Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1869-12-30

John Todd, junior. ~ hope it's some.
thing to eat, said Tommy Todd, an cpl
cure of nine Willie Todd, aged six,
sucked his thumb and said nothing Prob.
ably he thought the more.
Hadn't you better open it, and then
you'll know all about ity said John
Todd,
Dear old father" said Milly; "he's
always right So We will"
John Todd, junior, produced a knife,
and the hamper was speedily opened.
The first glance revealed nothing but
straw, and the hearts Of the youthful
Todds sank almost to zero But the
straw was quickly removed, and then was
revealed, first most remarkable turkey,
"a turkey, if possible, inconvcniently
stout, with red ribbon round It's neck and
a rosette on its breast Second, a roasting
pig, which for size and fairness might have
been brother, or cousin at least, to the
turkey, don't suppose there ever was
roasting pig quite as broad as he was long;
bat if ever there was such pig, that was
the one. Last came hare, of which it is
only necessary to say that he did no dis
credit to the turkey and the pig Before
the party had recovered from their delight
and surprise, the door again opened, and
another man, bearing another hamper,
came in. Name OF Todd here's" said
the man. Right with Mr., Browns
kind regards, and paid" The door had
hardly closed upon the porter when the
youthful Todds, regardless of the "Glass,
with care" In large letters on the top of
the basket, rushed at it, and had it open
in trice. A fragrant smell arose from it,
I proceeding from sundry Whitley brown
paper parcels arranged in trim order with
in. Milly opened them. One was found
to contain currants another plums another
spice; in fine, all the ingredients for a
monster pudding of the richest character
were there. A noble packet of tea was the
next thing that came to hand, and then
goodly store of apples, oranges nuts,
almonds, and raisins When these were
removed there was still layer of some
thing solid at the bottom of the basket
which, being investigated, proved to con-
sist of splendid plum cake, and bottles of
brandy, gin, and rum with one of ginger
wine. The little Todds executed pas de
all sorts round the hampers in perfect
ecstacy of delight, and Milly and her
father, though less demonstrative in their
transports, were hardly less excited. Be-
fore they had recovered from their fresh
surprise scufiilng was heard outside the
door, as If something was rubbing against
it, Milly opened it, and found outside a
boy, whose face was just visible over an
enormous bundle of holly and mistletoe.
He struggled into the shop with his bur
den. please IN, Mr.. Browns compl-
mehts and thought you might ike little
oily and miz for the Christmas decorations.
o my amt it prickly neither Whereat
he dropped it in heap on the floor and
disappeared.
"Now, father DEAR" said Milly, "you
had better shut up the shop-Im sure you
won't be able to do any more work to-.
night. Isn't it wonderful Just like a
fairy talef
And Mr.. Browns the good fairy y
said John Todd. isn't he noble gen.
tleman? Well, I think I'll shut up, dear.
He said he wasn't in hurry for the things,
and don't feel as if could bring my
mind down again to tronsers tonight"
"That's dear old daddy" said Milly.
"And now then you shall have your beer
and your pipe, and sit in the corner, and see
us put up this lovely holly. Isn't it beau
tiful What dear old gentleman Mr.
Brown must be declare / quite love
him Already"
"Halloap said Mr.. Todd, "what'll
Charley Collins say to that ?"
Milly rushed at him, and shut his mouth
with kiss.
"Be quiet, do, you wicked old man,
that's quite different thing, you know it
is" And she forthwith began, with the
assistance of her brothers, to decorate the
homely room with the Christmas ever
greens. 1t was worth days pay to any
body (say the Lord Chancellor, as his
wages are tolerably good) to see Milly's
1.-THE little figure stepping from chair to
chair, or standing like a lively little statue,
on the ricketiest of tables, her arms held
high above her head, and her dainty little
white fingers flashing among the dark
green holly, and deity insnuating sprigs
of mistletoe into artful places where no
body would expect them. And when at
last, having hung holly and mistlctoe IN
all possible, and two or three impossible,
places, she sprang lightly to the floor,
with her sunny face flushed, and her hair
/ the least bit tumbled by her exertions
and led out her father by both hands for
the first kiss under the mistletoe, don't
wonder that the boys hurrahed,-I believe
! should have done it myself under the
same circumstances. I'm afraid, by the
way, that I've done those boys great in.
justice. 1t may possibly be imagined, as
have not chroniclcd their remarks, that
they were silent. 0 dear, no. Quite the
reverse. The fact is, they not only all
three talked at once, but they all talked
the whole time, with an effect which II Is
easy 20 imagine but exceedingly difficult
to describe. Had Providence made me
three first-rate shorthand reporters, in
stead of only one gentleman of medium
size, might have attempted 1t; though
even then 1--WE, | should say should have
found much difficulty by reason of the
idiomatc nature Of the young gentlemen's
conversation. The number of "gOllvs"