The Madison journal. (Tallulah, Madison Parish, La.) 1888-current, 1919-04-12

ing lllne WIFI MS right manu- dller ne
fashion of singing master.
"Of with yer boots. friend!" he ex-
claimed when the stanZa was finished.
I'VE 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 it in more than half
century! | lighted candle and |
scampered upstairs in my stocking |
feet, Uncle Peabody following close |
and slapping 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 go |
back to the stove and relight il.
How good it 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. 81 always let the wind come
In to keep me cOmpany-it gifts so
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. | remember it
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
cation?
This amt no common ChriS'm
| tell ye," Aunt Deel went on. Santa
Claus won't cit here short o noon
wouldn't wonder-ayesr
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
cousins. With what noisy good cheer
the men entered the house after they
had put up their horses! | remember
how they laid their hard, heavy hands
Oh my head and shook it 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
to temper the woes of a city if it could
have been applied to their relief. They
stood thick around the stove warming
themselves and taking off its griddles
rnd opening its doors and surveying ii
inside and out with much curiosity.
"Now for the Christmas tree" said
Cncle Peabody as he led the way into
our best room, where n fire was burn
ing inNhe old Franklin CRATE. Come
on boys an girls"
What q wonderful sight was the
Christmas tree-the first We had had
in our house, fine spreading halSam
loaded with presents! Uncle Hiram
Jumped into the air and clapped his
feet together and shouted: Hold me,
somebody. or I'll grab the hull tree
, On run away with it,"
Uncle Jabez held one foot in both
! hands before him and joyfuIly hoped
, around the tree.
These relatives had brought their
, family gifts, some days before, to be
hung on its branches. The thing that
, caught my eye was big silver watch
= hanging by long golden chain to ore
: of the boughs. Uncle Peabody took it
, down and held it aloft by the chain.
50 that none should miss the sight. say
ing:
n From Santa Claus for Bart
5 A murmur of admiration ran through
, the company which gathered around
4 me as held the treasure in my trem-
hing hands
: "Ths is for Bart, too" Uncle Pea
p body shouted as he took down q bolt
;. of soft blue cloth and laid it in my
!, arms. "NOw there's sOmethin' that's
lest about rs slick rs n Kittens ear.
= Feel of it. It's for y suit o clothes.
: Come all the way from Burlington.
n Now get-ap there. You've got your
h load"
!, moved out Of the way in hurri-
cane of merrimcnt. 1t was his one
o great day Of pride and vanity. He did
not try 10 conceal them.
r The other presents tloated for a mo.
: ment in this Irresistible tide of laugh.
!. ing good will and found their owners
d, | have never forgotten how Uncle la.
4 hez chased Aunt Minerva around the
y house with wooden snake cuunngiS
q carved and culnrrh. ] observed there
I were many things ou The tree Vh.ct
Il had not been laEeT down when We
Il Younger cnrs gathered up our wealth
:. and repaired To Aum Dr"l'S room +,
, feast our eyes upon it aud c"np"r,