The Republican journal. [volume] (Belfast, Me.) 1829-current, 1870-01-20
A NEW YEARS GIFT.
By AMY RANDOLPH.

The old year was gliding over the thresh-
hold of the world in the most gracious man.
ner possible, this thirty first night of Decem-
Der, with close packed snow in the roads
and all the fields shining white like newly
iced cake; while overhead the stars glittered
with frost bright radience, and the chime OF
myriad icicles made fairy music whenever
breeze stirred the woods.
Perhaps it was not so romantic in the city,
but then it was much more noisy. People
were rushing to and fro with paper parcels
under their arms: contectlOnerS were send
ing home their last orders; harassed trades
people were wondering whether or not 1t
was best to take leave of their senses at once,
and children were tlattening their noses
against the gas-lighted windows of candy
| shops and toy stores, trying to "make believe
what they would buy, if they only had lots OF
money!
Mr.. Leslie Trevor had just emerged from
this merry medley of the streets into his own
quiet room, where the fire burned brightly
and the easy-chair was drawn up in front Of
it, with mute sort of welcome. He was
bright looking young man Of about eight
and twenty, with clear brown eyes and brown
cheeks, where the glow of health gave a
faint crimson tint, and mouth which dis
played pearl white teeth every time he spoke
or smiled.
AS he entered, he glanced round tho room
with look that was almost discontent-
ed.
mo matter, though, he told himself cheer
lily; lit will not be long. Before this day
twelvemonth l hope that Lillian will be my
wife, and Lilian's smile would make home
out of the dreari est wilderness, l wonder
where that elf of a Tom is, to carry this box
round, with my compliments. He's never in
+bn -bar, hos d.
lord will send him up when he arrives from
his latest escapade. And. in the mean
time"
Mr. Trevor finished his sentence by light
ing cigar; w.,
cried minor voice back of him. You
haven't got another of those articles about
you suppose ?"
Trevor, albeit not a nervous man, started
a little; but his face frightened up when he
saw stout, whiskered parsonage, year or
so older than himself, with seedy overcoat,
a fur edged hat, and very chilled-looking
nose.
Why, Potts" he cried, sis it you?'
'.Yes, it's l." said Mr. Potts, depositing on
the table a paper box, the very mate to that
which had Just been placed there by Leslie
Trevor. and laying his hat beside it, Il Just
saw light in your windows as [ passed by,
and I thought I'd step in to give you word
of warning!'
Indeed" said Mr.. Trevor good humored
ly. pray take a seat
Mr. Potts took q seat and q cigar at the
same time.
"A very nice article this" he said, shifting
in the flavor ecstatically. Buy 'em by the
thousand, l suppose? My wife objects to
smoking And that brings me to the subject
in hand, old boy hear you're thinking OF
being married!'
II am thinking of it but as I have not yet
proposed to the young lady in question:
'That makes no difference. It's down
hill road. When you've once started, nothing
| but an earthquake can stop you. It's just
this, Trevor; don't marry rich p
"But'you did," frankly asserted Mr.. Ire
! vOr.
II know did, my dear fellow" groaned
Potts, land that's what gives weight to my
experience. I've been a fool; all the more
reason should advise my young gentleman
| friends not to make fools of themselves" !"
"I'm much obliged to you, but"
| "Hallo" cried Mr. Potts, jumping up as if
he had been electrified by the little mantle
clock striking nine sis that clock right
Won't get peelng for not being home at
eight, as | promieed. She's vixen-a
shrew-and 1 can't help myself. Trevor,
take my advice, and don't do it ~
| Leslie Trevor burst iuto laugh as Mr.
Potts caught up one Of the paper boxes the
wrong one, of course if he had taken the
right one, our tale would never have had a
moral to point-and rushed down stairs three
steps at a time. Nor had the CLEAN oflaugh-
ter died out of his eyes when Tom, the errand
boy of the hotel, presented himself for Mr.,
Trevor's orders.
THAT paper box, Tom" said our hero,
searching in his pockets for quarter to re-
ward the Gandymede. Take it round to
Mr.. Dares, No, street with my compli-
ments to Miss Lillian, and this card."'
Eyes, SIR" said Tom looking rather harder
at the quarter than he did at the box, and
: vanishing swiftly
Mr.. Potts apprehensions had not been al
together without foundation. Mrs. ?. was
waiting his coming with a cloudcd brow.
/ She was a rich, ill-tempered old maid,
whom Philo Potts had somehow been delud-
ed into marrying, with false hair, false teeth
and in fact everything about her false except
her temper, and that was exceedingly genu-
F inc.
"Why didn't you stay all night ?" tartly de-
manded this amiable spouse, as Mr.. Potts
sneaked in with conciliatory smile.
''My dear, it's only temp
| "Only ten!'-Mrs. Potts ierked the paper
box out Of her husbands hand-"and me
waiting here; and Mary Ann can't do up my
hair until that order is brought home from
Curriers'"
"Here. it is, my DEAR" soothed her lord
and master.
Mrs. Potts twitched off the paper wrapping
aud broke the pink twine, while her eyes
snapped omniously
whats this?" she cried sharply "a
bouquet!"
f Pen and ink cannot reproduce the contempt.
uous tone Of her voice, as the looked down
upon the tuberoses and heliotropes and
camelia joponicas which lay wrapped in sill
yer paper within the box. Mrs. Potts, quite
devoid of sentiment, and short in temper,
withal, flung the bouquet at her husbands
5 head, and went into screaming Mysteries
5 ''Its all the fault of that confounded hair
, dresser!" cried Mr.. Potts, "and I'm not to
, blame for it, one way or the other. I'll be
hanged if I bear this sort of thing a minute
f longer!'
f So Mr.. Potts, plunged his hands recklessly
in his pockets, and went off to spend the rest
9 of his evening at the ''Blissful Bachelors
: Clubr'
s Lillian Dare had shaken her luxurious
tresscs like a cloud of gold over her white