Sioux County pioneer., 1921-12-22

between the wv .
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 in
which the blue flames danced like lit
tie elves upon the red Goals, defying
heartily the bowling wind outside.
Some one seemed to have been pres
ent recently. The chair held bath
robe, the cord of which dangled care.
lessly on the floor, and the tassel Of
which rested upon an open letter be-
low 1t. Some one had been reading old
letters and that person was cozily
nestled in the bath robe. His tousled
head of grey rested on the back Of
the chair. He was sleeping and GER
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, II am too old to
dance and romp."
"Helen? Whom are you talking Oft
!. 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. II guess I've been
dreaming, Molly, 1t seems as though
I'd been asleep for a whole year, Molly
dear, why didn't you call me7 Ny
stock must be fed aud It's way past
feeding time now"
M"po not worry about your stock,
George. It has all been taken, care Of.
JohH Uglowkanl over fhissnft$ $rnpon
and we talked 6hont our Christmases
when our boys were small. When II
begin 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 Mr.. Bohnenstock
sinking back into his chair and beck
>oning his wife to sit on the arm of 1t.
81 am glad to see that others miss
those beautiful holidays and the whole
month before, when the air was full
Of mysteries"
"ph, George now l know what you
were talking If when game fto wake
gen" Molly said, running her nRgers
Through his toasiied half: 'Eell me
about It,"
n was reading some Of the letters
from Henry, for I'd, been thinking Of
him. all day." began her husband,
1.-THE last letter I read was the one
we got 1rnm 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. I 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
RhSxg SXer''ter a Ghristmas eye2" he e1.
citsdly Continued. ysa. half *FsihRg :1roA big big
chair As the happy past came back t9
his mind in jNp1bled snateheg. .:f can
see them now, the fQuf boys and two
girls sitting around this very stove.
telling the Christmas stories which
they haa learned tp school. Then, how
their eyes bNlged- and their mouths
opened WHEN Santa came into the
foom. The children daAced with gles.
hat the girls were bit kmid. The
boys, however, We're read chummy and
S4ked Santa many embarrassing Aues-
5t1ons abaat his trips,
All this he said slowly. paasing Rey
and then SO that he could live It over
again. He looked up into ! llpy's face,
for she had been very qui1 Hnd there
he saw big tear drops rolling slowiy
down her thin cheeks which now
allowed delicate pink 'flush.
sssWell,i well, Molly" began her hus.
band.
'sDon't, George, I know It's foolish
fcr, me to cry. but / wish we could
have tree and children to fuss for.
Christmas comes and goes now with.
out much excitement and It makes me
feel as though I'm getting awfully
/. DID, (,
molly. let's have tree and we will
get ready for Christmas just as we
did long ago"
The next morning, the happy cou-
Z pie took a trip to the woods to choose
a tree. BY the twenty-secoud Of De
cember, NIL the things were .hnishAd,
alarsa aqpaa Molly ftttas eaeass sal|
81 ~ .ie5;ss ss5f