Indiana American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1865-1872, 1867-12-27

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~ . ,n,A oHEIsrMAs story. - es
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just outside Mira. Belle boarding house,
three little maids, Of fve, and six, and
seven. we're discussing the approaching
Christmas with all the ardor Of their years.
We're going 20 have . freer exclaimed
one Of the small damsels with an accent
oftriumph, which Was very aggravsting to
the other smail dsmssls who were NOT go-
.tnet to have 1 tree. But Janey Evans, the
eldest Of the party, was equal to the emer-
Poh, us'vs bad hundred treesl she
returned with cool disdain which quite
quenchsd the triumphant assertion. Her
hearers didn't stop 70 question the over
vhelming statement Of hundred Christ
mass in the lifetime Of q seven year old,
50 Miss Janey had the full benefit of q
conqueror.
'It's 90 mach nicer, hanging up yonr
stocking Janey proceeded, and to wake
up In the morning and find IL crammed
fuIll'
Yes; but then there's the beautiful can.
dies, and the music. aud the daucingP put
in the other again, valiantly =
But Janey was not to be routed from
her position, and away she went on the
full tide Of imagination, describing such
glories In stocking hanging us quite daz-
xled her auditors. Yet Janey was very
far from feeling all she said, though she
wouldn't have acknowledged il even to
herself for the beautiful candles. the mu.
-. .nd ,L. daso;a,, :, hsa srast char,s cor
Jsnev
ia, 4, a srest deai o;cer N bano nm
vour stoekine. Miss Ilope?' she asked
Miss BelI. eoniien,iallv. pursuine the
vexsa oa.,,ion half an hour after NJ the
tea table
"A .,s.t dcal n;.sy than what .Ianev9'
.Than Chris,mss ,r.esr and Janey look
ed up eagerly into Homes face. for Miss
Hone' wa. famous aliv of hers
We'll. I used TO like Il better than any.
.thiuy. though Christmss trees are yery
nice Janey. answered Miss Bell. pleus-
an,ly.
Jsney was radiant. and only wished
that Mary Franklin could have heard the
first rnrt of the sentence.
Shell YOU hang up your stocking. Miss
Hope?' the littIe girl asked with animated
Interest
II? oh. Tn too old for that. Janev. I
ha,n't hung up my stocking for a long.
long time
A. she concluded these words there
, seemed 10 steal into her tones n sad and
xi,tful accent. which even Janey noticed
q ,fh Miss Homo. I'm sure y.a,ss not
If.ry 49, sI.-.sa. .e,-.'s-.ss-
liops laughed nov Al the earnest com.
miseration the liulo girl displayed.
.Dui I'm sure am. Janey; and then
nobody would think TO put anything into
my stocking. Its only the little folks,
lise yon. dear, whose stoekinps are re-
snembercd.
This conversation had been carried on
In quite low tone Of voice; for Janey' =
place was between her mother Miss Hope,
and higher up the table there was a gay
skirmishinr talk. which covered eyery-
thing else. Bur Just round the corner, ni
Miss Bells right. sat Mr. Weymor. and all
at once Jsney appealed TO hin In a way
that disclosed 10 Hope that she had un
other listener than her small companion.
Janey, in planeing up after that last
remark Of Hopes had caught Mr.. we,-
mer's eve and an amused smile which
went sliding round his mouth; 40 she ap.
pealed 10 him forthwith:
MI. Weymcr do you think Miss Hope
il too old to hang up her stockings.
4 don't know Miss Hopes age Mr.
Weymer answered, little misohievously,
1t il moro than three times Janeys,
Hope answered, with a faint smile.
Three times mine; and I'm seyenl'
Now for your multiplication table
Janey,' said Mr.. weymer, with his glim.
mer Of fun.
Janey ran II over In her mind, with
moving Inns and knot Ia her brow. and
presently broke out Ia triumnh: Three
times seven are twenty one. oh. buthow
much more. Miss Ilope?'
Hope laughed outright at this. Three
more. Janey. now how much does tha,
maler - SIS
Twenty. .fourl' almost shouted Janey In
her excitement Of success. Then In :
moment Janev's bright eoun,enanca fall
WHY. Miss Hope. you're pretty near a,
old as nv motherl heard aunt lane
saw the other day that mamma was tuen-
ty.six. and that il only two wears olde,
E than twenty-four.'
Hone blushed the least bit Al .Janev,,
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