Holmes County farmer. [volume] (Millersburg, Ohio) 1857-1926, 1864-01-07

slow. The children .ant dressed, nor | ei
ther, and what shall do2 expect the pco
pie here every minute. F"
What shall do for you?" said Sam
unloading his pocket. "1'm ready"
Dress t4e children, if you can
A sight at the parcels, such a rush as tn,
children made-such a scramhing and pull.
ing! ''Be quiet, do !" You Il break them I
That not for you and other similar
Christmas PRESENT. ITS my Christina,
present = was heard above everything else.
1t was a heavy tax on Sam S abilities TO quiet
them sufficiently to commence the operation
Of making their toilet.
Lizzy's, if you can, was well put in, - he
said, "for ] can't What else have You
got to do?'' he asked; for don't know
much about this business. "
Cant tyou finish citing the table forme?'
! ~ can set chairs up, said Sam. Il guess
that's about all | can doaislt.
"You never did know how to do any
thing y said Lizzy ina swapping tone. I'll
never bring up boy like you
Il don know as | ever heard her speak so
before, thought Sam but never mind
it's Christmas! She'll brighten up when
the company comes.
The company came, big AMI little, a good
I y number Then came dinner, and the chill
dren were crazy and unmanaeeable, and so
many OF the dishes were damaged in cooking
/ or badley served by Bridget, that il was all
llizzy could do to retain hcrselfpossession
| and entertain her guests Sam did not care
| that Il part Of the dishes were spoiled, there
were enough left that were good; but the
children annoyd him, aud he felt so much
| sympathy for Lizzy that his Christmas din
/ ner was the poorest in the whole year. He
hoped some Of the people enjoyed it, how
/ ever.
/ There was the afternoon. always rather a
dull time for visiting; but by the help of
gossip and walk 1t was gone through with.
The tea is always a more pleasant and social
| than the pretending dinner; and during il,
| Sam began to feel like himself, and to rc oice
in Christmas. But this was soon over. AZ
! ter tea the company hurried home, the chill
dren were tired and sleepy, and they had
! promised mother and 'aunty' that they
wouldn' stay late. Good by' and "Such
pleasant Christmas!" were said, and Sam
and Lizzy were left to themselves
This hasn I been much Of Christnas'
said Sam. 'Do you think SOP
No don IT. was the answer. with EN-
phasis. Il am so tired so much troubled
and what for, pray?"
-''NNi ii''iNt' Et'li l'd'il. W & II lltNt
a pleasant evening yet Wen 20 round to
Charles Woston's. met him this morning
and he told me TO drop in with you; there's
a family gathering there
liz2y hurried the chililrcnof to bed, dom
ned her cloak and hood, ready to 90, aud
called Bridgetto give her charge concerning
the house and children.
- IN not going to be in, ma am - said
Bridget
why not 2'' said Mrs. jenkins.
I'm going ont, - said Bridget.
, II can't spare YOU, said Mrs. jenkins;
and you were out last night"
always have Christmas nieht | never
had to work all day Christmas before,
ma am, and | don't think viii AGAIN "
=, wei, can tsparc you tonight, Bridget;
I'm going out myself
I'm sorry, ,ma'am but must 60 said
she
IF you 60 you cant come back again, ~
said the mistress, quite decidedly.
Very well, said the maid, quite as de-
cidedlyi Il shall go!' And she went.
There was no alternative but for Mrs.
Jenkins to lay aside bercloak aud hood and
remain at home hcrsclf-a little disappoin-
ted, andnot a little vcXed. Sam like good
fellow as he was, staid at home, too, and
tried to console his wife, and talk and laugh
her into good mmor. But it was hardworll:
and he could not help thinking he had spent
many pcasantcr evenings with her, when
he was glad instead Of sorry, that they were
alone, and when it wasn't Christmas.
cts over he said to himself as he went
to bed, and I'm glad it isu't Christmas to-
morrow w.
But however poor day we may think
christmas, when II IS orer, the day after
Christmas is certainly Il worse one. No
body sleeps well after the Christmas dinner;
and then the terrible ncXtmorning headache.
dyspepsia, crossncss depression, 'buc spir-
its and white, black spirits and gray all
about you The next morning is common
ly a balance for the mcniest Christmas ever
spent.
Sam thought So when he was walked at
late hour by his wife, with "Do get up !
1T almost nine o'clock, and so stingy cold
and not fire in the house, and I've no
help!'
He turned over, rubbed his eyes, and az
last made out to start, grumbling, as he
did so, Dear me what made Bridget act
50? Ihi,s, keeping Christmas-what fuss
it makes
When he saw what a cross woman hi
pleasant wife Lzzy had become, and how
selfish aud Irettul the children were with
their new ploythings, he thought, II
wouldn't care ii there nouer was another
Christmas r.
And the first timo he had an OCCASION to
draw out his purse, and saw how nearly
empty il was, he added, It's well for me
that Christmas don't come but once n
year,
DOu'l Like 10 sneak Sut