Show 0 M RON g ut zat j 4 AZA larvi 14 V V r CHRISTMAS EVE homecoming HOME COMING 1 9 MARY GRAHAM BONNER WT 72 WAS so cheerful when the unknown 3 jab crowds were left behind and the known ones appeared that was on the last part of the journey dexter lyons had been traveling all day and now it was dark and the lamps on the little branch line train were lighted and all the home comers from all directions had bad met mel everyone knew everyone else on this train and the conductor knew them all i the stove at the end of the train was burning b almost too warmly the train joggled along the jl calwas car was filled with people bags suitcases packages of all shapes and elies the conductor took the tickets only as a secondary consideration ills first interest was in hearing how everyone had been what 1 hey had been doing when school or college began after the holidays I 1 when the business folk must be back in the cities to everyone he wished a merry christmas they had hurried so to make connections us they had bad scrambled and pushed through the great holiday crowds but now they were all sure they would get home on christmas eve after they got on this train there could be no missing of connections and the conductor had promised them they would be on time out of the windows occasional lights could be seen in the farmhouses they passed and in the streets of very small villages but every house no matter how separated and alone was decorated christmas reached everywhere it penetrated the traffic of cities and reached out to the most remote places there was wag a general chatter going on a renewing of friendships a talk between some who only saw each other at this time of the year who had different interests and occupations and lived in different places place but who enjoyed this annual little talk and then the engine gave a long long long whistle it was not the or unary of an engine it was the way the engine always whistled on christmas eve so as to carry word to the waiting walting families and friends at the little station at the end of the line that the train was doin doing its part to wish them a mariy merry christmas by bringing its loni load of people peoli e dexter hiis was out afi on the platform oh such greetings as there were and then a rush to the different homes where hot suppers were spread out upon candlelit candle lit ailt tables and where ruddy fires radiated their glow of cheer dexter was surrounded by ills his family and besides there was nancy that made the homecoming home coming perfect F for or it gave him the hope the unspoken promise that he bo would have his bis own own home coining before long nancy would never have joined this family gathering on christmas eve when dexter was just home if she had not decided that certain matters he had taken up with her in letters were to be answered by assent I 1 oh nancy he told her later it does it does mean that you say yes it and nancy said that it did didt I 1 sk newspaper union |