OCR Text |
Show 1 1 DAD PUTS UP THE TREE ' By Eunice Cossidy Hendryx GEORGE PIERSON'S first thought when he stepped off the bus was, "The kids are right. Ours is the only gloomy place in the block." Windows In all the other houses were ablaze with everything ev-erything from lighted wreaths to glittering Christmas trees. No wonder the children protested against following the old custom Aunt Maggie Insisted on not putting put-ting the tree up until Christmas Eve. Suddenly he recalled the nickname nick-name he had given his old aunt years ago, Aunt Naggie. What a dolt he had been to make the kids give In to her. Well, there would be no more of thatl As soon as dinner was over and Aunt Maggie had gone to her room, he announced dramatically, "We're going to put up the Christmas Christ-mas tree!" "Right nowT" Jimmy demanded. "Right now," Dad promised. "Hooray! Betty shouted. "Let's do it quietly," Mother suggested, "so it won't bother Aunt Maggie We will let it be a surprise sur-prise to her." "I think she will like that," came from four-year-old Susan. Five pairs of hands got busy shoving the furniture around to make room for the tree. "Ill bring It in," said Dad. "Jimmy, you run down to the basement and get the stand." Mother offered to bring the boxes box-es of lights and ornaments down from the attic. Betty snd Susan hurried to their room to get their beribboned gift packages. Mother held the tree while Betty Bet-ty called Dad up from the basement. base-ment. Finally, Jimmy returned with the stand. Betty helped Mother sort the sparkling trimmings and screw bubble lights into the sockets. Jimmy Jim-my produced a ragged extension cord which he declared was still good. Susan crawled under the sofa to recover a ball of red yarn. Dad had a hectic time fitting the tree Into the stand. He was sure Jimmy had sprung it. His patience was practically exhausted before the tree stood fairly upright and secure. Jimmy strung the light cords around while Mother and Betty hung the glittering ornaments on the branches. "Don't you want to help us, Susan?" Sus-an?" Betty asked. "Sure I do. but I had to wind Aunt Maggie's yarn first." Susan answered as she placed the big ball on the table "I'll hang the Icicles," Reaching high, she fell against the tree and over it toppled. top-pled. Balls and lights tumbled about. Fragile ornaments broke Into tiny pieces. Dad mumbled something about Aunt Maggie being right after all Susan burst into tears and the noise aroused Aunt Maggie who came and stood stiffly ;- the doorway. door-way. "Just putting up the tree " Dad's voice held a hint of d"fiance "Really," Aunt Maggie replied tartly. "If you don't mind, I'll get my knitting." She spied the ball of yarn and fairly pounced upon It. "I wound It up nice fnr you " Susan boasted. "Merciful heavens." the old lady exclalr.,Jd. "you've complexly complex-ly ravelled the nnttcn I had almoM finished." With the tree once mure safclj moored. Dad directed, "Start the i music, Betty. Susan turn on the ; lights." j Lights bubbled and a chorus of j voices sang, "God rest you merry, Gentlemen, let nothing you dis ma ay." Wires crackled, sparks flew, and the room was thrown Into darkness. Out of the dark. Aunt Maggie's voice cackled, "Let nothing you dismay." And in trie most un-Christmassy j voice, Dad retorted, "You're j darned right we won't." I |