Show their christmas and an odd tree one surprise package that brought joy to entire family by sy GERTRUDE WALTON T IS 19 plain to eee see that fiat t for this christ nias mas there will nill be no tree I 1 mean one that made from front a basket or a table IKI no real tree any kind of a santa claus ai as well as m v CT die in this terrible place it t bould be more bearable if james ere hoine mida lee exclaimed tin i j ne as ehe she looked lovingly at a holograph of cpr elder son james ak who ito because of 0 government sc bervice arvice nir the he se P mild not ot spend christ j ag as with his ills home circle ks slie bile looked out oer the tree lesi of her tier northern a ti w cohered prairies cinch home eight eti 11 from i 1 arii where the ioa sons drought I 1 lid d robbed them f garden and 11 miln krain her sighs t i se to an excia 41 1 it I 1 11 I 1 r h brought I 1 ove year old I 1 41 I 1 ra front an HI I 1 I 1 luing filing room lo 10 I 1 ur tile secret I 1 r mother re 1 led let us be a it I 1 far ond anda a santa banta I 1 laua laus too oy 6 I 1 kly S he be santa aikus laua and d I 1 will mia I 1 it tree laden it pac kagia Logis which you may t tue 0 antl tile and give to the boys at the I 1 ep lier ders dugon toi norro ba la 1 r t and I 1 ester ill be gone to town I 1 I 1 liy fly and me Isit the bos bo sand and I 1 fscott them alth a tree anil and santa 1 4 ui for I 1 ea e mra mrs I 1 ei ei I 1 irm I 1 ee sang nil oil abe he neit next morning pa t lor haling after she site had tusked 1 w husband and ten year old I 1 ester ill tile filed 11 for their long drive lo 10 afternoon arter noon with a basket on cef arl i and some small packages fastened r her coat so elio title would represent tree re itra mrs lee and clara started 1 tie ilk wagon to carry christinas christmas to fstepp P 81 bedders all idilo mrs lee pot put tte wagon in 1 artier clara tacked locked up bits of 0 christ color ehe she had clipped from fuaga a aalfs or had deigned froni from paper on oil the way borne mrs iee lee and ar to bare have their i 1 packages fastened over clr lee who would serne sit a tree hile I leeter iester ester as a banta santa claus would distribute the gifts upon arching home they were surprised to farid mr I 1 ee te and lester ho bid expected to be away until dark there was greater surprise eur prise when they found the chorea chores done and upper supper ready I 1 et us have our tree tre and santa 1 I first mr tr I 1 ee ce said when he heard of the phin of a man tree and it lo 10 santa laus jaus of course every one was ailline po SO be the package packages toine soine of which had been brought nat eny ny froni front town ton were being fastened oer mr air lee as the tree when he bald mischievously tt inking at lester I 1 lease dont forset forget the large package 1 I just brought for all till of you it Is I 1 la in the clo closet clotet tet mrs airs lee I 1 ee arid clan clara ran excitedly to the closet alien a package a tall boy seized theiu them both in hie his arm ams through ered joy crice cries of james I 1 V hen did you corae sir air I 1 ee explained that on a ous esit to town ton he had received word mord that jamett w m as a coining home he lie kept the secret ag as a happy bur surprise prise fron mrs lee and clam mon pretense of get I 1 tine ling some cluts for the be children he and leeter lester had planned the james who wn was after atter trip to ton now hungry end and ready tor for supper I 1 may I 1 serve as your tree thia this year far alth branches I 1 hope strong enough to hold all the trust and confidence jou you place in me as mell ell as to bold any packages pac lagee of love and service 1 the real santa claus allows me to carry to bla children everywhere A again gain I 1 it hope fie laud that I 1 may maybe be a m worthy orthy santa ta C clau ills tits santa claue claus to distribute ilia ills peace and food good will james said ae an he learned of the afternoon visit to the sheepherders sheep herders wagon |