The Lancaster ledger. [volume] (Lancaster, S.C.) 1852-1905, 1854-01-11
UNCLE JOLLY.
ny FANNY FERN.

Well, | declare, here it is New Years
mor:'ing again, and cold as Greenland
too, said uncle Jolly, as he pokcd his cot
ton night-cap out of the bed" frost an
inch thick on the windows, water al fro
zen in the pitcher, and I an old bachelor
lieighho! Nobody to give any presents
to, no little feet to conc patting up to my
bed to wish me a happy New Year,
miserable piece of business. Wonder
what ever become Of that sister Of mine.
+. who ran of with that poor artist Wish
she'd turn up somewhere with two or
I tlrce children for me. to love and pet
lleigh ho! It's u miserable piece of bus
mess to De an old bachelor."
And Uncle Jolly broke the ice in the
basin with his frost-sipped fingers, and
buttoncd his dressing gown tightly to his
chin; then he went down stairs. swallow
cd cup of coffee, and egg, and slice of
toast. Then he buttomcd his surtout
NnugIy over them, and went out the front
door into the street.
Such crowd rs there wa. buying New
ears presents. The toy-shops were filled
with grand-pa's and grandmas, and aunts
and unccs, and cousins. As to the shop.
keepers, what with telling prices, answer
ing forty questions in minute, and do
hS up parcels, they were as crazy AS a
bachelor tending crying baby.
Uncly Jolly slipped along over the lev
paveincntS, and finally halted in front of
Tim Nomcsuch's toy-shop. You should
have secn his show windows! Beauu-
tuI English dolls at FIVE dollars a piece.
dressed like Queen Nic's babies, with such
plump little shoulders and arms that one
Ionged to pinch 'em; and tca.sets, and
dmncr-setS cunning enough for fairy to
keep house with. Then, there were dan
eng Jacks and Jumping Jennys, and
IopSyS, and Uncle Toms, as black as the
chimney back, with wool made of a raw
elIed black stocking. Then there were
little work-boxes with gold thimbles and
bodklnS, and scissors in crimson velvet
cases, and snakes that squirmed so natu-
rally as to MAGE you hHp up on the table
to get out of the way, and little innocent
looking boxes containing a little sprv
mouse, that jumped into your face rs soon
as You raised the lid, and music boxes to
place under your pillow when You had
drank too strong cup of green tea, and
Vlnalgrettes that you could hold to your
nose to keep from faintng when YOU saw
dandy. Oh! can tell yon that Mr..
Non'such understood keeping toy-shop'
there were plenty Of carriages always in
front OF It, plenty OF taper fingers pulling
over the wares, and plenty Of husbands
and fathers who returned thanks that
New Years didn't come every day.
Don't stay here, dear Susv, if il makes
you cry" said the elder of the two Gttls
girls; =" | thought you said it would make
you happy to come out and look at the
New Years presents, though we couldn't
have any"
" did think So" said Susy, "but il
makes me think of last New Yea 3. whom
You and | lay cuddled together in our lit
tie bed' and papa came creeping up in his
slippers, thinking we We're asleep, aud
laid our presents on the table, and then
kissed us both, and said, God bless tbe
little darlingsP oh Katy all the little
girls in that shop have their papas with
them. want my papa,v and little snsy
laid her head on Katy's shoulders and
sobbed as if her heart wese breaking. i
Don't, dear Susy," said Katy, wipinp
away her own tears with her little pima.
fore; don't cSy--mamma will see how
red your eyes are--poor, sick, tired mann
ma---don't cry, Susy.n
"oh, Katy, ] cant hslp It. SEQ tina.
tall man with the black whiskes, kissing