Mineral Point tribune. (Mineral Point, Wis.) 1869-1938, 1870-12-29
CHRISTMAS EVE IN A BHLFkY.

BY LlrCHFIELD MOSTLY.

We were a merry party at Merton
Grange, Somersetshire, on Christmas
EVE forget the date, but it must be
twenty years ago, at the very least I'm
Gle Goodman-or Uncle George, as we
always called him-was thorough
specimen Of au English gentleman OF
the old school--genial, warm-hearted,
and hospitable. Indeed, the greatest
pleasure Of his life seemed to consist N
making other people happy.
On that Christmas Eve, the oakcn
parlor ut the Grange presented its usual
festive appearance. A huge wood ire
hlaged on the hearth--not that it was
wanted, for the weather was almost as
warm az June, bat simply because the
eeasou demanded it; the spacious room
was festooned with holly and evergreen
from a massive beam In the centre
dropped a mighty bough Of mistlotoe ;
and the richly-caryed walnut WOOD side
board actually creaked beneath the
weight Of good cheer it bore. For
Christmas was almost always kept by
Uncle George in iovial English fashion,
may as well say at once that my
name is Willis Trotman aud at that
time ] was rising young balrister,
vegetating in grimy chambers in the
delightful locality of Veruiam- build
ings, Grays Inn.
Uncle George was a widower, with
three daughters Emily, the eldest,
was engaged to Jack Bates, OF Merton
Abbey; Charlotte, the second, dis
engaged, ofticiated rs her fathers
housekeepcr and Polly, the youngest,
also disengaged--a little merry eyed,
fair haired, saucy girl OF eighteen, who
was an especial favorite OF mine, and
who delighted i'll teasing me whenever
opportunity offered. Bless her heart !
She married an officer, after all, and
went to the East Indies, whore Il, { eli
mate soon spoiled her pretty face; so
thew told me afterward. But | ca" NJ
WAYS see her as she was then; aud |
shall love her to my dying day.
Polly" said I, as we sat down at
he end of one of the dances, "how
quiet some people are tonight, I'll
wager n dozen pairs of gloves | can
guess what you're thinking abont."
".SomG people are wonderfully clever
no Doubt she replied. ''Pray, what
am I thinking about, mr. lmpertin.
nee
You're wondering how many time s
onll be kissed under that mistletoe,
o-night."
"You're an impudent boy, Willis.
Whatever made you think OF such a
thinr2n
Your own bright eyes, Polly" |
whispered
az you talk like that, I'll never for
give you, y she said, smilngly, Us she
tripped away.
"Whewl howtremendousl hotit IL, .
said Uncle George, wiping his forehead
with his handkerchief, after going
through some extraordinary evolutions
in the dancing line. christmas Eve
Why, / declare, it's hot enough ion
July Willis, may | trouble you tc
throw open the lawn door little way,
and let us have breath of fresh air Z ,
| did as | was told, and, somehow
accidentally, nodoubt-on sitting dowu
again, | found Polly by my SIDE.
Here you are again them" | whis
pered
"What terrible tease you are, Willis
l didn't notice you were near me, or
would have kept on the other side o
the room,
SIN what way has this unfoItuna,,
individual offended you 2 " l asked.
Never mind, sir l am very mucl
offended
How do you look when you're of
tended, Pollyl"
willis, you're an intoierabie mus
ance to-night-you are, indeed Blu
isn't it warm here
Warm! It's hot enough 10 bsk
one. What do you say to q minute 0
two's turn in the garden? -
Il should ike it above all things,
she replied
Every well Throw that shawl owe
your shoulders, and the next move tina
takes place, we can slip out uuob
served.
In short time the opportunity Of
fered, aud no one noticed our disap
pearance.
"What a delightful nightit is y sal
Polly, as we ~auntered leisurely dow
the garden. "Look at that Lowell,
moon-isn'f il beautiful"
Delightful | replied. I" 1t re
minds ne of some lines | read some
where, sometime ago, written by some
body or other Let me see, they r
something like this
When the pale orb of Dan shines ogcr the sea,
Whou ra.ure's re- posing, rei Gring, repostag'