The Union County journal. [volume] (Marysville, Ohio) 1875-1951, 1948-12-23

Denny, dear" she said thick
ly, "we're not going TO have tree
this Christmas. Daddy isn't here
to help decorate it, and besides
Santa will come without a Christ
mas tree"
and Joe had explained to him the
first time they'd bought tree just
the kind they liked. 1t had to be so
tall and so big around. 1t had to be
cedar with clusters of blue berries
on it. Old Oliver always had the
kind of tree they wanted.
Little Denny ran into the kitchen
from the front room.
! 'Mommy. there's OF Oliver" !"
he said. ''Mommy, he has our
+, tree. :"
Marge dried her hands and knelt
, to gather little Denny in her arms.
81 know he has, DEAR" she said,
making herself look at him. Since
last January when the horrible car
accident had taken Joe away from
her, she'd had difficulty in looking
at Denny. Denny had Joe's rumpled
dark hair, his dark eyes, the deep
cleft in his chin. A sob caught in
Marge's throat. Denny. dear" she
said thickly, we're not going to
have a tree this Christmas. Daddy
isn't here to help decorate it, and
besides-Santa will come without
a Christmas tree"
"I'n help decorate it." Denny
said. II did last year."
Marge pressed Denny close. 'T
know, dear" she said. Poignant
memories of last Christmas crowd
ed her so that she couldn't talk for
a moment. She could see Joe teeter-
ing on the ladder to put the star in
the top of the tree.
Il can help, Mommy. :. :" Denny
insisted.
"You could, dear, but we don't
want a tree with Daddy gone. Some
day, dear-oh, l hope it never
comes to you--youll understand
why Mommy didn't want a Christ
mas tree!" She rose to her feet
hurriedly feeling a rush of tears.
''I'll get your wraps, Denny, and
you can play outside in the snow
for awhile"
Shadows heightened in the little
house before it came to Marge with
frightening realization that it had
been all of three hours since Den
ny'd left the house.
"Denny-DENNY!" She ran out
on the porch and down the steps,
her slim unprotected feet and legs
sinking into the deep snow that had
banked there. DENNY" The
echo of her voice came back to her
in mocking horror across the white
stiffness of the little yard.
A cold wind swept against her as
she stood at the gate looking up
and down the street and calling
Denny's name. II was a horrible
moment, one in which she knew
she must have aged twenty years,
and one in which she saw in heart
wrenching clarity her unfairness
to Denny in harboring a self-cen-
tered grief over her loss of Joe to
the extent of his safety, his protec-
ton, his veritable happiness.
A familiar wagon made the turn
at the end of the street, and Marge
recognized old Oliver and his load
Of Christmas trees. His chant rang
out again, Buy your Christmas tree
now! Only two dollars. -
Marge shrieked against the wind,
"Oh, don't-please don't!" Then
she saw Denny, little brown garbed
Denny sitting up in the seat by old
Oliveri
The wagon stopped by the gate,
and old oliver grinned as Denny
climbed down into Marge's reach
ing arms. HE likka tn ride.
He.
Marge didn't give him a chance
to talk. do you have our tree,
Oliver?" she asked.
Old oliver chuckled and jumped
down from the wagon. "Alra week
I've had your tree" he said.
"Just put it in the yard" Marge
told him. why, Denny and ]
couldn't do without our treel"