OCR Text |
Show packages fastened over Mr. Lee, who would serve as a tree, while Lester, as Santa Claus, would distribute the i. gifts. Upon arriving home they were surprised to find Mr. Lee and Lester, who had expected to be away until dark. There was greater surprise when they found the chores done and supper ready. "Let us have our tree and Santa Claus first," Mr. Lee said, when he heard of the plan of a "man-tree" and a boy-Santa Claus. Of course, everyone every-one was willing. So the packages, some of which had been brought that day from town, were being fastened over Sir. Lee as the tree, when he said, mischievously winking at Lester, "Please don't forget the large package I just brought for all of you. It Is la the closet." Mrs. Lee and Clara ran excitedly to the closet when a package a tall lif boy seized them both in his arms. Through smothered smoth-ered joy-cries of "James 1 When did you come?" Mr. Lee explained that 'on a previous previ-ous visit to toWn he had received word that James was coming home for Christmas. He kept the secret as a happy surprise from Mrs. Lee and Clara. Upon pretense of get-ting get-ting some gifts for the children, he and Lester had planned the Their Christmas and an Odd Tree One Surprise Package That Brought Joy to Entire Family. By GERTRUDE WALTON fa WF? T IS plain t0 see hoTp fel i that for this Christ" TfcAfi gk I 1 mas there will be vrMAf iCiJ no tree 1 mean Jy flh one that Isn,t irmcle rJAjL NvSft from a basket or a ffib4 table n0 rea! tree' lV94 Any kind of a Santa Claus, as well as trees, would die in this terrible place. It would be more bearable If James were home," Mida Lee exclaimed impatiently im-patiently as she looked lovingly at a photograph of her elder son, James, who, because of government service over the sea, could not spend Christmas Christ-mas with his home circle. As she looked out over the treeless, snow-covered prairies of her northern ..nrinTi linmp pifht"- ; trip to town after James, who was i now hungry and ready for supper, i "May I serve as your tree this year, with branches, I hope, strong enough - to hold all the trust and confidence you : place in me, as well as to hold any packages of love and service 'the real Santa Claus allows me to carry to Ms children everywdiere? Again I hope that I may be a worthy Santa Claus His Santa Claus to distribute His peace and good will," James said as he : learned of the afternoon visit to the sheep-herders' wagon. een miles from town, where the season's drought had robbed them of garden and grain, her sighs rose to an excited excit-ed exclamation which brought twelve - year -old Clara from an adjoining room to hear the secret her mother revealed. re-vealed. "Let us be a tree and a Santa Claus, too. You inay be Santa Claus and I will 1 be a tree laden with packages which you may take from me and give to the boys at the sheep-herders' wagon tomorrow. Father Fa-ther and Lester will be gone to town all day and' we will visit the bws and present them with a tree and Santa Claus for Christmas Eve," Mrs. Lee laughed. Mrs. Lee sang all the next morning at her baking, after she had tucked her husband and ten-year-old Lester in the sled for their long drive. In the afternoon, with a basket on her arm and some small packages fastened over her coat, so she would represent a tree, Mrs. Lee and Clara started to the wagon to carry Christmas to the sheep-herders,' While Mrs. Lee put the wagon in order, Clara tacked up bits of Christmas Christ-mas color she had clipped from magazines maga-zines or had designed from paper. On the way home Mrs. Lee and Oara planned to have their Christmas |