Western Reserve chronicle. [volume] (Warren, Ohio) 1855-1921, 1857-11-11
GBoiee m(iscellmp,
From Peterson's Magazine
Lillian Floyd's Christmas Visit.
BY CARRY STANLEY.


s.My DEAR" said Mr.. Luke Floyd TO
his wife, ''we never hear any thing from
poor Toms widow and her child. l
really think we must write and invite
them here. These family ties ought to
be kept up, and Tom was the only broth
er had;" and Mr.. Floyd scraped the
back bone Of the turkey on his plate with
renewed vieor.
Mrs. Floyd settled herself in her
chair, fIliped the crumbs off her napkin
with her delicate ring covered fngels,
and said,
81 am sure. my dear. have no ob-
lection, but had we not better leave it
for awhile? Christmas is so near, and l
suppose, poor soul, she would feel out of
place during so much gaiety.'
Mr.. Floyd held up his glass of gener-
GUS old port to the light. and gazed low
ingly with half closed eyes at its ruby
oilinesss, as he replied,
81 don't think Mrs. Tom will feel her
self at all out Of place, my dear, for she
is very respectable lady and has some
money of her oWn"-a sure sign with
Mr. Luke Floyd that person was re
spectacle.
Aud SO it was that the letter was
written, that put Lillian Floyd in such
stale of excitement.
Mrs. Tom, as her brother-in law des-
ignated her, declined the invitation for
herself, but accepted it for Lilly, who
with the unsubdued spirits of seventeen
danced about the house in delight
"Isn't it a good thing. mamma, that
didn't get new bonnet and cloak last
winter" asked she. ''Min= are as
fresh now as can be, and my garnet-col-
ored cashmere have only worn two or
three times-it is as good as new;"-
and so Lillian talked on, making the best
OF her small wardrobe.
To Mr.. Floyd's greater experience,
however, her daughters outfit. looked
very slender, but then her income was
inconveniently small.
And now, such altering and fitting,
such making up of new things, and do
ing up of old, the little cottage had nev
er before witnessed.
First, there was the new dark blue
silk, and the French chintz dresses TO be
made. Then there was the white null,
which had been bought for the last win
ter's cotillion parry, and had done
church service during the summer. 10 be
washed by old Matte, and ironed by
Mrs. Floyd's own careful hands; and
the short sleeves were to have new thread
edging and blue ribbons on them;-and
the white silk stockings we're to receive
a new fesh-tint. from dipping in cochi
neal water;-and the one pair of white
kid gloves 1--WE are ashamed to confess ii
dear reader, but Lillian never had but
one pain. had to be cleaned with flannel,
new milk, and white soap;-and her
colored ones had to be rubbed with stale
bread crumbs and Indian rubber:-oh,
altogether, Lillian never reccollected so
pleasant and busy time.
She had no misgivings TO mar the
pleasures of these preparations. She
looked upon her uncle Luke as mod /
ern Aladdin, who possessed a magic |
lamp, that made him master of countless
riches, and on her Aunt Floyd as the
most lady-like, fascinating parsonage in
the world; and on her Cousin Harriet,
as the perfect embodiment of fine young
ladyism, as lovely as laces and silk
could make her.
The warmth of her reception no way
disenchanted Lillian. She was unusually