The Conservative. (M'connelsville, Ohio) 1866-1871, 1870-12-30


been there. When he had complete,
his work, he put all tidily away, ant
his next proceeding might have arous
ed Dame Charmberry's suspicious NOR
than ever, for he took down his old ha
from behind the door, and then, after
long search, perched her own market
basket on his arm, and, fastening tn
door, set off jauntily "down street,
with a sprig of holly he had picked OF
the way, in his button-hole. We vii
follow him, and by so doing, we ar,
brought to the threshold of the genera
! shop, where he marched In boldly VI
to the counter.
CLAW, Mr.. Charmberryl what can w
do for you9 It's an age since I've seer
you," shouted Mrs. Dubbits, at the toI
of her voice. GIVE some prime Christ
mas tea, just in-Hykey Pekoo, JUS
such as Missis would like"
"I want some tea, if you please,
replied Timothy, in his thin, reedy
voice; "but please, to write down the
price of it on the slate, for I'm harder
of hearing nor ever"
Mrs. Dubbits complied, and then
took Timothy's order for quarter Of
tea, pound of sugar, best raw, three
penn 'orth of fresh crumpets, and some
golden syrup, lending him q little jan
for the last, and then he wound up his
extravagance. actually by selecting q
big Sally Lunn-such plump, well
Drowned, fat-looking pincushion of q
tea-cake,. that Timothy smacked his
lips in anticipation. He completed his
enormities by packing all these care
fully in his wife's market-basket, and
carrying them of, In spite of Mrs
Dubbits' offer to send them for him.
"I s'pose you and your good lady's
going to have a treati roared Mrs.
Dubbits. "Pm sure I wish you @
merry Christmas.
"N-no,n stammered Timothy, ner-
vously catching the first part of her
speech, "not exactly. Please don't
"Old Tins going to have treat on
the sly said Mrs Dubbits to her
shop-boy.
'fI seed her a-postin' down this arter-
noon, - responded the latter; $50 he's
seed her of, I s'pose, and then gone in
for wittles." tE4
We must now leave Timothy on GER
tain further rambles, and follow Mrs.
Charmberry, whom we shall find, not
at her mothers, but sitting in gloomy
state in the small parior of the Rev.
Ebenezer Scratchit, the minister of her
own particular denomination, to whom
she has come for counsel and advice in
her sore disquiet. He hasjust propos-
ed to accompany her to her home, in
order to convict the culprit, and bring
him to sense of his wickedness. 1t is
bitter cold night and the pastor in
sists on his visitor partaking of some
spiced elder wine, which his helpmate,
Mrs. Seratchit, serves grimly on the
testimonial salver, with some fossil bis
cults of antediluvian bakery, of so
finty a nature are they. This modest
rejection concluded, the minister and
Mrs. Charmbery set off, and after q
brisk walk, soon reached the cottage,
which they approached silently, and
with some caution. Some hours had
elapsed, and the cold white moonlight
was already painting the shadows of
the yew and boI-bushes on the path
way; but inside no doubt there was no
lack of light and warmth, to Judge from
the bright freight that glimmered
under the crack of the door The
checked blue curtains were so closely
drawn over the windows that the watch
ers could find no chink for observation.
"I wonder what vile hussey is in
there, now,s muttered Mrs. Charmberry
grinding her teeth at the thought
Hushl" replied her companion;
"he's singing, and it isn't a hymn"
"It's what he used to sing when he
came accounting of me-" said Ruth,
between sigh and groan.
And verify Tmothy's weak voice was
heard heartily carolling
arhe hsppiest hours that e'er Ispent
Were spent among the lasses, oh
"Oh, sinful flesh, sinful fesh!n
groaned the Rev. Ebenezer.
"He's a talking" whispered Ruth,
pinching him to enforce silence; "let's
open the door Q crack-he can't hear,
nor they can't see, cause the settles
between us and the door"
"Here, Lucy, here's some stunning
tea for you, and I hope you'll enjoy it,
and here's my love to you, and merry
Christmas, and many of 'em Cheer
up, old girl you're looking quite young
and lively, I can tell you'll" ("Bruteln
muttered Mrs. O., outside). "Such tea
as this viii warm up the cookies Of
your hearti And such sugar, tool
like the boughs in frost.
And, Nancy, 10y dear, here's such a
Sally Lunn for you'll ] fell In love
with it on Mrs. Dubbits' counter, so
thick and well-baked, and here's plenty
Of butter to baste it well with" "The
heatheni," muttered Ruth; "there's
two on 'em then!" "Hetty, my lass
I've not forgotten you: do try these
crumpets and this golden syrup is for
The young iun." ."----.---
"He's q regular Mormon growied
The Rev. Ebenezer.
But Ruth could bear it no longer.
In she rushed, dashing open the door,
and coming like a whirlwind, followed
by the minister, upon poor Timothy,
who was peacefully seated alone by the
fire, sharing his meagre meal of tea and
dry bread-vith the cat
"This be a unexpected honor, sir,
salQ I1motny, recovering EI5 senses
first and getting up s1auth, why
don't you dust chair for tine gentle
man2n
The preacher and Mrs. Charmbery
looked very foolishly one at the other
At last the Rev. Ebenezer spoke, by
shouting In Timothy's ear
"We heard you talking out loud, Mr..
Charmbery: we thoughtyou had com
pany."
Company" said old Tim, "com-
panyi Yes, I were in company with
my own thoughts. It's bad habit as
I've got, sir, all along of my infrmity,
s'pose of talking to myself And this
here blessed Christmas I sat a-thinking
Of all the poor souls about here, and a
wishing of 'em q merry Christmas all
round in cup of tea, as I do you, sir,
likewise, hoping takes no liberty
Timothy screamed his wife.
IeWhat have you done with Lucy and
Hsttyf" g, -..-
"They amt a-told, have they9 ask
ID Timothy, looking sheepish. "Well,
then, 1 s'pose / must make a clean
breast of it all I; but, Ruth, my dear,