The Kendrick gazette. [volume] (Kendrick, Idaho) 1892-1968, 1922-12-22

CN.S ) Us bic here and there
DSN IN&A am about the room and
PtSS. JA3 n made 1t look tempt
ALN TGTN ingly restful. The
|.O I)) table 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 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 it, 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.
mo, no, Helen,' said the man with
out opening his eyes, II am too old to
dance and romp."
'Helen? Whom are you talking off
l 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. q! guess I've been
dreaming, Molly, it seems as though
I'd been asleep for a whole year. Molly
dear, why didn't you call me? My
stock must be fed and it's way past
feeding time now"
do not worry about your stock,
George 1t has all been taken care of.
John Uglow came over this afternoon
and we talked about our Christmases
when our boys were small. When It
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 Mr.. BohnenstOcls
sinking back into his chair and beck.
oning his wife to sit on the arm of It
IL 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 l know what you
were talking of when ! came to wake
you'' Molly said, running her fingers
through his tousled hair. "Tell m'
about it,"
II was reading some of the letter.
from Henry, for I'd been thinking q
! him all day." began her husband
"The last letter l read was the on,
we got from him last year just before
Christmas, in which he told us how ht
and Jane were planning Christmas fo
the youngsters, and how he hoped tina
another year he would be home will
us. l sat here recalling the man,
Christmases you and I had planned
for our children. Molly, do you re
member the year We had the UglOv
boys over for Christmas eve?" he eS
citedly continued, half rising from hi
chair as the happy past came back t.
his mind in jumbled snatches. Il car
see them now the four boys and tw
girls sitting around this very stove
telling the Christmas stories whicl
they had learned in school. Then, hoS
their eyes bulged and their mouth
opened when Santa came into tn
room. The children danced with glee
but the girls were bit timid. Tn
boys, however, were real chummy an
asked Santa many embarrassing q-es
tons about his trips.
All this he said slowly, pausing no,
and then so that he could live it owe
again. He looked up into Molly's face
for she had been very quiet, and Their
he saw big tear drops rolling slow
down her thin cheeks which nov
showed delicate pink flush.
"Well, well, Molly" began her nus
band.
"Don't George, / know it's FOOLS
for me to cry, but / wish We coul'
have a tree and children to fuss fol
Christmas comes and goes now with
out much excitement and it makes m
feel as though I'm getting awful
old"
'Molly, let's have a tree and we Wi
| get ready for Christmas inst MS w