The Plymouth weekly Democrat., 1868-12-24
daughter wished much to be mistress OF

daughter wished much to be mistress of
q house.
"And whenever Mrs Jolly Tom got
angry or cross, Mr.. Jolly Tom would set
up a 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, % what a
fine wax figure! Pray cover it from the
DUST 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 was
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 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 iAem 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 a stran-
ger to the door, and said to Jolly Tom,
Sir, 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
lonely field, and said, Don't you know
me? Jolly Tom, don't you know
me?' Then he took out his iews-harp,
and played up the tune of 'Whistling
Winds
"'Bless me! bless mer cried Jolly
Tom. You must be our Valentine =
Then he hugged him, and jumped about,
and tumbled down, and picked himself
up, laughing away all the time; and at
last says he, We'll, 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-
Der, Jolly Tom sent stout man with a
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 hand that
held the stake was fur mitten, In this
way they were carried to their daughter s
house. She knew all about ,ssand the lit
tie boys knew, too.
"Just after dark Jolly Tom came in, and
raised the winGow-curtai and cried:-
"'Father mother look look out
There's a bright light in your hut! 1t looks
all ablaze' Then he stood behind the
door to laugh. But he had to stuff hi;
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 ol
the fur mittens.
"And when they came near the hut, ,'the
old man cried out, Do you sec what a
blaze All will be lost =
land five silver dollars in the cup
board cried the old dame.
"But Jolly Tom, who stood by, nearly
swallowed his northumberland tC
keep himself from laughing.
"Then the stout man burst open The
door, and o what sight o what sight
A blaze indeed And by the light of i
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, ant
dazzling to behold For from every littl,
twig hung bright gold piece! All fol
the two old folks. A real golden Christ
mas-tree
"At one end of the room stood tall
manly youth, with smiling face, and ;
bran new wedding suit. lie held by th'
hand lovely girl, dressed in pure white
with long flowing veil. Near by stood
the Priest, who was to marry them, in hi
long black robes. Pauline's brother wa.
on the other side, dressed in gay tunic
with buckles on his knees, and red tas
, selled cap
1.-THE two old folks stood in the door
way, and could not speak word.
f "But the tall youth came forward
! leading the lovely bride. And they bol
knelt down before these two old folks
and began kissing their hands.
&c Father, mother, give us your bless
ing!' cried the youth For l am you
, daughter
"And when they clasped him in thei
arms, and he felt their warm tears an,
, their kisses, and heard them sob out
BLESS you bless youl our son and ou
r daughter! then Valentine bowed dow
| his head, and wept tears of joy
r "And Pauline, when she saw hin
weeping, bent down, and took his hand
. and Soi6 louipU words tn him
"Then he remembered how one night
D when he was boy, lying there all alone
I he dreamed that bright light filled III
hut, and that beautiful lady, all in white
bent over him, and spoke kindly, an
then vanished away, and left him cold an
! | alone.
"And when he remembered this drear
, he caught Pauline by the hand, and erie
out, %, don't vanish away. don't wants
1 awayF
"Then Pauline laughed, and said, NJ
: dear, wouldn't vanish away for all th
c | world
, "Then Jolly Tom clapped his hand
l and laughed, and capered about, and Mr.
: jolly Tom did the same, and the littl
o Jolly Toms, and threw up their cap
} And then Pauline's brother began, an
then the happy couple, and at last the tw
/, > old folks, aud last of all the Priest also
y and such laughing and clapping and
IS capering never was known before.
D but at last Valentine said, Sir Prizes
will you please to marry us?'
y "Then all became quiet, and stood in
e circle around the couple; and one lit
IS boy peeped out from behind his mothe
e and the other little boy held his father
IN