Eastern times. [volume] (Bath, Me.) 1846-1857, 1852-12-23
ing to parties and the opera, take to be
rather expensive

| ing to parties and the opera, take to be
rather expensive
Now Mrs. Floyd was very good-natured
woman, but she would not have violated the
proprieties of the opera, by going without
white kid gloves, or an elegant head-dress
for the world; and she really felt annoyed,
fearing the elegant Arthur Thornton would
be equally SO.
Poor Lilly entered the drawing-room with
all the happy expectation banished from her,
for this trihing cOntretemps had suddenly
dashed all her pleasure.
Mr.. Thornton had heard the whole con-
versatiou through the open door, and shrewd-
ly suspecing that Lillian could have afforded
to have bought pair of new gloves, if The
little lame Annie had gone without doll,
he said, as Lilly proceeded 10 draw on her
miits,
In how much better taste those black lace
mitts are than white gloves, at least, for
young ladies' Lilian's face frightened in
moment.
Il am glad,' said she, that you are not
ashamed of me, | did not know how strict
opera etiquette was till Aunt Floyd told me.
However, suppose the music will sound
just as well with these, continued she, holds
ing up her round white arm, looking whittier
than ever, from the contrast with the black
lace.
She reached The opera house in high spir-
its, and once there, her annoynnces were
forgotten. She listened with sparkling eyes
and flushed cheeks, and her warm breath
came panlingly, till the last scene, where the
mother acknowledges herself 10 her son, and
at the terrible 81 son quella,' heightened by
Parodi's inimilabe acting, she sprang from
her seat and would have shrieked from ex-
element, had not Mr.. Thornton, who had
been watching her, laid his hand on her arm
to recall her TO herself.
Thornton was amused as well us interest
ed he had never seen quite such natural
young lady. and seldom as pretty one. In
truth, 10 the fashionable man, Lilly Floyd
was delightfully."- refreshing and piquanr.
And now the day before Christmas had ar
rived. The display in the store windows was
so tempting, that the purse clasps of the veriest
miser flew open as if by magic.
Lillian and her cousin were going home from
walk that afternoon, and Lilly almost return
ed to her belief in the reality of the riches of
the Arabian Nights; Jewelry, splendid work.
boxes, writing desks, books in all the gorgeous
ness of green aud crimson, Blue, purple and
gold bindings, fairly bewildered her. The
fathers of families were hurrying home with
weG1-flled baskets, where plump turkies, and
crimson crahberries, and crisp celery, and rosy
checked apples lay in most tempting confusion.
The mothers were bending under huge dolls,
prancing horses, whole menageries of animals,
| and locomotives which never went except by
gravtallon laughing, half-grown school girls
had their muffs filled with pretty toys, and in
viting bon-bons for younger brothers and sis
tiers, so delighted with the pleasure they anlici-
pated giving, that they could scarcely keep
their own secret; and little boys stood gazing
into the shop windows, with their hands in
their pockets, and their chins in their comfor-
ters, debating in their own minds which of the
articles before them they would coax papa to
buy.
| 1t was perfect carnival of mirth and happi-
ness. Crowds of happy looking children, and
as happy looking parents filed the street; the
very dogs frisked and jumped about, and run
between your feet as if Christmas time was a
matter of importance even to them the middle
Of the streets were filled with light sleighs, that
skinned along like bright colored birds; the
excited horses, dancing and prancing to the
voice Of the driver, and the silvery music Of the
tinkling bells.
Twilight had arrived, and the stars came
out, and yet still the crowd cid not diminish.-
Parlors were beginning to be brilliantly illu-
minated through the undrawn curtains could
be seen gay pictures in gorgeous frames, and
large mirrors giving back light for light to the
heavy chandelier. In some, festoons of ever
green, from which CLEANED the crimson of the
holly berry, were gracefully dropping on the
walls, and The happy faces Of the dear lit
tie children were pressed against the win
dow panes, peering at the gay groups in the
street.
As Lillian and her cousin were ascending
the steps of their own house, little boy about
nine years of age accosted them. There was
something SO wan and sad in his pale face
and sunken eyes, that Lillian stopped, though
she had been much laughed at by her uncle s
family, on account Of her sympaihies for street
beggars.
Harriet entered the door saying,
Come Lillian, he is an imposter yon may be
sure
But her cousin was listening to the child,
who said, in an imploring voice,
'Oh! won't you please give me something,
Miss q
Do you want some money for Christmas 9
was Lilian's smiling answer.
No, Miss, but my mother is very i'll, and
my little sister died to-day, and | amt used to
begging, Miss AS he spoke this, he burst
into tears.
DO you live far from here!' questioned
Lillian.
mo, Miss, only little way around the cor
ner, up Gray's court
Come, then, I'll 60 with you;' and for
getting the late hour in the impulse Of the mo-