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Show I I v i ) V ' - ' f ' M ' 1 SantaComes Home mi GREAT preparationp were ln progress for the annual . Christmas reunion at the Thomas home in Glendale. Lauris was decorating the living room with streamers of red and green and hanging bello and mistletoe above the doors. The holly wreaths were already hung and father had arranged the colored lights on the evergreens in the front yard the night before. "Will be home for Christmas." "Johny" Mother had proudly read the telegram tel-egram aloud to the family and all were simply bursting with holiday enthusiasm, for Johny was really coming home. All was hustle and bustle ln the kitchen of fragrant odors. Mother was wholly surrounded by delicious sour cream cookies which she was busily tinting in the Christmas colors col-ors of red and green. The refresh-ing refresh-ing aroma of the traditional cardamom carda-mom seed and of the spices, was most pleasing. Even little Tim was Johny Stood, Agnast, Taking in the ' Whole Situation. privileged to aid in this glorious Christmas preparation I When things were well on their way toward completion, mother ; sent the children into the living room. "I want you to pack all the ; gifts in that large box the grocer brought," said mother, "and wrap that holly paper around it so it will look more Christmas-like." ! "All right mother," they shouted, in a chorus of happy voices, as they seampered in. They had glo-! rious fun amongst the gifts slyly peeping beneath the sides of the ! gaily colored wrappers and feeling I to try and guess the contents. I Mother chuckled within as shs ' heard the merry peal of laughter and happy confusion. "Soon now, my children," said father, "we shall hear the train whistle which is to bring our Johny home." Johny had mentioned that he did not wish to be met at the station and his desires had been duly respected. re-spected. Instead of a train whistle, they heard the loud roaring and buzzing oi an airplane. "Oh, I bet Johny is coming by plane," shouted Lauris. "I just bet he is, too," cried Tim, all excited. "I wouldn't be surprised," grinned father, knowingly. There was a rush to the frosted window to see if anything was in sight. "Oh, mother, look at poor old Mrs. Johnson sitting all alone over there in her window seat. Doesn't she look lonesome though?" said Bonny Jean. "Let's invite her over for the evening." suggested mother. "She was telling mfe the other day that her son, Joseph, would not be home foi Christmas." "Yes, let's," they all chimed in, beaming with the Christmas spirit. "That's a very fine idea," agreed father, smiling kindly. "You run over, Tim, my boy, and ask her if she would care to join us." "Oh boy." shouted little Tim, chuckling at the opportunity of getting get-ting out to throw a snowball. Some moments later, the dear little lady was in their midst, smiling smil-ing her gratitude toward each one of them. "It was kind of you to offer to share your Christmas with me," she said. "It has been pretty lonely lone-ly this year without my boy." Just then the door burst open and in stepped Santa Claus. The children almost wrecked him in their excitement. He dropped his heavy pack and shouted, "Merry Christmas," with all the strength and energy he possessed. Mother couldn't stand the sus. pense another moment. She tore off his mask and hugged and kissed him hungrily. Johny stood, aghast, taking in the whole beautiful situation. Tha brilliantly lighted tree, the star oi Bethlehem gleaming at its peak and little Tim jingling a rope oi sleighbells all in his honor. But the best was yet to come, foi he opened the door and in stepped a tall, handsome soldier, his facs flushed with a happy holiday smile, his garments covered with th Christmas snow. "Hello mother," he said, as h rushed into the out-stretched arm of the smiling Mrs. Johnson. After all questions had been satisfactorily sat-isfactorily answered, Lauris began singing at the top of her voice, "When Santa Comes Marching Home." The others sensing th grand idea, joined in with a jollj good spirit of fun, in the combined Christmas reunion. Western Newspaper UAloa. stockmen and feeders through burdensome taxes and competition from products produced by low-paid low-paid workers in other countries in the face of sharply higher labor costs in this country. It is to be hoped that our representatives in Washington will give serious thought to legislation that, will make it possible for business and agriculture to meet domestic marketing and production problems. |