Gunnison news-champion., 1919-02-07
ne a. held the treasure In my tremr

nc ~ bc30 I0e ueaS~4e 49, ~ 49,
biia1 hands
This is for Bart. too Cncis Pea.
body shouted as he took down q bolt
Of soft blue cloth and laid II In my
arms Now there's somefhin' that's
Jest about as slick as . kittens ear.
Feel OF IL It's for a suit o. clothes.
Come all the way from Burlington
Now get-ap there. You've 60; your
load
i moved out Of the way In q hurri-
cane OF Inerriment II was his one
great day Of pride and vanity. He did
not try To conceal them
The other presents noated for a mo-
nent IN this Irresistible tide OF laugh
Ing good viii and found their owners.
l have never forgotten how Uncle Js-
tez chased Aunt Minerva around the
house with a wooden snake cUnninsiy
carved and colored- l observed there
were fnany things on the tree which
had not been taken down when we
younger ones gathered up our wealth
and repaired TO Aunt Deels room 10
feast our eyes upon It and compare
our good fortune.
The women and the big girls rolled
up their sleeves and went 10 work with
Aunt Deel preparing the dinner The
great turkey and the chicken pie were
made ready and put In the oven and
the potatoes and the onions and the
winter squash were soon boiling In
their pots on the stoyetop. Mean
while the children were playing In my
aunt's bedroom and Uncle Hiram and
Uncle Jabcz were pulling sticks In a
corner while the other men sat tipped
against the wall watching and making
playful commeuts-ail save my unclo
Peabody. who was trying 10 touch his
head TO the floor and then straighten
" with the aid Of the broomstlck.
In the midst OF IL Aunt Deel opened
the front door and old Kate. the Silent
Woman. entered. To my surprise. she
hOmespun cloth aud white cloud
iooped over her head and ears and tied
around her neck and good pair Of
boots.
Merry Christmas Z" We all shouted.
She smiled and nodded her head and
sat down in the chair which Uncle Pea
body had placed for her nt the stove
side. Aunt Deel took the cloud OF
her head while Kate dreV her mittens
newly knitted OF the best yarn. Then
my aunt brought some stockings and a
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
woman Of the countryslde-tears Of
JOY. doubtless, for God knows how long
II had been since the poor. abandoned
soul had seen a merry Christmas and
shared its 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 II. A gen.
tier smile came y her face than ever
had seen upon 1t. The old stern look
returned for a moment as she held one
finger aloft In gesture which only
and my Aunt Deel understood. We
knew II signalized a peril and a mys-
terry. That ! should have to meet It..
somewhere up the hidden pathway. l
lad no doubt whatever.
dinners ready exclaimed the
cheerful voice Of Aunt Deel.
Then what n stirring OF chairs and
feet as we sat doTn at the table. Old
Kate sat by the side of my aunt and
we were all surprised at her good man
ners.
We TESTED and laughed and drank
.lder and reviewed the years history
md ate as only they may eat who have
Dig bones and muscles and the vitality
,nge and currant jelly or hear hearty
augh without thinking. Of those holi-
day dinners In the old log house on
Rattieroad.
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
hich I hnve been looking these many
days. About all you can do for boy.
worth while. IL to give him something
good to remember.
ne day had turned dark. The tsm-
pesature had risen and the air va
dank and chilly. The men began to
hitch up their horseA
-. one BY one. the sleighloads lsft
. WetA cheery sood-hys and . gran6
ing of runnsfs snl jinsliAg ef bslla.
When the lest hol zone Uncie Pea
BODY and went infs The house. Aunt
Deel at ~ the stUvs. old Kate By IL
window looking ost at the falling dusk.
HeW sein ths house seemedi
There's one tAiag ! forgot" ! said
- ! proudly took out Of my wallet the
n one dollar hills which had earned
By working Saturdays and handed
thros Of them TO ~ aunt and three 70
~ uD0e. say1n0:
THAT b ny OAsistmas peeaeot .
yoa. I earned II myself"