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Show Their Christmas and an Odd Tree One Surprise Package That Brought Joy to Entire Family. By GERTRUDE WALTON "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 Glaus allows -me to carry to his children everywhere? Again I hope that I may be a worthy Santa Clans His Santa Claus to distribute His peace and good will," James said as he learned of the afternoon visit to the sheep-herders' wagon. T IS plain to see that for this Christ-j Christ-j mas tliere will be I no tree I mean one that isn't made . from a basket or a table no real tree. 4 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 'nver the sea, could not spend Clirist-aias Clirist-aias with his home circle. As she looked out over the treeless, snow-covered prairies of her northern ranch home, eight- packages fastened over Mr. Lee, who would serve as a tree, while Lester, as Santa Claus, would distribute the gifts. Upon arriving home they were surprised to find Mr. Lee and Lester, who hid expected to be away until dark. There was . greater surprise when they found the chores done and supper ready. "Let iks 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 j over Mr. Lee as the tree, when he i said, mischievously winking at Lester, j "i'lease don't forget the large package j I just brought for all of you. It is in I the closet." j Mrs. Lee and Clara ran excitedly ; to the closet when a package a tall boy seized them een nines mmi town, where the Reason's drought bad robbed them of garden and grain, her sighs rose to an excited excit-ed exclamation W h i c h 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 ' "iy be Santa 1 'Inns nnrl T mm both in ids arms Through smothered smoth-ered joy-cries of "James! When did you come?'' Mr. Lee explained that on a previous previ-ous visit to town be had received word that James was coming home for Christmas. He kept the secret as a happy surprise fror... Mrs. Lee and Clara. Upon pretense of getting get-ting some gifts for the children, he und Lester be a tree laden v ith packages which you may take : :-o:n me and give to the boys at the : 'H'cp-hcrdcrs' wagon tomorrow. Fa-''ov Fa-''ov and Lester will be gone to town : 'I day anil we will visit the boys and ; -esent them with a tree and Santa ' ' itis for Christinas Eve," Mrs. Lee I -nghcil. Mrs. Lee sang all the next morning : t her baking, after she had tucked 1 r husband and ten-year-old Lester i : the sled for their long drive. In Cm afternoon, with a basket on hef : r::i 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 t hp shoep-herder.s. While Mrs. Lee put the wagon In order, Clara tacked up bits of Christ mas color she had clipped from magazines maga-zines or had designed from paprr. On the way home Mrs. Lee and Clara planned to have their Christmas hud planned the I trip to town after James, who was i now hungry and . ready for supper. |