The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-01-07

I'm mean, and I'm cruel and Pm cowardly
That's Mr. Todd's idea. Mr.. Collins sayl
I'm hypocriticll, canting, double faced
dear me, what was it he topped up with y
"Humbug," said Charley, boldly.
"Old humbug," corrected Mr.. Brown,
sternly, Pm not going to let you off any
of the adjectives, my young friend. You,
Miss Milly, were of opinion that l was a
wretch"
al didn't say so," said Milly.
"No, my dear, but you thought so, and
that's much the same Dear, dear if your
poor mother had only lived to hear her
brother Tom called all these horfid names,
Don my word believe she'd have boxed
your ears all round"
"Uncle Tom p exclaimed Milly.
"You're necer Tom HawkinsI" cried
Mr. Todd.
"Yes, sometimes" said the stranger,
meekly; generally, I may say. Allow
me to introduce myself, ladies and gentle
men; Thomas Brown Hawkins, at your
service As for my character, I'm mean,
cOwardly, cruel-a regular tragedy uncle,
in fact"
my dear uncle" said Milly, of course
we didn't know. And you were only in
joke, after all"
We'll, my dear, I'm not so sure of that;
but a man maynt marry his grandmother,
similar foolish prejudice as regards nieces.
So, on the whole, perhaps it's Just as well
you didn't say yes"
brother-in-law," said Mr. Todd. "You
ho. lso, u,Nrdo aid Y,pfor
mistake, I'm sure"
"Well, I'm not quite certain whether l
will or / WON'T" said Mr.. Hawkins. al
head for calling me an old humbug, but
I'm afraid 1 should get the worst of it."
"Pm very sorry, sir" began Charley.
"No, YOU'RE not, my dear boy; or if
you are, you needn't be-" said Mr.. Hawk
ms at was an old mans joke, and I
rather think saw the fun of it better than
you did"
"But had always heard you were dead,
Hawkins," said Mr.. Todd. "Many a
time my poor wife used to talk and cry
over her only brother, who was thought
to have been drowned at sea-"
"Iought to have been, by rights" said
Uncle Tom. "I've been in three ship
wrecks, but was preserved, probably for
higher and drier fate I've been a dig
ger, and q storekeeper, and a good many
other things besides. III tell you all my
adventures, one of these days. And now
I've made as much as l care to make.
Yes, that twenty thousand pounds is fact,
Miss Milly, and I've come to England
to enjoy myself with my nephews and
Aieces. So you won't marry me, eh?"
Milly shook her head saucily.
"Well, then, as I've set my heart on a
wedding, suppose you must marry some
body else. 1 think / know somebody
who'll find that security, Mr.. Charley,
though you did call me canting old hum
bug. No thanks don't lke'em; always
makes me feel as if / was being tickled
and wasn't allowed to laugh. Milly, little
weman, if you're very good, you and l
will take run out of town the very first
fine day, and see If we can't find that same
cottage we were talking about,-small
garden in front, and the name of John
Todd on the door, you know"
In spite of Uncle Toms objection to
thanks, there was a simultaneous outbu-st
of grateful joy,-the overflow of happy
hearts. John Todd squeezed his brother
in-law's left hand, while Charley Collins
violently shook his right, and Milly, with
both arms around his neck, kissed him re-
peatedly. Miss Pinnifer wept so violent
" that her small pocket
looked as if it had been recently washed,
and not recently dried.
The excitement rather increased than
diminished in intensity, and Uncle Tom
was in a fair way to be literally smothered
with caresses, when the door suddenly
opened, and Miss Pinnifer's brother, in a
white and peculiarly airy costume, stalked
into the room The unfortunate man had
walked from his first sleep with an uneasy
sense that the promised pudding, with the
hope of which he had been beguiled to
rest, had not been duly furnished; and he
had therefore risen at once, without the
formality of dressing himself to claim his
due There was an exclamation OF aston
ishment, followed by a shout of mex
tinguisbable laughter, and then Miss Pin
infer, with much presence of mind, seized
the table-cover, and hurriedly draping it
round the intruder, march, I'd him back to
bed.
For little while longer the little party
sat around the fire, talking of the hard
times past, and the pleasant times to come;
and hearing the story of the tempest
tossed life, come to an anchor at last. And
then the time for good by" came, and
as with loving kisses and hearty hand !
shakes, they said "good night" the
chimes from neighboring church tower
rang out midnight, and Christmas-day |
was over. And Uncle Tom, reverentiy |
dofing his hat, said,-
THANK God for merry Christmas"
"Amen" said Charley Collins.
"Amenr' said John Todd, with all
our hearts, amen"
Thank God for Christmasl So say we |
all, and God help him who cannot say |
Amen! For peace and goodwill, for
the quickened pulse of charity, for quar-
rels reconciled, and love renewed, the |
golden gifts of Christmas, God be thanked.
Thanked, not alone with our lips, but
with our hands and our hearts, by spread
ing these golden gifts. that others may |
thank Him too. None is 50 poor but that, |
once q year at least, he may be q "rich |
uncle" to somebody; none 50 joyless but |
that he may catch reflected ray of hap |
piness, by doing something, be it ever 80
little, to make merry Christmas in the
heart of another.-Holiddy No Of London