Show I q III Br Bf r I r-n r M II LARCH opened the lie k kit Mi 1 1 doer doer Hi III m wife vita leaked ed uj up with 1 a n M a be te ate Be lust Just shook ads lIW ki teaL beat bee No NI men maD at t allT u sn she said old as a she be went on On fixing dinner dimmer Oh Ob there dare were a couple of ads eds adland and a bill bUl tress from the seed Nd company He H hung buD his bt hat lIt on at a hook beak and crossed to the lb pump His HIa W white while whitehair hair was damp around round his face lace when he be straightened l up again Its It Just Jut not like Bill she sighed Blips Bills BW got ot an streak always did have hare hu even ven when he was wasa a little feller fener Pas Pa's old briar gave ave off a pungent odor as he lit It it But this is I different Tom she he said IBId putting a pan of biscuits In Inthe inthe the oven oven tomorrow Is Ia Christmas Its It's a long lon way to the coat coast Maybe he wrote but didn't mall it In tune time Ma Me his hll hi tired old ok voice was Oiled filed with bitterness theres therel no noo nor noI o r I 1 y I I She could could see lee Pa striding Into the living room need to stick pins pin In yourself by hopin Christmas or no Christmas that boy Is II still till mad The old ladys lady's lady eyes ees shone with faith He might stay Itay mad mid all ell year long lon but when Christmas come comes heU hell write I 1 know Im I'm his hi Ma Me Dont forget Tom said ald as he blew smoke at the ceiling ills His m eyes eYll crinkled at the corners corner Im his bt father Dinners ready Pa she said laid med fined with a deep longing and fought to keep the tears tear out of her voice I T I cn en understand that boy tin still bein mad at me but why does doel doe he b 1 have to take It out on you Youre wrong wron Tom Torn Ma replied as a a she lifted her head and smiled pilled The day after Christmas fret first de de- de delivery delivery livery well we'll get get a letter You'll see leer Not from him he shook his head grimly Youre Judy she re re- re reminded reminded minded him as they sat at down She a good law daughter daughter law in-law Oh Im I'm not her reply reply- replyIng ing in as he covered his biscuits with gravy a fine tine girl Its It's It his hi bull headed pride She got up and taking the coffee coffeepot pot 08 off the cook stove tove flied filled his cup They ale ate on in silence Finally he pushed his plate back You arent aren't much he 1 scolded Im Just lust not hungry Pa I see lee he stood up Im grin goin out and turn the tha heater on In the ben hen house bouse It'll be cold tonight His Ina old shoulders shoulder slumped forward as he went outside She shook her head bead and started darted picking up the dishes Her mind sank lank back Into the past To the days daYI when Christ mss mil was alive with the excitement and laughter of young voices She could see Pa striding into the liv log ing room bearing a large evergreen on his hi shoulder houlder Behind him there was always a highly excited little littleboy boy bearing an axe She wondered if 11 the little boy ever thought of ot it PA CAME back backon on the porch She smiled as he kicked his toe against the threshold Its It's a wonder sh she thought that theres there's any threshold left after all these years He came cama cam Into the kitchen dumping an arm armload armload load of kindling in the box behind the range Snow in Pa He Be shook hook his head and took oft off his bit wraps wrap replying Stopped She hung the dish dash towels up to dry He Ha pulled a rocker In from the living room and sat at down Everything all aU right in the barn Ma asked as she threw a afew tew few lumps lump of coal in the Ore fire Sure Pa said A sad ad smile crossed his lips Bps What the use Ma Were We're both blue She sat down at the old kitchen ta tie ble and started sta i peeling apples ut ut- ut uttered ut- ut uttered I 1 know it It Gonna bake me a pie he asked She nodded Apple was always alway Billys Billy's favorite too Now Ma what's hat the use of he stopped as they heard a car drive up in the yard Must be Jim Rogers Said Sand today that new calf calfI I of his hi was sick He opened the I kitchen door and peered out Into the night She could hear him catch his hi breath as he watched a man and anda a women get out mil Ma who do you think his hia voice wax was low I knew Ma Ms laughed as she laid the paring knife down with th a hap happy py smile I 1 knew it all the time Buy your office supplies at atthe the ti-it Vernal Express |