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Show CHRISTMAS I AMONG THE 1 PINES 1 i 1 S By j Jodie Webb Pearson I BIG BILL, in spite of his six foot four was a boy at heart. Boss of a logging crew he could be plenty stern when occasion occa-sion demanded, but a Christmas tree and all the lights and cheer that goes with it was his weakness. "Christmas is no fun without kids." was the way he put it. But, it looked like Bill was doomed to ! disappointment this year, i The crew were lounging around j the fire after a hard day's work when Pudgy Sam, the cook, shook the ashes out of his pipe and said: "What's the reason we can't have n ' - - - i 'Christmas No Fun Without Kids," the Way He Put It. a Christmas just like home right here? Plenty trees, if we can muster mus-ter the trimmin's." Bob, the kid dishwasher, was all enthusiasm. "We've got popcorn. I've strung yards at home for mom. Sam's got a harmonica, and Dave a Jews harp, an' some of you fellows can sing. And I'll trim the tree." "The Boss wouldn't think much of a Christmas without kids," put in Dave. "There's the Martins. They got a couple kids; we' can ring them in. I was by there t'other day an' heard them talkin' about Santa comin'." 1 "Boss said Martin looks sort of beat out, too," said another. "Sup-: pose we appoint Bob, here as a committee of one to extend our invitation in-vitation for them to join us. I feel we owe them something, the way they helped us when some of the men had flu." j Big Bill was jubilant with their . plans. "You fellows took the wind out of my sails, but you'll do a bet- 1 ' ter job than I could." "Oh Little Town of Bethlehem," , lead by Sam's harmonica, floated out from lusty throats upon another ' star-strewn night. i , Big Bill in a scrambled suit of red flannel and a hemp beard was ' a satisfactory Santa Claus to at least two happy children. He hand- , ed out gifts to everyone. Sam had done his best on the feast that fol- 1 lowed, and everybody joined in the "three cheers and a tiger" for a , jolly Christmas among the Oregon pines. : ' Western Newspaper Union. 1 |