The Middlebury register. [volume] (Middlebury, Vt.) 1850-1882, 1853-12-28
BY FANNY FERN.

" Well, | declare here it is New
Years morning again, and cold a.
Greenland, too,' said Uncle jolly, q.
he poked his cotton nightcap out oi
bcd-"trost an inch thick on the win
dows, water all frozen in the pitcher
and | an old bachelor. IIcigh.ho no
body to give any presents to-no little
feet to come patting up to my bed to
wish me \ happy New Year, Mis-
erablc piece ofbusincss ! Wonder what
ever became of that sister of mine who
ran off with that poor artist Wish
she'd turn up somewhere with two OF
three children for me to love and pet.
lleigh ho. It's q miserable piece Of
business to be an old bachelor"
And Uncle Jolly broke the ice in
the basin with his frostnippcd fingers.
and bnttoncd his dressing gown tightly
to his chin then be went down stairs.
swallowed a cup of coffee, an egg, and
slice Of toast. Then he buttoncd his
suriout snusly up over them, and went
out the front door into the street
Such Il crowd as there was buying
New Years presents. The toy.shol 5
were filed with grandpas and grand
mas, and aunts and unccs and cousins.
As to the shopkccpcrs, what with tel
ling prices, answering forty questions
in minute, and doing up parcels,
they were as crazy as bachelor tend
ing cryina baby.
Uncle jolly slipped along over the
icy payomonts, and finally halted III
front Of Tim Noncsuch's toy shop.
You should have seen his show win
dows , Beautiful English dolls at FIVE
dollars apiece, dressed like Queen
Vlc's babies, with such Hump little
shoulders and arms that one long to
linch'cm and tea sets, and dinner
sets, cunning enough for a fairy tc
keep house with. Then, there were
dancing Jacks, and jumping Jennys
and " Topsys," and Uncle Toms
as black as the chimney back, witt
wool made Of a ravcled black stocking
Then. there we're little work. boxes viii
gold thimblcs and bodkins, and scissors
in velvet cases, and snakes that squirm
cd so naturally as to make you hop W
on the table to get out of the way ,anC
little innocent looking boxes containin;
a little spry mouse, that jumped int,
your face as soon as You raised the lid
and music boxes to place under you
pillows when you had drunk to stron;
a cup of green tea. and vinaigrctte
that you could hold to your nose t
keep you fIom fainting when you sa,
a dandy. Oh | can tell you tina
Mr.. Nonesuch understood keeping
toy shop; there were plenty Of car
riages always in front of it, plenty q
taper fingers pulling over his wares
and plenty of husbands and father
who returned thanks that New Year
didn't come ere,y day.
. Don't stay here, dear Susy, if
makes you cry" said the elder of tw
little girls; | thought you said
would make you happy to come on
and look at the New Years presents
though we couldn't hare any"
~ did think so" said Susy but
makes me think of last New Year
when you and lay cuddled togethC
in our little bed, and papa came cree
ing up in his slippers, thinking "
were asleep, and laid our presents q
tho table, and then kissed US both, al
/. said, God bless the little darllngs
Oh Katy-all the little girls in tn
shop have their papas with them.
want MY papa" and little Susy la
her head on Katy's shoulder and SO
bed as if her heart were breaking.
"a Don't, dear Susy," said Kat
oi ,S wiping away her own tears with h
:, little pinaiore ; " don't cry
al al mamma will see how red your ey
+, +, are,-poor, sick, tired mamma,
rs, y, don't cry, Susy."
,%S "Oh, Katy, | can't helpit. S
2; that tall man with the black whiske
y (do2't he look like papa y kissing IL
J" little g.l. Oh Katy" and Sus
IL. tears tlowe,. atresh.
4. Uncle Jolly couldn't stand it a
q. a. longer; he rush,,d into the toy sh III
Z. bought an armful OF t9laythinss heI, ~,
>. y, skelter, and ran after the TWO III
" girls.