Show ng 0 Home 1 ALICE B. B 1 14 t PALMER PALMERa 4 a 4 1 4 V. V S BEAT REAT prep preparations preparation were in c GREAT progress for the annual Christmas reunion at the Thomas home in Glendale Lauris was decorating the living room w with th streamers of red and green and md hanging belli and mistletoe above the doors The holly wreaths were already hung and father had arranged the colored lights on the evergreens In the front yard the night before Will be home for Christmas s. s Johny Mother had proudly read the telegram telegram telegram tel tel- aloud to the family and all were simply bursting with holiday enthusiasm for Johny was really coming home All was hustle and bustle in the kitchen of fragrant odors Mother l was wholly surrounded by delicious sour cream cookies which she was busily tinting in the Christmas colors col colors colors col- col ors of red and green The refreshing refreshing refresh refresh- ing aroma of the traditional cardamom cardamom cardamom carda carda- mom seed and of the spices was most pleasing Even little Tim was wast t F IO D Dr DI Dt t r I Johny Stood AG Aghast ast Taking In fA the Whole Situation privileged to aid in this glorious Christmas preparation When things were well on their way toward completion mother sent the children into the living room I want you to pack all the gifts gitts in that large box the grocer brought said mother and wrap that holly paper around it so it will look more Christmas All right mother they shouted In a chorus of happy voices as they scampered in They had glorious glorious glorious glo glo- rious fun amongst the gifts gilts slyly peeping beneath the sides of the gaily Sally colored wrappers and feeling to try and guess the contents Mother chuckled within as she I heard beard the merry peal of ot laughter and happy confusion Soon now my children said father we shall hear the train whistle which is to bring our Johny home Johny had mentioned that he did not wish to be met at the station an and his desires had been duly re re- Instead of a train whistle they heard the loud roaring and buzzing oi ot an airplane Oh I bet J Johny is coming by plane pInne shouted Lauris I just bet he Is too cried Tim all excited I wouldn't be surprised grinned father knowingly There was a rush to the frosted window to see if it anything was in sight Oh mother look at poor old Mrs Johnson sitting all alone over there In her window seat Doesn't she look lonesome though said Bonny Jean Lets invite her over for Cor the evening suggested mother She was telling me the other day that her son Joseph would not be home for Christmas Yes lets let's they all chimed In beaming with the Christmas spirit a very fine idea agreed father smiling kindly You run over Tim my boy and ask her if she would care to join us Oh boy shouted little Tim chuckling at the opportunity of getting getting getting get get- ting out to throw a snowball Some moments later the dear little lady was in their midst smiling smiling smiling smil smil- ing her gratitude toward each one ne neof of them It was kind of you to otter offer to share your Christmas with me mer she said It has been pretty lonely lonely lone lon ly this year without my boy Just then the door burst open and in stepped Santa Claus The children almost wrecked him in their excitement He dropped his heavy pack and shouted Merry Christmas with all the strength and energy he possessed Mother couldn't stand the suspense suspense sus sus- pense another moment She tore off his mask and hugged and kissed him hungrily Johny stood aghast taking Inthe in inthe inthe the whole beautiful situation The brilliantly lighted tree the star of Bethlehem gleaming at Its peak and little Tim jingling a rope of all In his honor But the best was yet to come for he opened the door and in stepped a tall handsome soldier his face flushed with a happy holiday smile his garments covered with the Christmas snow Hello mother he said as he rushed into the out outstretched arms of the thc smiling Mrs Johnson After all questions had been satisfactorily satisfactorily satisfactorily sat sat- answered Lauris began singing at the top of her voice When Santa Comes Marching Home The others sensing the grand idea ide a joined in with a jolly good spirit of fun in the combined s reunion q Western Newspaper Union |