The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1920-12-25
Ecening Story
How Jerry Found a Family.
BIZ CELIA MOORE.


On Christmas eve the snow was still
falling in light, fine flakes on top of
the icy crust formed, by the last big
freeze, Jerry Denton dressed for
tramp. whistled to his terrier and ran
down the avenue under the big snow
laden trees. Dinnie barked in delight
ana chased imaginary rabbits in fur
ries of whiteness. Suddenly man and
dog stepped and listened. In the clear,
cold stiffness there came the faint
sound of an axe. somebody cutting
tree in the small woods" thought Den
ton, lighting his pipe. 'I'll have to.
get after him and give him the dick
, ems. IL It's Christmas tree he's after.
maybe ne can have it"
He wheeled to the left and cut
across the lawns to the open meadow.
On the other side of the meadow was
the tract known as the small woods"
1t all belonged to Jerry Denton. AS
he approached the woods the sound of
the axe grew palmer. and all at once
Dinnie dashed ahead and was lost to
sight, though his sharp staoeato barks
told that he had found the trespasser.
The chopping ceased.
In the twilight of the winter day
Denton peered thru the falling flakes
and saw a small red sled piled with
dead branches, and nearby a slender
erect figure at bay, while Dinnie
barked excitedly about Ler. She wore
a boys knitted cap and sweater and
her cheeks, pink from the unwonted
! exercise of chopping down a sym
metrical young hemleck, were growing
pale as she nervorsly watched the dog.
Down; Dinnie!" commanded Den
ton, and when the dog had frisked
away he looked down at the girl. the
lettering little tree and the shining axe
iTrespassing he questioned, with
smile, as he stood before her, bare
/ headed in the gloom.
docs any one really carer" she
asked nervously. "Such little tree
| 1t Is a very tiny one
you needed just such a tree?" he
asked gently.
She nodded. ANY Kind of tree
the children believe in Santa Claus
and it is so hard to deny them-tllere
| is, pcthing to put on it--but tho tree
VIII be a. JOY to them--it is such a
pretty little tree" Her lovely color
was returning as she grew eager.
Nothing to put on it-really %
asked Denton, who had had every
| thing he wanted all his life.
Really" she said, haltingly. 81
am ashamed. but"
That's tough" worried the owner
1--WE have each other, tho" smiled
who are swes' Denton wanted to
know as he picked up the axe and
proceeded to chop down the tree in
one swift sure blow.
grandmother. the TIVE children and
III am their aunt. and I lost my
position in the office
What officer"
| Life insurance-and-''
"Cateby's?"
How did you know"
| Il only had glimpse oAyour face
but think I've seen you there. Why
did you leave?"
| There was not enough work for SC
many and I was the last one So
First to go, Ell? I'll fix that next
til tree down-Tll take that OF course
and you want some wood?"
II am SO ashamed, but her stam-
! mering words were lost in the ring of
the axe as Denton felled a young oak
| tree and chopped it up in the queer
white light of the snow on the mead
| ow which seemed to make the fringe
OF the woods quite visible The wood
was piled on the sled and the tree alton
of that and Denton picked up the rope
| and led the way across the meadow,
for the girl had said she lived on
| Birch street
You are lucky" said the man after
a while.
Lucky" asked the girl with a
dreary little laugh. with three dear
ones to feed and keep warm and moth
| ing
Eyes, in luck. to have the dear ones
I've got everything in the world but
not near relative-no kin to eat
/ Christmas dinner with"
II am the most fortunate, after ALL
| said the girl, quietly.
They stopped in front of a low cot
| tage under great dropping elms. you
olive here?" he demanded. I'm just
back from overseas-haven't been
| here for ten years. anyway, but my
old pal, Dick Raymond used, to live
here"
came back" choked the girl His
mother lives there now-he married
my sister-she died, too, and so we
are all that is left
Dicks mother-and family? /
must see them-why, my mother loved
Mrs. Raymond-and she is the one