Dodgeville chronicle. [volume] (Dodgeville, Wis.) 1862-current, 1868-12-25

the two old folks. 'Dont she is vain, and
idle, and bad-tempered = saH I
$50, I'll manage all that cried Jolly
Tom.
$50 they were married. For the pretty
daue hter wished much to be mistress of
house. i ua Is H4t
"And whenever Mrs. jolly Tom got
angry or cross, Mr.. Jolly Tom would set
up hearty laugh, as loud as he could,
and double himself up, and caper, and roll
upon the floor, laughing so loud that she
was obliged to laugh herself.
"And if Mrs. Jolly Tom sat idle, with
folded hands, when there was plenty to
do, Mr.. Jolly Tom would say, o what
fine wax figure! Pray cover it from the
dusti And then he would throw bit of
gauze over her face, or dust her with
feather-duster, as the showmen do; and
then set up his laugh, till his wife. vas
glad to go to work.
"And every time that Mrs. jolly Tom
decked herself out in gay gauds,
and stood long before the looking glass,
Mr. Jolly Tom presented her with pea
cock, so that in a short time the barns
and yards were so filled with them that
one could scarcely stir for peacocks. But,
| every day that she behaved well all day,
Mr.. Jolly Tom allowed one peacock to be
killed. And she soon grew so good that
very few were left. But he saved the
| feathers, and hung them over the looking
| glass, to make her beware of vanity. And
that was the way peacock feathers began
to be hung over looking-glasses.
"Thus it came to pass that this couple
lived quite happily.
"And one cold day there came stran-
ger to the door, and said to Jolly Tom,
FSir, I wish to tell you secret
"And Jolly Tom said, Sir, pray be in
haste with your secret; for Christmas is
near, and we are busy in preparing a
Christmas Tree for our two little boys
"Then the stranger took him away into
a lonely field, and said, Don't you know
me-? Jolly Tom, don't you know
me?' Then he took out his jews-harp,
and played up the tune Of 'Whistling
Winds
"tBless me! bless me!' cried jolly
Tom. you must be our Valentine 7
Then he hugged him, and jumped about,
and tumbled down, and picked himself
up, laughing away all the time; and at
last says he, well, now, tell me your Sc
cret.'
Then Valentine told him that he
wished to do something for the two old
folks to surprise them, and begged Jolly
Tom to help, and to keep it private. And
very soon you shall know what it was.
"On the twenty-fourth day of, Decem-
ber, Jolly Tom sent a stout man with q
sled, and plenty of blankets, to invite the
two old folks to his house. And the stout
man wrapped them up well and seated
them on the sled, and told them to hold
fast by the stakes And for the haKd that
held the stake was fur mitten, In this
way they were carried to their daughters s
house. She knew all about it,ssand the lit
tie boys knew, too. - 4a.g
"Just after dark Jolly Tom came in, and
raised the window curtain, and cried
"'Father mother look look out |
| There's bright light in your hut! 1t looks
all ablazeY Then he stood behind the
door to laugh. But he had to stuff his
mitten in his mouth.
"Then everybody ran, and the stout
man bundled up the two old folks in the
blankets; but this time no one thought of
the fur mittens.
"And when they came near the hut, the
old man cried out, Do you see what a
blaze! All will be lost =
And five silver dollars in the cup
board I cried the old dame.
I" But Jolly Tom, who stood by, nearly
swallowed his pocket-handkerchief to
keep himself from laughing.
"Then the stout man burst open the
door, and o what sight o what sighti
A blaze indeed And by the light Of it
what do you think they saw? But first |
must tell you where the light came from.
In the middle of the room stood Christ
mas-tree, of an elegant shape, blazing
with candles, brilliant with gold, and
dazzling to behold For from every little
twig hung bright gold piece! All for
the two old folks. A real golden Christ
mas-tree
cat one end of the room stoods TALL
manly youth, with a smiling face, and a
bran new wedding suit. He held by the
hand a lovely girl, dressed in pure white,
with long flowing veil. Near by stood
the Priest, who was to marry them, in bis
! long black robes Paulines brother was
on the other side, dressed in a gay tunic,
with buckles on his knees, and a red tas-
selled cap.
"The two old folks stood in the door
way, and could not speak word.
"But the tall youth came forward,
leading the lovely bride. And they both
knelt down before these two old folks,
and began kissing their hands.
"s Father, mother, give us your bless
ing!' cried the youth. For | am your
son, and this dear girl will be your loving
daughter
"And when they clasped him in their
arms, and he felt their warm tears and
their kisses, and heard them sob out,
Bless you! bless you! our son and our
daughter!' then Valentine bowed down
his head, and wept tears of Joy
"And Pauline, when she saw him
weeping, bent down, and took his hand,
and said loving words to him.
"Then he remembered how one night,
when he was boy, lying there all alone,
he dreamed that a bright light filed the
hut, and that beautiful lady, all in white,
bent over him, and spoke kindly, and
then vanished away, and left him cold and
alone
"And when he remembered this dream
he caught Pauline by the hand, and cried
out, 20, don't vanish away! don't vanish
away?
"Then Pauline laughed, and said, My
dear, wouldn't vanish away for all the
world
"Then Jolly Tom clapped his hands,