The Belding banner-news. (Belding, Mich.) 1918-1973, 1919-03-19

Ia II. wonder IL paradise itself can
seem more pleasant TO me. l have had
the best food this world can provide.
In my time, but never anything that
1 ate with a keener relish than the
pudding and milk and bread and but
ter and cheese and pumpkin pie which
Aunt Deel gave us that night.
Supper over, / wiped the dishes for
my aunt while Uncle Peabody went
out toifeed and water the horses. Then
we sat down In the genial warmth
while I told the story of my life I'm
the busy town." as they called 1t.
What pride and attention they gave
me then
My fine clothes and the story of how
/ had come by them taxed my inge-
nuity somewhat, although not improp-
erly. 1 had to be careful not 70 let
them know that ! had been ashamed
OF the homemade suit. They somehow
felt the truth about Ii and little
silence followed the story. Then Aunt
Deel drew her chair near me and
touched my hair very gently and
looked into my face without speaking.
ayes ! know" she said presently,
In a kind Of caressing tone, with a
touch of sadness In 1t. "They amt
used to coarse homespun stuff down
tI1ke In the village. They made fun
O. ye-didn't they. Bart?"
Il don't care about that" / assured
them. ""The minds the measure Of
the man." l quoted. remembering the
lines the Senator had repeated to me.
'Thats sound r. Uncle Peabody ex-
claimed with enthusiasm.
Aunt Deel took my hand In hers and
surveyed il thoughtfully for moment
without speaking.
"You air 0in' to have to suffer
that way no more,n she said in 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 off
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-
Iet-ayes l-mebbe it'll be for thou
sands o. years-ayes"
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.
ION with yer boots. friendI I" he ex-
claimed when the stanza 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 haven't seen IL in more than half
a century, i lighted candle and
scampered upstairs in my stocking
feet, Uncle Peabody following close
and slapping my thigh as il my pace
we're not fast enough for him. In the
midst Of our skyIarking the candle
tumbled to the floor and I had to go
back to the stove and relight 1t.
How good It seemed to be back In
the old room under the shingles The
heat or the stovepipe had warmed its
hospitality.
sits been kind o. lonesome here"
!, said Uncle Peabody as he opened the
Atindow. IL always let the wind come
In to keep me company--it gifts so
warm"
Eye can't look at yer stockin' yit,"
nh II
stairs about eight o'clock, having slept
through chore time. I remember 1t
was the delicious arena of frying ham
and buckwheat cakes which awoke me {;
and who wouldn't rise and shake or
the cloak of slumber a a bright,
cold winter morning with such provo
cation?
sThis amt no common Christmas
tell ye,n Aunt Deel went on. Santa
Claus won't git here short o. noon I
wouldn't wonder--ayesW
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 tultItQ tAo hCtoc aAtcA e&s~J
had put up their horsesl I remember
bow they laid their hard, heavy hands
on my head and shook 1t a little as
they spoke OF my "stretchin' up" or
gave me a playful slap on the shoulder
Dan 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 city II It could
have been applied to their relief. They
stood thick around the stove warming
themselves and taking or 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"
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