile came to her face than ever
! had seen upon It, The old stern look
returned for moment rs she held one
finger alOft In u gesture which only
and my Aunt Deel understood. We
knew 1t sIgnullzed IL peril and u mys-
terry. That | should have to meet t,
Somewhere up the hidden pathway,
had no doubt whatever.
DINNERS readyl" exclaimed the
cheerful voice Of Aunt Deci.
Then what stirring of chairs and
feet as we sat down at the tuble Old
Knte sat by the side of my aunt and
W. were all surprised at her good man.
rerS.
We jested and laughed aud drank
cider and reviewed the years history
and ate as only they may eat who have
big bones and muscles and the vitality
sage and currant jelly or hear hearty
laugh without thinking of those holi-
day dinners In the old log house on
Rattleroad.
That Christmas brought me nothing
better than those words, the memory
Of which is one Of the tallest towers In
that long avenue OF my past down
which have been looking these many
days. About all you can do for boy.
worth while. is to give him something
good to remember.
The day had turned dark. The tenn
perature had risen and the air was
dank and chilly. The men began to