Ellsworth American. [volume] (Ellsworth, Me.) 1855-current, 1872-12-19
Thank you! Now we must go. or
Marion will be sending that committee
you mentioned

| y
Marion will be sending that committee
you mentioned
Eta
'Well?'
Il am afraid | can't keep that secret
Of yours much longer
Keep it till tomorrow. Uncle Ralph.
l am to say yes or no at Marions to-
night
The Christmas party at Marion S
wondered loudly at Aunt Etta's unac-
countable delay. All the young saw
ages were beating tattoos with their
feet upon the staircases, and loudly
declaring it was too bad Aunt Eta
did not come that the tree might be
lighted. The more decorous party of
older people in the drawing room
wondered why Marion was watching
the door so anxiously. MAYNARD
Wight, listening courteouslv to the
small talk of Marion's eldest .daugh-
ter, was thinking Eta meant to say no
ard stay at home.
Suddenly Marion vanished. and in n
fe" minutes all the children filed into
the front rarlor, and fixed their ewes
upon the folding door that hid so many
delightful treasures upon the Christ
mas tree. Maynard Wight fixed his
eyes also upon that door, certain that
when it opened there would be mes
sage OF nope or a certainty of disap-
poiatment for him.
1t opened; revealing a glare Of light.
and the great tree in the centre. Be.
side !; stool Eta, dressed in a bright
blue silk, with ner light curl, decorated
with blue ribbons. and bright li.ht
of happiness IN her large cycs. ana
hlshing her round cheeks. la her
hand was long wand. with which she
detached The glittering presents from
the tree. Everybody was to- busy IN
examining the various gils that were
belng distributed To watch Maynari
Wight, but had they done -. they
would have seen III, eyes vile open
with nstoni-hmcnt. gain. a. "a gay
object dangling from one of iAc
branches ~ thc wonderful. tree There
Was every NAnety " CHRISTMAS frut
there. hut he never needed any or i.
Wider anc'Wi'ler grew hi, eye.
Certainly he new that object. Cyr-
TAI. - Ia the past >ix wears lee had To-
oIi"n spccuiated upon 2 similar one tn
be mistaken. Blue and rcl ,tiipc, AND
yellow stars might exist ia 4 thousand
socks, but certainly tie one dangling
from that tree was 'ne mate TO the
one kriss kringIe had sen. him six
years ago. How did it get theres
Who had owned the other one before
it had passed into his hands: lie vas
beginning to think he must be asleep,
when the long wand lowered for n
moment over the gay sock, detached
1t, and Etta's clear voice said
'krlss kringle to Maynard Wight
Uncle Ralph took it from tile wan
and handed il to the still bewildered
young man.
i believe You know where TO find
the mate lie said with meaning
smile.
Then 1t was you' Maynard said.
Not a bit Of it. 1t was Eta.
Eta :. cried the young man, deeply
moved
See what u ia this one. NJ one Is
noticing Us; they are all too busy with
the tree
1t was tiny gift down in th1 toe
OF The gay sock. Only 4 little gold
locket for y watch charm; but when il
was opened, Etta's bright hair faced
the miniature
NJ story is told. Uncle Ralph has
one more nephew, ami Mrs. MAYNARD
Wigh; says her husband has ono pair
Of SOCKS she never has to mend, be-
canse the only use to which they are
ever pnt is 70 daugle once a year Oh
= Christmas tree, to hold hriss Krin-
gies gifts TO Mr.. and Mrs. Maynard
Wight.