| Show ren grow niche in some had too busy up and Tife married to get each The and home in time Teave the home nest and seek to find their own time came when not one was left in the big stone housej moved far away some attending college too far away and for Christmas Still Grandpa was making his trips to the canyon for the winter wood As he was about to leave early that brisk October morning Grandma called Papa donbother to bringtree this year not one of the children will be home Grandpa for Christmas nodded gone Winds morning his grey whipped snow the from the canyon milked head all too busy in silence valley and by the cows fed the on the mantle above the sink eggs filled the woodbox The clock are and picked the air and one could covered Grandma they feel late some up his winter and far Tunch away sack and was approaching evening chickens too Grandpa the had lambs By midnot returned gathered the and kept the fire going in the old Stewart range dozen times Grandma walked to the sound of the horses hoofs Finally struck eight then nine then ten corral gate listening for the heavy at midnight there camedistant crunch ing of wheels on the icy snow The neigh of old Nig was music to her ears They were home and on top of all the logs reaching far into the sky was the most beautiful Christmas tree she had ever seen The next day Grandpa madebox for the trunk and together they moved it into the parlor Put this tree in the bay window Papa where Ethelinda always wanted it Then Grandma closed the parlor door October passed of snow almost buried Stewart range with its green cold November slipped by and in December the valley Grandma and Grandpa kept close the parlor door had never been opened branches brushed the bay window But the parlor was not entirely empty delightful with no heat no brooms no dust the ones braided mama rug Well spiders papa the spiders spiders and the day the their ones the children lean ones their web wherever they climbed spider legs over cousins tree of silver yes each Tittle branch leaving and silver traveled Christmas Eve the tree was silver threads The Tast trace mas and under on the little their aunts descending Tike an army on the great green Christmas tree Up and down tree Who do you suppose found it mops no heavy shoes treading the big all since blanket to the old covered with of green was Silver Christmas strands and strands gone It was truly of tinyChrist Tree December moon with its cold icy glare picked up shining sparkles from the frozen snow reflectingglow upon the silver tree standing in the bay window It wasmagnificent picture The The carolers stopped and stared and neighbors passed and one by one sent stared and sang the word around came to seesilver tree in the Jensen bay window has made it thus 70 louder and longer until the whole town Ohing and ahing What |