Clarksville weekly chronicle. [volume] (Clarksville, Tenn.) 1865-1867, 1865-11-03
WAYSIDE SKETCHES.
BY ANNIE LIE.
.susYs CHRISTMAS Box


don't think there ever was girl so completely
worked up as Snsy was last Monday morning. and
1t did me good to Il for she has kept me in suc
state OF mind for the last year. l was cen most
crazy I've always known ber from a. little gal,
when the school maam put all the little ones on
the same bench, and I used to keep myself awaks
by wiuding her cures over my fingers, aud SPELL
ing all the hard words for her. And when snow
come, my hand-sled was Just big enough toshold
her and me, and always drawed Der home. And
her Aunt would say, with wicked kind Of look
in her eye '.John you'll have TO be paid for this
yet taking so much trouble,p and then, bashiul as
was ! had TO stammer out 'that II was only
fun to draw t,e sed," butit was not light weight
she was TO draw, though never would own it,
So kept on, year after year. liking her better and
better every day, and she all the while PRETEND
ing not to know word about it. Well, sbe went
away off to visit a cousin and she told me she
might not come back in q rear. $50 John, fli
give you lock of my hair if you'll promise not To-
burn itup when you get home" 80, .ss.s.
"Let me cut it oD," said I, so had 10 get my
face pretty near hers 10 see which curl wanted,
and to pay her for old tricks. 1 stole what she
wouldnt let me give back, and the prettiest curl
beside a.. s,.-. ~.
She was vexed, I tell you and her eyes flashed
FIRE at me, and she wouldn't say Goodbye. I
went home, but our folks didnt see me, till had
lightened my heart by a good crying spell on the
bay-mow-wsy up under the rafters.
How managed TO get along that year, l don't
know, grew poor. and II seemed as II one thing
was sure--I must 60. away where she had never
been, or should die. .,,- sl,.g, sl. .4,r..-,
She come back jest in time to save me from go- .
ing TO Californy. Somehow she seemed changed,
jest as pretty, but kind OF shy. Well bore It all
very well, and abe would once in great while,
talk about old times quite glibly. t.,t D. ,-...,
l persuaded mother to make qutin and ask
all the young folks, aud get Susy TO help her
mark the quilt. She didn't like TO refuse mother,
as one day when was gone out Of town she came
over and marked the quilt, and when | got back
she was jest running back to her fathers across the
meadow. els tar i'f'Ha4 q '' on su..' si
Mother seen it used me up to have her run off 50
soon, so she said: "Susy has had feelings as well
as other foksa her eyes look as if she'd been cry
ing and she didn't want you TO see her face"
She come to the quiltn, and she set "the last
siteh,H and that's sign she'll be married before
the year gone by, and they shook the quilt over
her head, and mine. | went home with her and
we talked about Christmas, and she snid "where
she was last year they made n great deal Of par
ade for Christmas every body kept open house,
and sent presents and she helped make wreaths for
the Church" =" '-i"
I thought about Major Jones story, SO asked
her if she d accept Christmas box from me, and
keep what in it as long as she lived to pay for
the curl had?
She said she would If il WASH mt costly affair.
she didn't believe in girls accepting gifts from
young men," but its you John, aud we know each
other well enough not to be formal. .....,
had the Cabinet maker make nice kind Of
cupboard He called il a wardrobe and vanished
it till you could see your face in it, and Saturday
night brought it home. Monday morning long
before light had il laid on the sleigh and drew il
over to her fathers. '''
shouted merry Christmas. They were soon upy
and my brother, keen little fellow raped at thei
door. had crept into the wardrobe and he locked
me in ] left small place for air didn't want
to die Jest as hoped to fetch matters right with
Susy. l'a aa 'I,.f e'-afs 3
| She came and saw the box. Ned said aJohu
sent you this Christmas box here's the key to
unlock it." The old folks come aud they stared
! first then laughed and said: "well, we'll bring IL
into the room irst--not open it out in the porch.
| You may believe it was lift for them all so the
hired men came 10 help carry me-and ! am not |"
plgmy in size ..-.-.
"Gyl what's in it Susy2 lets Sec" She un-
locked the door, and there stood laughing
"Why John" said her father, "whod q thought Of
seeing such dry goods as you boxed up Christmas
day." '' W
| told the old folks Susy's promise and asked
them to give me the title deeds to her hand, for
my Christmas gift They hated to part with her,
but at last said ayes, John, If any body must
have her beside US it is YOU" And Susy and will
soon be one. ISIS 1919 '2sln ll ''i "9i-