Muscatine weekly journal. [volume] (Muscatine, Iowa) 185?-1890, 1857-12-05
II|!.;5:;7:9 : . '''

Years morning again, and cold as
Greenland, too" said Uncle Jolly, as
he poked his cotton night-cap out of
bed; s'frost an inch thick on the win
dows, water all frozen in the pitcher,
and am an old bachelor. Heigh, no!
nobody to give any presents to-no lit
tie feet to come patting up to my bed
to wish me "A happy New Year
Miserable piece of uslness! Wonder
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 to love and pet.
It's miserable piece Of business to be
an old bachelor"
And Uncle jolly broke the ice with
his frost-nipped fingers, and buttoned
his dressing gown close to his chin;
then he went down stairs, swallowed a
cup Of coffee, an egg, and slice of
toast Then he buttoned his surtout
snuglv over them, and went out at the
front door into the street.
Such a crowd as there was, buying
New Years presents. The toy-shops
were filled with grandpas, grandmas
and aunts, uncles and cousins. AS to
the shop-keepers, what with telling pri-
ces, answering forty questions in
minute, and doing up parcels, they
were as crazy as bachelor tending a
crying baby.
Uncle jolly slipped along over the
icy pavements, and finally halted in
front of Tim Nonesuch's toy-shop.
You should have seen his shop windows!
Beautiful English dolls, at five dollars
apiece, dressed like Queen Vic's babies,
with such plump little shoulders and
arms, that one longed to pinch 'em,
and tea sets and dinner sets enough for
a fairy to keep house with. Then
there we're dancing Jacks, and jumping
Jennies, and "Topsies," and Uncle
Toms,'' as black as the chimney back,
with wool made Of raveled black
stocking. Then there were little work
boxes, with gold thimbles and bodkins,
and scissors in crimson velvet cases,
and snakes that squirmed SO natu-
rally as to make you hop on the table
to get out Of the way, and little limo
cent looking boxes, containing little
spry mouse, that jumped into your face
as soon as you raised the lid, and
music boxes to place under your pillow
when you had drank too strong cup
Of tea, and viniagrettes that you could
hold to your nose to keep you from
fainting when you saw a dandy. Oh
can tell you that MIR. Nonesuch under
stood keepi 6 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
Year don't come every day!
"Don't stay here, dear Susy, if it
makes you cry" said the elder Of two
little girls. 81 thought you said it
would make you happy to come out
and look at the New Years presents,
tn ugh we couldn't have any,
II did think so,'' said Susy, ''but it
makes me think Of last New Year,
when you and 1 lay cuddled together in
our little bed, and papa came creeping
up in his slippers, thinking we were
asleep, and laid our presents on the ia
Bile. and then kissed us both, and said,
God LESS the little darlings!' o.!
Katy-all the little girls in that shop
have their papas with them. | want
my papa,'' and little Susy laid her
head on Katy's shoulder, and sobbed
aloud as If her heart were breaking.
.sDon't, dear Susy," said Katy, wi
ping away her own tears with her little
pinafore /; "don't cry-mamma will see
how red your eyes are-poor, sick,
tired mamma ;-dont't cry, Susy."
"Oh, Katy, can't help it: See
that tall man with the black whiskers
{ don't he look like papa? kissing that
little girl. Oh! Katy" and the tears
flowed afresh.
Uncle jolly couldn't stand it any
longer. He rushed into the toy shop,
bought an armful Of p aythings, he'll
ter-skelter, and ran after the two little
girls.
'Here, Susy here Katyp' said he,
!" here are some New Years presents
from Uncle jolly"
s.Who is Uncle Jolly!"
ssWell, he's uncle to all the poor lit
tie children who have no kind papa"
"Now, where do you live, little pig
cons? got far to go? toes all out Of
your shoes come in here, and let's see
If we can find anything to cover them.
There, now fitting them both to a new
pair) that's something IKE, it will puz-
zzle Jack Frost to find your toes now.
Cotton clothes on? don't wear cotton
clothes, come in here and get some win
ter shawls. Which do You like best, !