The Portland daily press., 1869-12-25

your pipe, and sit in the corner and see us
put up this lovely holly. Isn't it beautiful?
What dear old gentleman Mr.. Brown must
be, declare quite love him alreadyw
"Halloaw said Mr.. Todd. "wbatll Charley
Collins say to that?"
Milly rushed at him and shut his month
with kiss. -o''Ai
be quiet, do, you wicked old man, that's
quite dlf1erent thing, you know it is" And
she forthwith began, with the assistance of
her prothers to decorate the homely room
Win the Christmas evergreens. 1t was worth
days pay to anybody (say the Lord Chan
ceior, as his wages are tolerably good) to see
Miles 1.-THE little figure stepping from chair
10 cnair, or standing like lively little statue,
on lhe rlcklest of tables, her arms held high
ABOVE her head, and her dainty little white
myers flashing among the dark green holly,
and deftly insinuating sprgs of mistletoe in
10 artful places where nobody would expect
them. And when at last having hung holly
and mlstletoe in all possible, places, she sprang
lightly to the floor, with her sunny face flush
ed, 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,
L don't wonder that the boys hurrahed-I be-
lleVe should have done it myself under the
same circumstances. Pm afraid, by the way.
Justice. 1t may possibly be imagined, as l
have not chroniced their remarks, that they
were silent. Oh dear, no. Quite the reverse
Inc TACT is, they not only all three talked at
once, but they all talked the whole time.
with an effect which it is easy to imagine, but
exceedingly difficult to describe. Had Provi-
dence made me three first-rate shorthand
reporters, instead of only one gentleman of
medium size, might have ATTEMPTED it:
fh0nUD T (ruo r Oh Azla i
have found much difficulty by reason of the
idiomatic nature of the young gentleman's
conversation. The number of "gollys" and
"crlckeys" with which it was embellished
was, regret to say, much above what is con-
sidered correct in polite society, and, like
the or9an-man's monkey, who never would
dance but to the genteelest of tunes) L find
L never can spell those vulgar words At
last the merry party retired to rest, the bows
to dream of roast pig. and Millv of-Well.
never mind, we won't intrude, but don't YOU
wish you were Charley Collins?
II.
Christmas morning came at last. as il gen
orally will, If you only wait long enough; and
very respectable Christmas morning it was
Bright and clear and cold, with the snow on
the ground crisp and hard, the sort of wealth
er That makes one wish one was street boy.
and not too dignified to cut in on good long
side; the sort of weather that makes YOU
button up your great coat to the chin. and
case your hands in your thickest wooden
gloves; the sort of weather Il hope) that
makes you give kindly thought to your
poorer brothers who have no great coats to
button, and no warm gloves to cover their
1rost-nlpped hands. Pile on the logs, by all
means; heap up the blazing fire; do hon
or to the dainty cheer, and pass round the
rare old wine. But little they know of Christ
mas who think to win its magic gifts of light
and lie and JOY by such means only. A sin
gle spark, ut by your bounty in poor mans
novel, Shall Shed a warmth that the roaring
fire in your own mansion cannot give.-a
warmth that goes straight TO the heart. The
frugal meal, spread by the rich man in the
poor mans home, shall bring to the gver a
sweeter sense of enjoyment than the most
sumptuous banquet spread for self alone.
Happy he who has found the golden KEY
VINO knows, and uses the knowledge, that the
treasures OF Christmas happiness are reached
through Christmas charity
Inc whole of the Iodc family woke nm in
thoroughly Christmas state of mind, and the
younger members las might, perhaps, be ex-
pected, considering the nature of their ireams)
with perfectly ierocious appetite.-two or
three apetites each, indeed. Breakfast over.
the Junior branches were dispatched, under
the care of dear old Todd, to church. while
sister Mllly remained at home, and devoted
all her energies to the anticipated BANQUET.
am inclined to think that Millv had never
seen, much less cooked, such dinner in her
lie; but cooks, like poets, are born, not made.
and with the aid OF Miss Pinnifer. and the
simultaneous use of all the freplaces in the
mouse, Mllly got on splendidly, and astonish-
ed herself with her success. 1t was in a
moment OF confidence, engendered by the
close and intimate relation in which they
were thus placed, that Miss Pinnifer impart-
ed to Milly secret.
"Milly, my DEAR" said Miss Pinnifer. II
want your advice"
Hadn't you better ask father?" said Milly.
conceiVing that his counsels would probably,
be OF greater value than her own.
NO, my dear; no, | think not. In case
of-of this kind, don't think he would be a
Judge. want to know, dear, whether look
pest IN my black satin spencer and pink mus
lin skirt, or in my Stuart tartan. Take time
TO consider, my DEAR"
They're both very nice" said bIilly. "Tbe
tartan for choice, think"
DO you, dear? Now l was thinking, do
you Know, that the tartan was rather-rather
old-looking. One doesn't want TO make ones
dear.'
''of course not, said Milly; "but always
thought the tartan so very becoming. What
niahcs you 80 particular TO-DAY p
wei, dear, L really hardly know how to
zen YOU But We girls never can keep our lit
tle secrets, can we?'-the dear creature was
htty II she was a day-"the fact sits ON ae-
court Of Mr.. Brown, DEAR
Mily looked al her inquiringly, but with a
fosuish twinkle IN her eyes. The Old lady
continued
The object OF Mr.. Browns coming. NV
dear, Is, as you are aware, enveloped in mys-
terry. He must have am object, YOU know,
and have every reason 10 imagine-sirong
reason, may say-that that object is my
You don't say sou said Milly. spray ac-
eept my best congratulations. Has he de-
clared his intentions"
wei, no, dear, 1 can't say he has exactly
declared himself, in words at least; but il YOU
had only seen how he iooked-you couldn't
mistake bis expression, my dear He looked
at me with positive smile, quite lover-like, L
assure you; And then he insisted on coming
to dinner"
We'll, dear, I'm sure I'm very pleased"
said Milly. I'VE have all been puzzled to ac-
count for his wanting to come, and dare say
that Is it. You won't forget old friends when
you are grand lady, will your"
Il have MT accepted him yet, nv dear.n
sad Miss Pinniler, land l shant either, the
hrst time of asking. 1t doesn't do for a Girl TO
make herself too cheap. He'll have to be
very attentive, can tell him, if he expects to
have, any chance with me- 0 dear! 8 deari
he's beginning to burnw
The last words referred to the turkey.
which was under Miss Pinnfer's especial
care, and which she forthwith began to haste
violently.
1--WE had good deal of attention in nv
time, you see, my dear, so perhaps 1 think
the less OF it on that account, 1t is MT to be
expected, you know, with my experience,
that should be dazzled by Mr.. Brown.
Isn't he fat, dear?"
rs hep said Milly;"I have not seen him
you know"
"Not seen him p said Pinnifer. "What do
you mean? My DEAR was speaking of the
turkey"
"Ohw said Milly.
The conversation was interrupted by the
return of the party from church. The young
er Todds were found considerably in the way
OF the cookery, till Mlly hit on the happy ex-
pedient of sending them to the bakers to
fetch the pig, Forthwith they departed, with
pig written plainly on their countenances and
raced all the way to the shop, upon the I'M
derstandlng that the tail should be the prize
OF the winner. Johnny, the eldest, as might
nave been expected, came in foremost to the
great grief and Encouragement of his BROTH
ers, till he magnanimously promised them
that tney should have the tail after he had
done with it. Rather more quietly than they
had set out, the trio retired from the bakers
Johnny and Tommy Todd carrying the dish
between them. Willy, the youngest, very
much wanted to carry the cover, but the
more mature wisdom of Johnny suggested
that perhaps the pig would keep hotter with |
1t on; so willy had to content himself with |
walking behind as near as possible, and |
shifting the fragrance of the savory burden. |
When they reached home, Mr.. Brown had |
uSt arrived and fhoir fntI |