The Portland daily press., 1869-12-25

suinptuouSly luInISleu, anu Inat the CnflsU-
mas fare was likely to be of an especially
meager description. The last reflection dc
tated his reply.
"If you're really in earnest, sir, it ud be IN
becoming in me 10 say no, when you DO me
the honor to ask it. But we poor folks don't
live like the GENTRY. you know, sir, at the best
of times. and this year View got even shorter
commons than usual. We've hearty good
fellowship, sir, but very little else, to keep
Christmas with.'
land hearty good-fellowship is the very
best dish at the Christmas FEAST" said the
stranger. Beef and pudding are not to be
despised, but they're only secondary. after all.
Well, you haven't said mo- so | shall consider
myself accepted. I've dined off baked pota-
to before now, and shall find enough to eat
never you fear. What's your time? One
o.clock-very good"
This lady and her brother reside in the
house. sir, and they club their Christmas din
ner with ours, if you have no objection"
objection! /, my dear Todd! you forget
that Pm only a visitor. Objection! certainly
not. The more, the mer1ier, say. Madam
your most obedent."
Miss Pinnifer relaxed so far as to courtesy
with dignity, still, however, keeping her mufl
available for defence, if necessary
well, that's settled" said the stranger
ness to attend to, so I'll wish you a good
night. Good evening, madam. Don't dis
uess yourself about the trousers, Mr.. Todd
With these words the unknown departed
leaving Mr.. Todd and Miss Pinnier dumb
with amazement. The latter recovered her
speech first, with the observation, "Did you
ever?" Mr.. Todd looked at her for few mo-
ments. AT last he calculated, slowly and dis
tlnctly, mo, / neverw
what very singular person, Mr.. Todd
YOU'RE quite sure you've never seen him be-
fore?"
'Never TO my knowledge till the other
night" said Mr.. Todd.
There's more in this than meets the eye,''
said Miss Pinnifer.
"Y on still think, ma'am-"
"Well, no, not entirely. l must say ex-
pected to see quite different style of person.
But there's no knowing. 1 shall be on my
guard"
''Il he isn't detective, what can he want
to come here for?" said Mr.. Todd "It's the
most extraordinary thing l ever heard in my
life. l don't know what Milly will say to a
strange gentleman coming to dinner; but l
couldn't help it, could l now? I'd better tell
her at once, and get it off my mind"
III say good night, then," said Miss Pin
infer. eve left my brother too long alone
ready"
Mr.. Todd wished her good evening, and
Owed into small parlor behind the shop,
where his daughter, Milly, sat sewing, with
three younger brother Todds, making more or
less noise, around her.
Milly Todd deserves paragraph all to her.
sell, as the pleasantest possible specimen of a
good little English girl. She was not a
beauty, but better than a beauty in the pos
session of the more lasting comeliness which
is derived from bright smile, sweet temper,
and pair OF clear, earnest eyes, made none
the less expressive by the near neighborhood
OF a saucy little retrousse nose. Her wavy
brown hair had not ripple out of place, and
ner plump little figure was encased in we'll
fitting dress, which, though it bore the marks
OF long service, was neatness itself In fact
take her altogether,-but that is precisely
what you would have wished to have done
or, If you did not, you must have had very bad
taste indeed. There are some women one al
ways wants to kiss at first sight, and Milly
was one of them.
John Todd entered the room in high state
of excitement. "Milly, my girl, here's most
tremendous gow
why, father dear, what ever is the mat
ter?"
'Matter, enough, my dear. Here's gen
tleman coming to spend Christmas day with
us. Invited himself, and accepted with
thanks"
HE won't have much of dinner, then,
1ather dear; but he's welcome. Let me guess
who it is,-not old Mr.. Belamy?"
mo, my dear, it isn't old Mr. Bellamy, nor
young Mr.. Collins, either, though dare say
he'll find mis- way here in the course of the
afternoon, eh, Milly? No, this is quite a
stranger; quite the gentleman, toy, can tell
you"
But what makes him want to come here,
then, father?"
swell, my dear, that's more than can tell
yon, except that he said he was a stranger and
had no friends, and that he thought IRON nv
FACE that he could spend merry Christmas
mere that's all nonsense, of course; but the
long and the short of it is, he's coming"
Nonsense, indeed, for anybody to like nv
dear old fathers face," said Milly, kissing him.
Its handsomer than half the young ones
now, and / Ike the gentleman for saying it.
No friends! that's very sad. Poor old gem
tieman, I'm very glad he's coming; but wish
we bad little more 10 give him.
That's Were IL is, Milly; SO do /: but we
must make the hest OF IL. What have You
got ~
-Well, father, I've a nice bit of beef and
Miss Pinniier Is going 20 bring some sausaees-
! IN gong TO make a pudding, but it'n be only
4 KIND OF make believe 10 please the bows.
They wouldn't believe IL was Christmas. Won
know, without the pudding. Ii isn't much Of
a dinner 10 set before visitor, father"
Never mind, my dear, said her father Il
wish u was more; bat we must make il DO.
Make the pudding as good as you can. Let
ue ses. know l haven't much ia my mock
eight pence. Well. my dear. every
little helps. l shant want my hali-pint OF
beer tonight"
Dear old father. No, no; you're not going
without your supper, sir, | can tell Won. for
iny amount Of grand visitors. / know what
can do. I've got halt crown upstairs that
haa put by Tor something else, but it doesn't
natter, and that viii help US out capitally."
Win bright smile, though with little
'hoking a. the throat flor the half crown had
been saved by pennies TO buy necktie tor a
certain Charley Collins, whose acquaintance
We shah make by and by,l Milly rose to seek
her hoard; but her father stopped her.
mo, no, dear, keep your money, we may
want u worse before the weeks out. L didn't
want 10 have told you bad news tonight. but
perhaps its best told, after ALL"
Having taken the plunge, John proceeded
10 tell his daughter OF Mr.. Sprague's visit. and
The terrible threat with which he had DEPART
ed. The announcement: produced a very de-
pressing effect. Even brave little Milly had
tears IN her eyes, and her younger brothers.
seeing her distress, howled dismally in vague
At this juncture The shop.door was heard
10 open. n man entered bearing on his
shoulder huge hamper, which he set down
on the floor with a 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 establishment. "Who can it be
from? ?" said Milly, little ungramatically. II
wonder what's in it ?" said John Todd, Junior.
i 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 von'u
lnow all about it ?" sud John Todd.
'Dear old father" said Milly, "hes ALWAYS
light. So we will''
:, J0hn Todd, Junior, produced knife, and
the hamper was speedily opened. The first
9iance 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 remarka-
Die tulkey,-a turkey, if possible, inconven-
emily stout, with red ribbon round its neck
md a rosette on its breast. Second, roast
ng pig which for size and fairness might have
'een brother, or cousin at least, to the tur-
Key. don't suppose there ever was a roast
ng pig quite as broad as he was long; but if
ver there was such pig, that was the one.
LAST came hare, of which it is only neces-
airy to say that he did no discredit to the tur-
Key and the pig. Before the party had re-
covered from their delight and surprise. the
loor again opened, and another man, bearing
mother hamper, came in. "Name of Todd
lere?" said the man. Fright; with Mr.
Browns kind regards, and paid" The door
lad hardly closed upon the porter when the
outhful Todds, regardless of the "Glass, with
are" in large letters on the top of the basket,
ushed at it, and had it open in a trice. A !
fragrant smell arose from it, proceeding from |
undrY MhiteY-brOYn naner narcelS arranned |