The Davenport gazette. [volume] (Davenport, Scott Co., Iowa) 1841-185?, 1854-01-05
LIVERPOOL, Dec, IL,
UNCLE JOLLY:
A Holiday Story.
Ell FANNY FERN.

4 BY FANNY FERN.
"Well, declare. here it is New Years
morning again, and cold as Greenland, too, y
said Uncle Jolly, as he poked his cotton night
cap out of bed-"irost an inch thick on the
windows, water all frozen in the pitcher, and
an old bachelor Heigho. nobody to give
any presents to-no little feet to come pat
ting up to my bed to wish me "A happy Nsw
Year Miserable piece of business. Won
der what ever became of that sister of mine
who ran off with that poor artist! Wish
she'd turn up somewhere with two or three
children for me to love and pet. Heigh ho,
It's miserable piece of business to be an old
bachelor"
And Uncle Jolly broke the ice in the ba-
sin with his frost-nipped fingers, and butsoned
his dressing gown tightly to his chin; then
he went down stairs, swallowed cup of cof-
fee, an egg and a slice toast Then he but
toned his surtout snugly up over them. and
went out the front door into the street.
/ Such crowd as there was buying New
Years presents. The toy shops were filled
with grandpas and grandmas, and aunts and
uncies and cousins. As to the shopkeepers.
what with telling prices, answering forty
questions in minute, and doing up parcels,
they were as crazy as a bachelor tending a
crying baby.
i Uncle Jolly slipped along over the icy
pavements, and finally halted in front OF Tim
Nonesuch's toy shop. You should have
seen his show windows. Beautiful English
dolls at five dollars apiece, dressed like
Queen Nic's babies, with such plump little
shoulders and arms that one longed to pinch
'em; and tea sets, and dinner sets, cunning
enough for fairy to keep house with
! Then, there were dancing Jacks, and jump
ling Jennys, and 'Topsys," and "Uncle
! Toms us black as the chimney back, with
wool made Of raveed black stocking
| Then, there were little work boxes with
gold thiflbles and bodkins, and scissors in
crimson velvet cases, and snakes that
4 squirmed SO naturally as to make you HOP
up OH tie table to get out of the way, and
innocent looking boxes, containing a little
i spry mouse, that jumped into your face as
soon as you raised the lid, and music boxes
) to place under your pillows when you had
drank too strong cup oftea, ana vinaigrettes
that YOU could hold to your nose to keep
you from fainting when you saw dandy
o! can tell you that Mr.. Nonesuch under.
stood keeping toy shop; there were plenty
taper fingers pulling over his wares, an,
plenty of husbands and futhers who return.
! I'd thanks that New Years didn't come etpra
lay.
.sDon't stay here, dear Susv, If it makes
) you cry," said the elder of two little girls /;
l'I thought you said it would make YOU
HAPPY to come out and look at the New
1 Years presents, though we couldn't hdrt
any"
Il did think So" said Susy; ssbut it makes
me think of last New Years, when you and
lay cuddled together in our little bed, and
! papa came creeping up in his slippers,
thinking we were asleep, and laid our pres
ents on the table, and then kissed us both,
and said, God bless the little darlings!' Oh,
katy-all the little girls in that shop have
their papas with them. | want MY papa"
and little Snsy laid her head ON Katy
4 shoulder and sobbed as if her heart werc
breaking.
don't, dear susy,' said Katy, wipine
away her own tears with her little pinafore
I"don't cry-mamma will see how red your
leyes are-poor, sick, tired matnma-don'l
Icry Susy."
.Oh, Katy, can't help it. See that tall
man with black whiskers (don't he look like
papaD kissing that little girl. Oh! Katy
and Susy's tears flowed afresh.
! Uncle jolly could stand it no longer; he
rushed into the toy shop, bought an armtul
of playthin.s helter-skelter and ran after the
two little girls.
'Here, Susy! here Katy" said he; "here
are some New Years presents from Uncle
jolly"
"Who is Uncle Jolly,"
"Well, he's uncle to all the poor little chill
dren who have no kind papa
"Now, where do you live, little pigeons,--
got far to go!-toes all out your shoes here
lin January! Don't like it-my toes amt out
my shoes; come in here, and let's see il we
can find anything to cover them. There,
now, Citing them both TO a pair,) that's
something like it; it will puzzle Jack Frost to
find your toes now. Cotton clothes on. /
don't wear cotton clothes come in here and
get some wooden shawls. Which do you like
best, red, green, or blue !--plaids or stripes,
hey!
i "Mother won't like it.' Don't talk to
!, me ;--mothers don't generally scratch peo.
pies eyes out for being kind to their little
ones. I'll take care Of that, little puss Tn.
Gle Jolly's going home with you. How do
know whether you have any dinner or not |.
:, 4 ne got a dlnner--1OU shall have dinner too
Pity if | can't have my own way-New
Years day, too,
"Ihat your home! p-h-c-w. don't know
; about trusting my old bones up those rickety
stars--old bones are hard to uiend: did you
know thatr'
Little Susy opened the door, and Unclc
jolly walked in,--ther mamma turned hel
head, then with one wild cry of joy, threw
: her arms about his neck, while Susy and Katy
: stood in the doorway, uncertain whether t,
illaush or cry.