The Glenwood post., 1924-01-10
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a program was given by the combined
three schools of Sweetwater. The chill
dren, in charge of their teachers, the
Misses Joyce Anna Hart, Ethel Hight
and Alma Hight, rendered their parts
with unusual vivacity and the most
convincing expressions Of having been
cherubs all the year. Finally Santa
Claus came and harvested the crop Of
kind thoughts and good. intentions from
the Christmas tree with what seemed
to be just wee bit more than his
usual rubicund joviality. Then the
floor was cleared and waxed, and
Sweetwater floated away to holiday
waltz time furnished by the Shurrs Of
the Colorado river country. The very
least that can be said of their music is
that they facilitated light feet to do
the bidding of happy hearts with their
felicitous and vigorous artistry. Mean
while, the cherubs made the most of
the wonderful things Santa, heaven, or
somebody had provided, and proceeded
with intense ABSORPTION to turn them
selves into the sweetest of potential
angels. Considerable energy was also
consumed by them in experimenting
with the mixture of popcorn balls and
one-time silky tresses. Tt is conjec-
tured that maternal coiffeurs may have
tainted with admiration the next day.
At midnight the crowd performed the
usual miracles with mountains of sand
wiches, cumulous clouds of cake, and
mysterious springs of good cheer-they
make wonderful coffee on Sweetwater.
Dawn found them still dancing, but the
writer went to sleep about that time
so it is impossible to say what hap
pened next.
1t is well recognized up there that
one swallow does not make whole
flock of glorious Fourths Of July, and
that one chirup of the Christmas crick-
ct could not possibly be sufficiently
riotous defiance amid the alleged ashes
of their hopes to the dulled compressor
sion of Scrooge of the distant stock
yards, so back they trooped with a
whoop and yell for a community din
ner on Christmas day. No attempt
can be made here to enumerate all the
delicacies set forth by the ladies. It
must suffice to say that of the several
very capable cooks in command of this
vast expedition against the savage ru-
mors prevalent regarding broken health
and impaired fortunes among the hill
jewellers, Mrs. Dore of the Machin
ranch was one of the most active, and
that every single rumor was routed by
the irresistible profusion of "eats.' -
Santa Claus arrived too late for dinner
but nevertheless he seemed to have a
singularly well fed appearance. Soon
the Christmas tree was seen to stretch
its gentle arms in relief, and as Santa
was leaving, the writer heard him ask
Mr.. Machin how on earth he managed
w SeAAy ouSh Sicat piS SeuNIoua
heart around with him. Again pipers
piped, and again ranchers, cowhands,
and those sweet things who ride the
high-bucking cost Of living all laughed
and danced and played until morning
Surely that was enough. Surely the
1 lion roared the mightiest song of the
greatness Of his heart. But no! New
Years eve and they were back again
They would do it right this time with
a "Hard Times'' entertainment and
dance.
The nights fun began with lyrical
comedy titled "The Hard Times
Guys, :" in which "Poverty 8. Pauper"
and "struggle N. scrape" satirized
the attempts Of the various markets to
force Sweetwater to be doleful and dis
tressed. The lyrics were written for
the occasion by Mr.. Harry Lucas, and
the acting Of them by Mr.. Samuel
Skinner and the author, was received
with gleeful enthusiasm. The CO.'S
TUNES of the merrymakers were start
ling in their defiant Haunting of rags
and patches. Among those who nchiev.
cd the most gasps of pity and mur-
murs of sympathy may be mentioned
Mrs. Mike Calvick whose distrcssful
attire seemed to have been torn to
shreds by the very claws of poverty;
and Mrs. Samuel Skinner, the very sim
ilitude of Mrs. Jiggs in search of "wash.
ing to do.' But even these expressed
commiserntion for Mrs. Dore. She had
not a patch upon her, yet achieved, by
means Of subtle makeshift cher fine
ness Of substitution was impossible for
the male eye to fathom), such pitiftl