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Show UTAH STATESMAN irfei nr FImm Harris Welb , CLARK and her father sat "listening In." ARLAN It was Christmas Eve and they were alone. It was the first Christmas without the mother, who had passed on the previous summer. Marian had not gone back to college in the fell. She had not been able to make herself feel It was right to leave her father alone on the farm. Because she was always cheerful and gay, Mr. Gark hadn't fully comprehended the sacrifice Marian had made, nor how much It hod meant to her to drop out her last year. Even though she might go back later, it wouldnt be her class. Marian had prevailed upon her father to get the radio a few weeks before. They called it their Christmas prese&t to each other. Neither of them particularly enthused over the radio; yet it gave them a' contact With the outside world. Tonight the Christmas carols were wakening tender memories in Mr. Clark's mind;' so that even while he beard them, his thoughts were far away, living over Christmas days of the past Marians thoughts, too, were busy, but she was thinking of a letter that had come that day, reminding her of the extra credits she had accumulated while in college, and suggesting that if she came back the ADDYI Come Uirjr to rapper 1" Brown opened door to put her head out into the darkneaa and cold of a anowy Christmas Eve. "Coming, Old Scout, replied a gruff voice which had grown coarae ahout-in- g a fureman'a ordera In the clanging ateel mills. Dad atamped the anow from hta wornout overshoes. "Well, rve shoveled the walk," he growled, "even if Grandma'a not coming and it'll soon be drifted again. Just felt I wanted to do it, some-how- ." the living-roo- m year, maybe, with no doctor bills, It'll be lonely, though." "Jimmy 1? exclaimed Mother. "What are yon so fidgety about "Oh, nothing I I r thought 1 Sandman sur- prised them and made easy. waiting "Mary," said Dad gloomily, have to apeak to Jimmie, What keeps him out lute this "IH way? Even If it is vacation, it's strange. If he's around bangin goodil ever come of pool that" halls, no Mother looked thoughtful. "Well," she admitted, "he hasn't been in early for a week. But, Sam, I don't think he'd do anything wrong, yon know anything " "N-nJims been a good boy," said Dad. "An awful good boy, " said Mother. . Jimmy burst in, rosy with cold, his eyes sparkling. "Keen weather I" he announced, explosively, dancing and blowing his but" lS-shl- hands. 'Lo, Ma 1 Lo, Dad I Gee, but this'll be a swell Christmas I" Dad and Mother brightened with smiles. Who could help it with Jimmy around. But Dad shifted uneasily. Wouldn't do to take a boy to task on Christmas eve. lie started to pack his pipe. "Jimmy, your supper's still hot," I heard a car, though. Dad; is the walk swept? I never noticed." Dad "Walk huhr After supper the little ones went reluctantly to dreamland. Oh, Juat to Christthink mas at last I Bow hard to wait till morning 1 But the dif- ferent Shell be Sla and Bob, the "twin sixes," aa Dad had named them since their laat birthday, now pounced on him, yelling "Gonna get a aledl Gonna get a aled !" and "1 get a dollle, Fapa, wont t, -- Here, Yuletide Cheer - By . - KEDW. hWHUetaiPM gasped. swept 7 nt THE providence ef Natan There's a consonance of good. Permeating and elating AU the eosmk brotherhood. Though the MM of deep depression w May engu(f draggling form. Like the gleaming of cur dreaming Ate the heights above the dorm; And one peak that glistens deafly Like an Iridescent ear, le the Yuletide Cheer, tohkh yearly Bring delight to every one. High above the range of Virtues Is this crowning pbmacls. And lit taring mud enduring Menage freely eamet to all m mm on otcorouOp Hearit ere merrily; joopi For the season of Good Feeling, Dawning as the old year din. Turns to gladness aU ear sadness. And to friends our anemia. tree I" "Jimmy, yon shouldnt! I don't need a thing. And how could yon have bought It anyhow 7" But Mothers eyes kindled. ' "And, Mother, give Dad hlpresent now. I saw him flailin' for a smoke and glvln up. Cigars I" "Why, Son. Yon old John D! A whole box of Garoa I Get me a match, quick. Yon shouldn't have spent It Who'd you run errands for, anyway "Run errands, humph! Fm deliverin' for Uncle Sam. Christmas rush." Jimmy strutted. "Say, Fm a millionaire!" An auto set its brakes and swung up to the gate. "And here's my car!" Jimmy exulted, dashing out the door. Away drove a yellow cab and In marched a proud boy with a dear little old lady. Sam and Mary stared. "It's mother!" cried Sam, taking her in his arms. " cautioned grandma." You'll wake the babies. "And she pointed to her bulging shopping bag: Jimmie whisked It away to a hiding place. "But Grandma," saM Mary, "How did you ever manage It!" "We couldn't rake up a cent to send you," said Dad. "Dearies," said Grandma, fumbling In her handbag, "You did send it "Twelve dollura. It was little Jim- - r are thinking darUy 'effortsl So, with fainting hearts, end tearful. Their self pity grows extreme. When a ringing voice and cheerful Sounds this axiom supreme: In the providence of Nature Thaos a service all may find. And the measure of Its treasure Is the art ef being kind. tag's writing." Grandma's dim eyes twinkled wisely. Jimmy blushed. Dad, blinking, pnt a proud arm around him and squeexed him tight Grandma was holding up twelve crackling bills and saying: "So sweet of Jimmy, and the best part was I didn't need to use It after all. Old Eph Saxon showed up after all these years and paid me the hundred dollars your poor loaned grandpa him. Aren't we lucky I All here Wont together. It Just be the merriest Christmas ever!" What was that? Such a racket I la dualled pajama-cla- d the "twin sixes," their little feces shining with ecstasy. "Oh, its Gran'mal Gran'mal Oh I Oh! Oh I Gran'ma, Is Christmas comer (A 1IT. Waatara Mawapapar you." Marian Jumped up, astonished. She shook her father now nodding in his chair: "rather, listen! It may be you!" The voice went mi: "You were two orphans. You were adopted by a family called Clark, and your sister by people named Gibbons. She has never seen nor heard of you since. That was forty years ago. You are fifty-onyears 'old. Your snd lives in sister is forty-seveCotoma, Mich. She wants to get in touch with von." "rather, isnt that your Marian was staring In amased incredulity, but the voice was repeating: "Albert Clark, are you listening lnr Three times it gave the message and at the end explained that this was the last night it would be e theirlackr qulckl asked that one before!" Jimmy ran to his coat and fished out a package. "Look, Dad. Hoes Mother's present Let's put it on the throbbing And each glowing face to rhowtng furl how owed to charity; Some, perhaps, taking a few more than the required number of hours, she could still graduate with her class. It was a temptation. Marian allowed herself to dwell on every phase of it; then she sat up very straight She would not permit herself to think of- - it again, with the long cold winter stealing in about them. She couldn't leave her father alone with no ono of his own to talk to or understand. Suddenly Marian realised that the carols had aided and a voice was asking: "Albert Gark, are you listening in? Your slatef wants to get in touch with next- semester, by PEARSON A fan Somebody me. He's never "S-eh!- Ghvistmas 650: s The truth was the Browns were "broke" and this was to be their "slimmest" Christmas. "Well, Daddy," she said, "Were the little tree and the doll and the sled to be thankful for. But Sam, I did so hope your Mother could have come this year, as always. Maybe we should have borrowed." Dad coughed. "Ifu, dear, we couldnt send her the fare and so that's the end of it Next Jiome fyaiti Mother said. "We saved It for you." "Thanks, Mai You're a peach Boy, but Tm hungry I" Dad found the tobacco bag. It was empty. He hastily shored pipe and bag into his pocket But Mother had noticed and her smile faded. Poor Sami and who divided her time about equally between coaxing the bird to "sing for mother, pretty," asking the Negro brakeman questions, climbing up to get something from her suit case, or changing about from seat to seat. It was merely the restlessness of the usual traveler, but the two men were interested. Between their eager observance of this restlessness and their notation of by Wt).Pennypacker the almost limitless amount of "Most of us," remarked one of the ice cream cones and confections fruit, contravelers, after he was comfortably sumed, they Wondered what would settled and the train was 'well out come next from the yard limits, "still have But candy, and restlessness and strong ties in the old East" travel have little noticeable effect. At is "It trust indeed," replied the last the train was Into its man sitting beside him. love the eastern terminal. Asdrawing it crawled past West I admire its freshness and big- a multitude of switches everyone was ness, its grain There was the usual expectant fields, its many or reaching for hand lugdiversified inter- climbing in the upper racks, the assemgage ests, and the feet bling of hats and outer garments, and that its possibi- a effort to be ready to leave lities for farther thegeneral train quickly. development are The wheels stopped. still apparently Brakemen announced "All out I" limitless. L too, la less than a minute there was a am bound for the mad rush the waiting room old fireplace in and towardsthrough the taxi stand. the city of my "Hello, there, rve been looking for birth, but I can you," cried a man in a friendly voice: never expect the aa he laid his hand on the stranger's old metropolis to shoulder and inappeal to me as quired: It once did. There Just came are too many in "You from the West too high walls, narrow streets on that B:15 and too little opportunity for growth train, did you such as we know on the prairie lands, notr "I did," he reto appeal to me. And the people are not as frank and friendly as they plied with a degree of wonderought to be" ment "Why? The other acquiesced. "You left this Most persons who have lived in the West any length of time feel this way. envelope in your imThe men were not patrons of the scat It looks X woportant Pullman though both were ndered how X and appeared reasonably would find you." prosperous "Gosh ! It is I wouldn't miss the opportunity of Important! There riding in a day coach at this time of could be no Christmas for the kidthe year and studying my fellow passdles without it I don't know how engers," ventured the first speaker. Most every seat was occupied, and It got out of my hand bag probably there were a number of babes and when I removed my time table to study it Well, you're a friend of children among the passengers. mine and the kiddles, I am sure. Two seats before them sat an at"I heard you remark that easterntractive young mother with a babe ers were not friendly," said the new Just able to walk. In spite of Its g arrival composedly. I'm a New York Journey and the lurching of the train as it negotiated numerous City man, just come In from a short curves, the youngster persisted in business trip. What's your name?" The two men withdrew to a comer walking up and down the aisle, atand exchanged cards. a deal of attention and tracting great "Come out with me," said the e getting in the way of brakemen and friend to the westernerby-adoptlopassengers who had to pass to and fro. Across the aisle was a child of "My car wlU be waiting about three, quite amiable, but swing- Just around the corner and I can take you part way to your destinaing in his small hands a banana with its golden envelope dang- tion. The offer was accepted. The men ling about it, to the evident annoyance of an elderly and became warm frienda But the envelope? you ask. What her dignified daughter who sat of the finding of that big white ennearby. But the holiday season was ap- velope. It was that that made Christmas! proaching and no one was "crabby" (A HIT, Wool ora Navspapar Olios.) enough to complain. Old maids and confirmed bachelors. If there were any in the car, either enjoyed the baby or kept their thoughts to themselves. rassengen moved about frequently, Origin of Chridmae Trees as Is quite common on a lung Journey, The modern Christmas tree can be and some of the more restless ones, traced baek to the Sixteenth century. it is safe to say, occupied nearly every It originated on the banks of till seat in the car before they reached Rhine. Sixty years later the fir tree was used to carry gifts In celebration their Journey's end. Near the front of the car sat a of Christmas all ever the civilised canary, Ualaa) broadcast; Albert Clark was not listening to the explanation Coloma was only fifty miles away. There wasn't much 1 . well-dress- ed slg-sa- snow, and autos were still running easily. They could start at once, and start they did, and Aunt Marian came back with them the next morning and everything was settled happily, as in fairy tales. "Radio wasn't such a poor present after all, was it, daughterr Farmer Clark questioned laughingly as they finished their bountiful Christmas dinner and rose to go into the living room where Christmas carols were again "coming in." "I should say not," Marian retorted gaily. "It brought me the best Christ-ms- s present I've ever had." "And me, too," her Aunt Marian chimed in. "Your father and I will have great times listening in' these long winter evenings when you're away poring over dry old school books. "1 had them broadcast that half In fun with scarce a flicker of hope that It would bring any results. But I'm. glad I chose the Christmas time because we're all such fine Christmas presents for each other." (A Hit. WssUra Mawapapar Velas.) new-mad- n. half-eate- semi-invali- d woman whose only child was a song world. |