Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-12-23
THE STORY TELLER.
Lillian Floyd's Christmas Visit
BY CARRY STANLEY.

I'VE never hear anything of poor Toms widow
and child. really think we must write and
invite them here These family ties ought to
be kept up, and Tom was the only brother
had and Mr.. Floyd scraped the back bone of
the turkey on his plate with renewed vigor.
Mrs Floyd settled herself in her chair, FL
liped the crumbs off her napkin with her deli
cate ring-covered fingers, and said,
Il am sure, my dear, have no objection,
but had we not better leave it for whie!-
Christmas is so near, and suppose, poor soul,
she would feel out of place during SO much
gayety.'
Mr.. Floyd held up his glass of generous old
port to the light, and gazed lovingly with half
closed eyes at its ruby oilness, he replied,
Il don't think Mrs. Tom will feel herself at
all out of place, my dear, for she is very re-
spectacle lady, and has some money of her
own'-a sure sign with Mr.. Luke Floyd that
person was respectable.
And 60 it was that the letter was written,
that put Lillian in such a state of excitement
Mrs. Tom, as her brother-in-law designated
her, declined the invitation for herself, but ac-
cepted it for Lilly, who, with the unsubdued
spirits of seventeen, danced about the house in
delight
Isn't it good thing, mamma, that didn't
get a new bonnet and cloak last winter 9 asked
she mime are as fresh now as can be, and
my garnet-colored cashmere have only worn
two or three times-it is as good as new'-and
so Lillian talked on, making the best of her
small wardrobe.
To Mrs. Floyd's greater experience, how
ever, her daughters outfit looked very slender,
but then her income was inconvenently small
And now, such altering and fitting, such
making up of new things, and doing up of old,
the little cottage had never witnessed.
First, there was the new dark blue silk, and
the French chntz dresses to be made. Then
there was the white null, which had been
bought for the last winters cotillion party, and
had done church service during the summer,
TO be washed by old Matte, and ironed by Mrs.
Floyd's own careful hands; and the short
sleeves were to have new thread edging and
blue ribbons on them; and the white silk
stockings were to receive a new fesh-tint,
from dipping in cochineal water and the
one pair of white kid gloves 1--WE ashamed
TO confess it, dear reader, bnt Lillian never had
but one par,) had TO be cleaned with flannel,
and new milk, and white soap; and her col
ored ones had to be rubbed with stale bread
crumbs and india-rubber- oh, altogether, Lii
ian never recoliected so pleasant and busy
time.
She had no misgivings to mar the pleasure
of these preparations. She looked upon her
uncle Luke as modera Aladdin, who pos
sessed magic lamp, that made him master of
countless riches, and on her aunt Floyd as the
most ladylike, fascinating parsonage in the
world, and On her cousin Harriet, as the per-
feet embodiment Of fine ladyism, as lovely as
laces and silks could make her.
The warmth of her reception no way disen-
chaated Lillian. She was unusually pretty,
iadylike and we'll educated and her relations
were too thoroughly bred TO have expressed
any disappointment had she not been SO; while
she was of too healthy a moral nature to imag-
Inc Sights where none existed.
The whirl, the gayety, and the splendor of
the city perfectly bewildered her. Magnificent
furniture, superbly bound books, gay silks,
rich embroideres, jewery piled in the win
dows in splendid confusion, which she bore in
kiag's ransom, made the store windows one
long line of enchantment, till she almost fan
cied that the glories of the ARABIAN Nights
were not fabulous that alabaster sofas over
laid with gold, and floors inlaid with precious
stones, must be common things.
Lillian had never been dissatisfied with any,
thing in her life before, but it must be con-
fessed that she was in danger of thinking her
little village home rather dull affair.
And so several weeks passed, but Lilly
Floyd was beginning to be just the least bit in
the world disenchanted. She had been accus-
toned to all the honors of belleship in an hum
BILE way the first to be invited to parties, pic
MICS and sIeighing excursions; the first in the
dance, and the last at home after the revel; but
here, after the novelty of crowded rooms, in
Vulnerable lights, stirring music, gay dresses,
and expensively set tables had worn off, Lillian
discovered that she had little share in the
scene, except as a locker on. She was too
quiet and unobtrusive among so many strangers
to be at all noticed, and though some fast
young men would pronounce her "a pretty
specimen of still life,' or "a beautiful wall
nower' 'hey vowed she must be a fool, for she
could not TAX at all, in truth the pure-hearted
girl had no sympathes in common with them
SO they went off to fa,,er and frt with her
more brilliant cousin.
The plain or middle-aged gentlemen IN he
sure were most polite in asking her 10 dance
when no more fashionable partners were 10 be
had; but Lilly sometimes saw that she was a
dernier resort, and often refused with quie
excuse me. sir, if you please, when her fee
were fairly twiiching to be off, keeping tint
with the gay music.
But Arthur Thornton, her cousins admirer
or lover as she thought him, formed an excep
ton, for he was neither plain, nor middle-aged
but young, eminently handsome and very veal
thy. He good naturedly sent Lillian boquets
danced with her, and handed her out to supper
because he saw how lonely sh4 someiime
seemed; and Harriet looked ol <afher wei