Edgefield advertiser. [volume] (Edgefield, S.C.) 1836-current, 1866-12-26


fell to give an additional flavor to the dish. Pearl
was finally given up in despair, while Ruby, and
George and Daisy, and Tom, and the rest, were
petted the moro.
The Christmas dny wore on, tho old Doctor
getting more and moro troublesome, and cutting
more jokes than usual, occasionally giving a
punch in the side of one or more of the felina'
that were in everybody's way, when their affec-
tionate mistresses were present. and wishing that
a few more were manufactured into shoe strings,
or fiddle strings. The little people meanwhile
were anxious to know if Pa or Uncle John had
apy presents to give, whom the, tree came off. 1t
was sometime before he would satisfy their curl
osity. He at last limited that they might expect
something very elegant. 1t, was variegated IN
color, could make splendid music; by touching
q string could be made to move, to run, to jump,
to cut all sorts of antics In fine, no had no
idea that one of. them could. guess in hundred
gucsscs what it could be; and, MS 1t was his first
attempt at decorating Christmas trees, it should
be invisible until the finale of the feast.
The evening came on, an elegant table was ar
ranged as had been the custom in the old home
stead from time immemorial. Beautiful cakes of
every variety, fancifully decorated in every i'm
aginable way pyramids Of fruits of every de-
scription; Pine Apples and Oranges, sliced and
sugared, and buried under o snowy covering Of
grated cocoanut, confectionery in many forms and
various devices, with the more delectable dishes
of trife, jelly, blanc mango and Charlotte Russo,
and the more substantial ones of ham and pig,
chicken salad, and turkey, with its accompanl-
ment Of cranberry sauce.
You see have given you bill of fare of
Grandma's Christmas table. If wo can't have
such n variety at our family gatherings these
hard times, wc must think of those we have en-
ioyod in the past, and try to bo contented and
it will all be the same fifty years hence
In the centre of the table was huge tub, paint
cd Write. and towering from its mOssy bed rose
d symmetricaly shaped holly, in whose branches
rleamod hundred tapers, and glittcred such
variety Of pretty things that it would make
your eyes gisten this Christmas, I know, could
YOU see Just such an one. There were pin cush-
ions of all shapes and sizes, guitars and bellows
boots and shoes, hearts and books, and poor little
rabbits with pins sticking in thei- sides, and their
eyes as pink as if they had been crying. There
were dolls, and tops, and horses, and dogs, and
,wo or three cats, (nOtliving ones,) and parrots
with rcd eyes, yellow birds and green wings;
among the rest o squirming snake or turtle. In
onc corner stood small table with sort OF bower
of evergrccns archcd over it, under which was
hugo tin dish-eover, minus the handle, which
loft two or three holes in the top. 1t seemed to
be bound to the table by q crimson sash. In
front. and very near the table, sat comical look
ing colo:ed gentleman, hourishinga tamoorine.
w,aGrandma.does not believe in tam6orine', mt
older promised fai:is 4,
fully that the younger ones wero not % dnnee,r
she was over ruled and there sat Cutfee Jingiing
away, and grnning with all his might. AS the
expcctant party filed into tho room, their cars
were greeted by din rs il q hundred hives OF
bees were swarming, and all the old tin pans and
coffee pots for iivo miles round had been called
into requisition tS scare them away, and. gen.
eral exclamation of,
"Now, Pa, is that your grand musical instru-
ment?"
"Unclo John, Amt you ashamed to do us SO
But what have yOu got under that dish cover
that you've fixed up so fine? Now do let us sec'
ais this the present then p But cntreatlcs
availed nothing and the wonderful present which
The donor declared was for tho whole house, rs
it was sadly in want of the article, should be re-
served for the last. It seemed singular to some
present that Cufrco would occasionally cease his
jim Cling to their great relief but on the revival
of q strange nosc outside the door, or in tho
corner. he would commence with an energy per-
fec.ly astounding.
The presents were distributed, Lizzie and
Sophie each rejoicing in an artificial cat, which
they ,everally declared was just like poor dear
Pearl, only Lizzic's was black and Sophic's yel-
lew, while Pearl was yOilow white. After good
many debates and suggestions, they finally agreed
that next Christmas" they would make presents
of few of their favorites to the catless members
of the community, and enter into moro prohta-
BILE business than pctting cats Katy rcJoiced in
rev doll of wonderful proportions and qualities,
q terrapin as natural as life,-but it would take
up too much space to enumcrate nll the presents
given, and on whom bestowed, so they tasted and
ate, and smacked their lips, and jingle, janglo
went darkio and his tamborino. They laughed
and talked, and some who thought they were al
most grown, whispered sentimental notbings,
and tho entertainment was almost concluded,
when yell arose from Cufee rs ii all the tigers in
the tropics were ut his heels, accompanied with q
crash on the table, and tho over;urn of huge
dish of triac, and general clattcr and smash up
of glass and china; rush to the doors and win
dows, peals of laughter, and the old Doctors
voice of Clear the way. tits only Bengal PAN
thcr. Don't bo scared" and numerous other ex-
clamations of horror and dismay, the scene was
ut last understood.
Poor Pearl he'd been living luxuriously in
neighboring meat house for d month or more
whom dog was put upon his trail, and he was
glad to got home, but spying Miss Lizzic's darling
little Trusty he thought doubtless that :" "discfe-
tion was the better part of ralour," and made his
way through an opening into the Doctors meat
house. Tho latter person, thinking that times
wero too hard to feed an army Of cats, concluded
to get up scene which should pail, upon the
superabundant affections of his tendcr-heartsd
ncice md daughter, so concocted tho scheme re-
lated, little thinking tho Catastrophe would be
SO unfortunate.
My little friends, Astronomers tell us of the
debris of ruined world, and you read sometimes
of the debris of q feast but never was such de-
Jris witnessed as the one described. Grandma
gave her son-in-law sound lecture about it,
shaking in her seat all tho timc; and us for the
caudle lectures he had from another source
should be sorry to tell you. AS to what was
6nnllu tho destination of the Cats and Kittens.