The evening telegraph. [volume] (Philadelphia [Pa.]) 1864-1918, 1869-12-22

you.
then, father ?"
"Well, my dear, that's moro than ! can tell
YOU, except that he said he was n stranger and
had no friends, and that he thought from my
face that he could spend merry Christmas
here That's all nonsense of course; but the
long and the short of il is, he's coming
Nonsense, indeed, for anybody to like my
dear old fathers face, said Milly, kissing
him. ''It's handsomer than half the young
ones now, and I like the gentleman for saying
it.. No friends that's very sad Poor old
gentleman, Tn very glad he's comingi but |
wish we had a little more 10 give him.
That's where it is, Milly; 50 do 1; but
we must make the best of it. What have you
got?"
"well father, I've nice bit Of beef, and
Miss Pinnifer is going to bring some saussges.
I'm going TO make pudding, but 1t be only
kind of a make-believe to please the boys.
They wouldn't believe it was Christmas, you
know, without the pudding. II isn't much
of dinner to set before a visitor, father"
"Never mind my dear, said her father. II
wish it was more; but we must make 1t do.
Make the pudding as good as you can. Let
me see. know haven't much in my pocket
only eightpence. Well, my dear, every
little helps. l shant want my half-pint OF
beer tonight"
Dear old father No, no; you're not
going without your supper, sir, / can tell you,
for any amount of grand visitors. know
what l can do. I've got half a crown up
stairs thab had put by for something else;
but it doesn't matter, and that Will help us
out capitally.'
With bright smile, though with a little
choking at the throat Cfor the half-crown had
been saved by pennies to buy a necktie for
certain Charley Collins, whose acquaintance
we shall make by-and-by), Milly rose to seek
her hoard; but her father stopped her.
mo, no, dear, keep your money, we may
want it worse before the weeks out. l didn't
want to have told you bad news tonight, but
perhaps it's best told, after all.
Having taken the plunge, John pro-
ceeded to tell his daughter of Mr..
Sprague's visit, and the terrible
threat with which he had departed. The an
nouncement produced very depressing
effect Even brave little Milly had tears in
her eyes, and her younger brothers, seeing her
distress, howled dismally in vague sympathy
At this juncture the shop door was heard to
open. A man entered, bearing on his shoul-
der a huge hamper, which he set down on
the floor with bang Parcel for Mr.
Todd" And without another word he de-
parted.
The whole of the Todd family gathered
round the big hamper and contemplated it
with silent astonishment "Who can it be
from y said Milly, little ungrammatically.
~ wonder what's in it - said John Todd,
junior Il hope It's something to eat, said
Tommy Todd, an epicure of nine. Willie
Todd, aged six, sucked his thumb and said
nothing. Probably he thought the more.
Hadn't you better open it, and then you'll
know all about it ?" said John Todd
Dear old father said Milly; 'he's always
right. So we will"
John Todd, junior, produced 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 remark
able turkey-a turkey, if possible, incopve-
niently stout, with red ribbon round its
neck and a rosette on its breast. Second a
roasting pig, which for size and fatness might
have been brother, or cousin at least to the
turkey. / don't suppose there ever was a
roasting pig quite as broad as he WAS long;
but 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 discredit 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 2" said the men. '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. fragrant smell arose from it,
proceeding from sundry whitey-brown paper
parcels arranged in trim order within. Mily
opened them. One was found to contain
curTants, another plunIs, another spice; in
hne, all the ingredients for monster pud-
ding of the richest character were there. A
noble packet of tea was the next thing that
came to hand, and then a goodly store of
apples, oranges, nuts, almonds, and raisins
When these were removed there was still
layer of something solid at the bottom of the
basket, which, being investigated, proved to
consist 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 a perfect
ecstasy of delight, and Milly and her father,
though less demonstrative in their transports
we're hardly less excited. Before they had
recovered from their fresh surprise scuffling
was heard outside the door, as if something
was rubbing against it. Milly opened it. and
found outside boy, whose face was Just visi-
bic over an enormous bundle of holly and
mistletoe. He struggled into the shop with
his burden. "Please M MIR. Browns com
pliments, and thought you might like little
oily and miz for the Christmas decorations.
Oh, my! amt it prickly neither" Whereat
he dropped it in heap on the floor and dis
appeared.
Now, father dear, said AIilly, "you had
better shut up the shop. I'm sure you won't
be able to do any more work tonight. Isn't
it wonderful? Just like a fairy tale !"
And Mr.. Browns the good fairy :" said
John Todd. ''Isn't he noble gentleman?
Well. | think Ill shut M dear He said he