The spectator., 1921-12-23

AAO :n7 N lh8ly FeStluI. Iue
 (HUV'asls which stood
 between the two windows was not untidy but held several opened books and many letters strewn about letter file.
 One of the large armchairs stood in front of the massive coal stove iD which the blue flames danced like lit- tie elves upon the red coals. defylng heartily the bowling wind outside. Some one seemed to have been pres ent recently The chair held a bath robe. the cord of which dangled care essly on the floor, and the tassel of which rested upon an open letter De low 1t. Some one had been reading old letters and that person was cozily nestled In the bath robe. Ills tousled head of grey rested on the back of the chair. He was sleeping and cer- tainly was having the happiest of dreams for smile took possession of his face. The flames joined in the happy mood by dancing higher and faster. Even peaceful and happy hours have endings. Mrs. Bohnenstock had come quietly Into the room and gently shook her husband.
 No, no, Helen" said the man with out opening his eyes, "I am too old to dance and romp,"
 Helen? Whom are you talking Of? I do believe you have been dreaming answered his wife.
 At the sound of her voice, he was entirely awakened and arose from the chair He staggered about before he regained all consciousness and his arms and legs ached from their cramped position. "I guess Eve been dreaming. Molly, 1t seems as though I'd been asleep for whole year. Molly dear, why df...at you call mel. = stock must be fed and It's way past feeding time now"
 Do not worry about your stock. George. IT has all been taken care of. John Uglow came over this afternoon and we talked about our Christmases when our boys were small. When 1t began to grow dusk, he said that should not disturb you and that he would feed the stock
 Well, Molly. so you and John talked over the Christmases We had with our little boys. said Mir Bohnenstock sinking back into his chair and beck uning his wife to sit on the arm of 1t. T am glad to see that others miss those beautiful holidays and the whole month before. when the air was full of mysteries"
 "Oh, George, now know what you were talking of when l came to wake you.' Molly said, running her fingers trough his tousled hair. Tell me about it"
 "I was reading some Of the letters from Henry, for I'd been thinking of him all day" began her husband. The last letter I read was the one we got from him last year just before Christmas, in which he told us how he and Jane were planning Christmas for the youngsters, and how he hoped that another year he would be home with us. l sat here recalling the many Christmases you and I had planned for our children Molly. do you re- member the year We had the Uglow boys over for Christmas eve2' he ex citedly continued. half rising from his chair as the happy past came back to his mind in iumhled Snatches T can see them now, the four boys and two girls sitting around this very stove. telling the Christmas stories which they had learned in school. Then. how their eyes hulged and their mouths opened when Santa came Into the room. The children danced with glee. but the girls were Il bit timid. The boys. however, were real chummy and asked Santa many embarrassing ques- tions about his trips.
 All this he said slowly. pausng now and then so that he could live it over again lie looked up into Molly's face, for she had been very quiet. and there he saw big tear drops rolling slowly down her thin cheeks which now showed a delicate pink flush.
 Well. well. Molly" began her hus. band
 Don't. George. l know It's foolish for me to cry. but l wish we could have a tree and children to fuss for. Christmas comes and goes now with out much excitement and 1t makes me feel as though I'm getting awfully old"
 Molly, let's have . tree and we will get ready for Christmas just as we did long ago"
 The next morning, the happy cou- pie took trip to the woods to choose a tree. By the twenty y-second of De- cember, all the things were finished