Grass Valley telegraph., 1854-04-06
Uncle Jolly.
BY FANNY FERN.

"Well, | declare! here it is New Years
morning again, and cold as Greenland. too,"
said Uncle Jolly, as he poked his cotton night
cap out of bed-''frost an inch thick on the
windows, water all frozen in the pitcher and
l an old bachelor Heigh ho /! nobody to give
any presents too-no little feet to come pat
ting up to my bed to wish me "a happy New
Year" Miserable piece of businessI Won
der whatever become of that sister of mine
who ran away with that poor artist-Wish
she'd turn up somewhere with two or three
children for me to love and pet. Heigh-ho! p!
It's miserable piece of business to be an old
bachelor"
And Uncle Jolly broke the ice in the basin
with his frost-nipped fingers, and buttoned
his dressing gown tightly to his chin; then he
went down stairs, swallowed cup Of coffee,
an egg. and a slice of toast Then he button
ed his surtout snugly 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, aunts and un-
cles, and cousins. AS to the shop keepers,
questions in minute, and doing up parcels.
they were as crazy as bachelor tending a
crying baby.
ment. and finally halted in front of Tom No
nesuch's toy-shop. You should have seen his
show-windoWs Beautiful English dolls. five
dollars piece, dressed like Queen Victoria Is
babies, and with such plump little shoulders
and arms that one longed to pinch lem and
tea sets, cunning enough for fairy to keep
house with. Then, there were dancing Jacks,
and Jumping Jenneys. and Toys, and Uncle
Toms, as black as the chimney back, with
wool made of a raveled black stocking Then.
there were little work boxes with gold Thin
bles and bOdkins and scissors in crimson vel
vet cases, snakes that squirmed so naturally
as to make you hop on the table to get out of
the way, and little innocent looking boxes
containing little spry mouse, that jumped
into your face the moment you raised the lid,
and music boxes to place under your pillows
when you have drunk too strong cup of
green tea, and vinigarettes that you could
hold to your nose to keep you from fainting
when you saw dandy. Oh tell you that
Mr.. Nonesuch understood keeping a toy shop
there were plenty of carriages always in
front of it, plenty of taper fingers pulling
over his wares, and plenty of husbands and
fathers who returned thanks that New Y ear s
didn't come every day.
''Don't stay here, dear Susy, if it makes
you cry" said the elder of two girls Il
tho't you said it would make you happy to
come out and look at the New Years pres
ents, though we couldn't have any,"
IL did think So" said Susy: but it makes
me think of last New Years when you and
lay cuddied together in our little bed, and
papa came creeping up in his slippers, think
ing we were asleep, and laid our presents on
the table, and then kissed us both and said,
"God bless the little darlingsr' "Oh, Katy
all the little girls in the shop have their
papas with thenl want my papa" and lit
tie Susy laid her head on Katy's shoulder and
sobbed as if her heart were breaking.
"Don't, dear Susy," said Katy, wiping
away her own tears with her little pina-fore ;
"don't cry, mamma will see how red your
eyes are-poor, sick, tired mamma don't cry,
Gusy."
"Oh, Katy, I can't help it. See that tall
man with the black whiskers, (don't he look
like papa , kissing that little girl. Oh, Ka-
ty," and Susy's tears flowed afresh.
Uncle Jolly couldn't stand it any longer !;
he rushed into the toy shop, bought an arm