The Columbia herald. [volume] (Columbia, Tenn.) 1850-1873, 1870-01-07
eel for Mr. Todd And without another

eel for Mr. Todd" And without anothe,
word he departed
The whole of the Todd family gathered
round the big hamper, and contemplated
it with silent astonishment. "Who can
it be froms" said Milly, little ungramat-
ically. "I wonder what's In it," said
John Todd, junior. AZ hope it's some
thing to eat said Tommy Todd, an epi.
cure of nine. Willie Todd, aged six,
sucked his thumb and said nothing. Prob
ably he thought the more.
Hadn't you better open it, and then
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 a most remarkable turkey,
"a turkey, if possible, inconveniently
stout, with a red ribbon round its neck and
rOsette on its breast. Second, roasting
pig, which for size and fatness might have
been brother, or cousin at least, to the
turkey. I don't suppose there ever was q
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 dis
credit 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?" said
the man. 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 a tricn. A fragrant smell arose from it,
proceeding from sundry whitey-brown
paper parcels arranged in trim order with
in. Milly opened them. One was found
to contain currants, another plums, another
spice; in fine, all the Ingredients for q
monster pudding of the richest character
were there. A noble packet Of tea was the
next thing that came to hand, and then Q
goodly store of apples, oranges, nuts,
almonds, and raisins When these were
removed there was still layer of some
thing solid at the bottom of the basket,
which, being investigated, proved to con-
sist 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 perfect
ecstacy of delight, and Milly and her
father, though less demonstrative in their
transports, were hardly less excited. Be-
fore they had recovered from their fresh
surprise scuffiIng was heard outside the
door, as if something was rubbing against
it. Milly opened it, and found outside
boy, whose face was just visible over an
enormous bundle of holly and mistletoe.
He struggled into the shop with his bur-
den. "Please IN, Mr.. Browns compli-
ments, and thought you might like little
oily and miz for the Christmas decorations.
o my amt it prickly neither" Whereat
he dropped it in heap on the floor and
disappeared.
"Now, father DEAR" said Milly, "you
had better shut up the shop-rm sure you
won't be able to do any more work to-
night. Isn't it wonderful ?-just like a
fairy talel''
"And Mr.. Browns the good fairy!"
said John Todd "Isn't he a noble gen.
tleman? Well, / think I'll shut up, dear.
He said he wasn't in hurry for the things,
and / don't feel as If l could bring my
mind down again to trousers tonight"
"That's a dear old daddy" said Milll
"And now then you shall have your beer
and your pipe, and sit in the corner, and see
us put up this lovely holly. Isn't it beau
tiful! What dear old gentleman Mr..
Brown must be I declare quite love
him already!"
"Halloa p said Mr.. Todd, "whatn
Charley Collins say to that ?"
Milly rushed at him, and shut bis mouth
with kiss.
"Be quiet, do, you wicked old man,
that's quite different thing, you know it
is" And she forthwith began, with the
assistance of her brothers, to decorate the
homely room with the Christmas ever
greens. 1t was worth days pay to any
body (say the Lord Chancellor, as his
wages are tolersbly good to see Milly's
1.-THE little figure stepping from chair to
chair, or standing like lively little statue,
on the ricketiest Of tables, her arms held
high above her head, and her dainty little
white fingers flashing among the dark
green holly, and deity insinuating sprigs
of mistletOe into artful places where no.
body would expect them. And when at
last, having hung holly and mistletOe IN
all possible, and two or three impossible,
places, she sprang lightly to the floor,
with her sunny face flushed, 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, don't
wonder that the boys hurrahed, II believe
l should have done it myself under the
same circumstances. Pm afraid, by the
way, that I've done those boys great in
justice 1t may possibly be imagined, as l
have not chronicled their remarks, that
they were silent. o dear, no. Quite the
reverse. The fact 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 difhcult
to describe. Had Providence. made me
three first-rate shorthand reporters, in
stead of only one gentleman of medium
size, might have attempted it; though
even then l 1--WE, should say) should have
found much difficulty by reason of the
idiomatic nature of the young gentlemen's
conversation. The number of "gollys"
and crikeys" with which it was embel-
lished was, regret to say, much above
what is considered correct In polite society,
and Qike the organ-man's monkey, who
never would dance but to the genteelest
of tunes) find l never can spell those
vulgar words. At last the merry party re-
tired to rest, the boys to dream of roast
pig, and Milly Of Well, never mind,
We won't intrude, but don't you wish you
were Charley Collins!
Christmas morning came at last, as it
generally will, if you only wait long
enough; and very respectable sort of
Christmas morning it was. Bright and
clear and cold, with the snow on the
ground crisp and hard, the sort of weather
that makes one wish one was a street boy,
and not too dignifed to cut in on q good
long slide; the sort of weather that makes
you button up your great-coat to the chin,
and case your hands in your thickest
wollen gloves; the sort of weather Il
hope) that makes you give a kindly
thought to your poorer brothers who have
no great-coats to button, and no warm
gloves to cover their frost-nipped hands.
Pile on the logs, by all means; heap up
the blazing fire; do honor to the dainty
cheer, and pass round he rare old wine.
But little they know of Christmas who
think to win its magic gifts of light and
life and JOY by such means only. A sim
gle spark, lit by your bounty in q poor
mans hovel, shall shed 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 house, shall
bring to the giver a sweeter sense of en-
joyment than the most sumptuous ban
quet spread for self alone. Happy he who
has found the golden key-who knows,
and uses the knowledge, that the treasures
of Christmas happiness are reached