The Beaver herald. [volume] (Beaver, O.T. [Okla.]) 1895-1923, 1919-05-15

claimed with enthusiasm.
Aunt Deel took my hand in hers and
surveyed 1t thoughtfully for q moment |
without speaking.
"You amt goln' to have 70 suffer |
that way no more" she said In low |
tone. We're goin' to be more comf'ta- |
ble-ayes. Yer uncle thought we better !
60 West, but couldn't bear to 60 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 O. years-ayesw
To our astonishment 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 singing master.
ION with yer boots, friendl" 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 1t In more than half
u centuryl l lighted a candle and
scampered upstairs In my stocking
feet, Uncle Peabody following close
and e,cpping my thigh as II 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 relight II.
How good 1t seemed to be back In
the old room under the shinglesl The
heat Of the stovepipe had warmed it,
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 20
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 1t
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 bright,
cold winter morning with such provo
cation2
'"Thls amt no common Christmas
tell ye." Aunt Deel went on. "Santa
Claus won't git here short o. noon
wouldn't wonder-ayesl
About eleven o'clock Uncle Hiram
and Aunt Eliza and their Eve 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 horsesi remember
, how they laid their hard. heavy hands
, OH my head and shook 1t little ai
, they spoke Of my "stretchin' up" oI
, gave me playful slap on the ahouldel
, Ian ancient token Of good will-ths
FIRST form Of the accolade. I fancy
, What joyful good humor there was iE
, those simple men and women-enougf
Z to temper the woes Of Q city II It coult
/ have been applied to their relief. They
, stood thick around the stove warming
| themselves and taking OF its griddlei
, and opening its doors and surveying 4
inside and out with much curiosity.
! "Now for the Christmas tree" said
, Uncle Peabody as he led the way init
I our best room, where a FIRE was burn
|, Ing In the old Franklin CRATE. "Coms
: on, boys an girls"
What q wonderful sight was tn,
0 Christmas tree-the first we had hat
> In our house-a fine spreading balsan
D loaded with presentsl Uncle Hiram
. Jumped into the air and clapped hi
J. feet together and shouted: "Hold me
t somebody. or I'll grab the hull tre'
Q an run away with It."
: UncJe Jabez held one foot In boil
B hands before him and joyfully hoppet
around the tree.
These relatives had brought thei
family gifts. some days before. to b.
. hung on its branches. The thing tina
caught my eye was big silver watcl
hanging By long golden chain to on,
Of the boughs. Uncle Peabody took
Q down and held II aloft by the chain
30 that none should miss the sight. cay
' ing:
"From Santa Claus for Barti"
A murmur Of admiration ran througl
: the company which gathered aroun,
q me as held the treasure In my trem
v bling hands.
Q "This Is for Dart, too" Uncle Pea
I body shouted as he took down Dol
q OF soft blue cloth and laid 1t In m.
q arms. "Now there's somethin' that
!. Jest about as slick as Kittens ear
= Feel Of It. It's for a suit o. clothes
Come all the way from Burlington
{ Now get-ap there. You've got you
q load"
. ! moved out Of the way in hurri
cane OF merriment. II was his on
2 great day Of pride and vanity. He dl'
q NOT try tn conceal Them