Burlington free press. [volume] (Burlington, Vt.) 1827-1865, 1850-02-15
The $3.50 New Years Present.
BY MRS. CAROLINE A. SoULE.

sTnat is he, exclaimed Ellen Lee in joy
Gus tone as the street door was gently opened
and closed.
How clad | am he has come at last;
thought il would never be two O'Clock and RI
sing hastily, she shook an apronfu Of gorgeous
worsted upon the carpet tossed her thimble in
the midst of them, and was down stairs ere he
whom she had been impatently expecting, had
laid aside his overcoat
'Oh, father father! cried she, grasping the
hands Of fine looking man and gazing earnest
y at him. am glad you've come Do
YOU know have been watching at the window
whole hour for you? Pray, why did you
stay so long?
so long, Ellen why, it's not late the clock
is only now striking.
sWell. it has seemed an age since noon
1.-TWO hours, an are oh. the extravaganza
of these Young girls - and the parent, haf-re-
provingly, haf.jestingly, place his fingers upon
her lips
Now DON'T father pray don't use that word.
-Yuu know two hours do seem long while,
when one is waiting for them to pass. So now
lay aside that frown. for II was only because |
wanted to see you so much, 50 uHy much, that
the hours dragged So.
But WHY want to see me so very much -
answered he in a bantering tone, as he suffer
ed her to lead him into the parlor and seat him
in his easy chair not, hope, to get my cor
sent to giving away this little -
Now father, don't, don't tease you know !
am never agoing 10 leave YOU
Again were the fingers placed upon her lips.
Just now, an age ment two hours and now,
never is SYNONYMOUS With year, and perhaps
less, if love and business can agree. Oh, Ely
Elly! must chide You sometimes. But tell
ny Ou-lv mr.
me |?
Then the daughter, nesting at his feet on
low stool. and resting her head on his knee. AS
she was wont to do when little child looked
wis fully into his face, parted her lips as if to
speak, and then turned aside her countpnance
as though she were half afraid to utter her
wishes.
You are strangely timid, Ellen. What is it
you want so verv much, and yet dare not ask
me for Come let me hear it quickly; for. il
my appetite deceive me not, the dinner bell will
ring ere long. never refuse you any thing
reasonable. do | I?
'Oh, no, no; and that - she hesitated.
Then YOU want something unreasonable, do
you another silk Dress ere the last has been
worn a half dozen times; or -
"A new dress ? and the lip curled, No in
deed. But, father said she, gazing into his
eyes as tho going 10 express some startling
fact, do You know it is almost New lears's ?
| lie laughed aloud.
DO know it? Why, yes, should think
did at least ought to; have received biles
enough to that import this morning
'Bets father; what kind pray I!
'Those that must be answered by bank notes,
Ely. But tell me did you watch an hour at
the window for me, and fret another away
merely to tell me it is almost New Year"
son, no; that is only the preface to my tale
and ! want to ask yet another question: before
| begin the proposition, Which is the wealth.
est, you or Mr.. Gregg
'What are you trying to come at, Ellen"
Don't you thrk You are as rich as he 2
WHY. yes, guess am. But why ask me
such question? You and Julia have not beer
quarrelling about You probable dowries ?
Julia and quarrelling--w father but
you Jest I'll tell you now why Eve wanted tC
see you so much. Mr.. Grey returned last eve
ming from Boston, and he has brought Julia an
elegant gold watch and chain. But she is not
to wear them yet, as he intended them for :
| New Years present; and she only told me Of it
| because size wanted me TO have one Just like
it,, AS we have always dressed very nearly
alike -
You needn't continue, Ellen can easil,
guess the remainder of your story. 1t is onl!
This: YOU want your dear father to be as gen
erous as MIR Grey and give you a watch AM
chain for the New Year. Is it not so, daugh
ter 2 and he playfully patted her flushed cheeks
But let me see, are you old enough to wear a
watch 2
'Old enoughn repeated the young girl, in
tone of surprise and rising she drew up he
graceful form to its extreme height. why
father, ] was eighteen last month why shal
! soon be -
'Old as the hills, shan't you, Ellen p said tn
good-natured parent. But come, there is th,
bell we will talk Of this at dinner
At the table, Mrs Lee had much to sa
to her husband about some preparations for tn
approaching holidays, that Ellen could not with
out obtrudng, speak word Of the costly gitt
and could only wish, in secret, that the Wand
were despatched and she again at her father
feet. But, alas for her just as they were en-
tering the paror, he was summoned in haste L
his countlng-room, on important business
Business --business-h hate he word
nuttered Ellen, as she proceeded to her cham
Der, It's always business with men, Just Vhei
their wives and daughters want them most
| wish, but she checked herself, good sens
whispered to her, fit were not for that business
what would become of those wives and daugh
size had again found her thmbe and commenc
ed re arranging her worsted, it was provoking
that he should be call away soon, when
will be so long before he will be in again
Let me see what time it is and she glance
at the clock on the mantel; half past three
four, five, six, seven-three hours and a half
Father may laugh or frown, they will certanl
seem an age
If it did not seem an age, it really did a yer
long AFTERNOON to that excited and impaten
young creature.
j do believe my clock is wrong indeed,
know it must be too SLOW exclaimed she, as
struck five; will 90 down and see.
But it was only five by the clock in the pal
lor and the others told the same Story.
r What shall do to pass away the time
: am almost ashamed of myself for being {
s childish, but ] cannot help il, do so want
), know whether am to have them or not. cal