The Owosso times. (Owosso, Mich.) 1897-1926, 1919-04-04


eriy. had to be careful not to let
them know that had been ashamed
or the homemade suit. They somehow
felt the truth about Il and q little
silence followed the story. Then Aunt
Deel drew her chair near me and
touched my hair very gently add
looked into my face without speaking.
-Ayesi know" she said presently.
In a kind OF caressing tone. with q
touch Of sadness in Ii. They amt
used to coarse homespun stun down
there In the village. They made fun
o. ye-didn't they. Barti-
Il don't care about that" assured
them. "The minds the measure Of
the man." quoted. remembering the
lines the Senator had repeated to me.
That's sound~ Uncle Peabody ex-
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 no more" she said in n low
tone. We're goin' TO be more comfta-
ble-ayes. Yer uncle thought we better
so West. but couldn't bear TO so on
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 a. yearS-ayes I"
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 a singing master.
"Off with yer boots. friendi' he ex-
claimed when the stanza was finished.
ave 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 IL In more than half
a century! / lighted a candle and
scampered upstairs in my stocking
feet, Uncle Peabody following close
and shaping 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 / had to 60
back to the stove and rellght Ii.
How good IL seemed TO be back In
the old room under the shingles! The
heat of the stovepipe had warmed its
hospitality.
its 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 gifts 90
warm"
"Ye can't look at yer stockin' yit,"
said Aunt Deel when / came down
stairs about eight o'clock. having slept
through chore time. i 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 a bright,
cold winter morning with such provo
cationf
This amt no common Christmas
i 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
With what noisy good cheer
the men entered the house after they
had put up their horses. / remember
bow they laid their hard. heavy hands
on my head and shook IL a 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, / fancy.
What joyful good humor there was In
those simple men and women-enough
10 temper the woes OF city il 1t could
have been applied TO their relief. They
stood thick around the stove warming
themselves and taking of its griddles
and opening its doors and surveying IL
inside and out with much curiosity.
snow for the Christmas tree" said
Uncle Peabody as he led the way into
our best room. where a 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 |
In our house-a fine spreading balsam
loaded with presentsi Uncle Hiram |
jumped into the air and clapped his |
feet together and shouted: Hold me,
somebody. or Ill grab the hull tree
en- 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 In branches. The thing that
caught my eye was big silver watch
By long golden chain to one
Of the boughs. Uncle Peabody took it |
own and held Il aloft by the chain.
10 that none should miss the sight, say
ng: