The New Orleans bulletin. [volume] (New Orleans [La.]) 1874-1876, 1874-12-25
flor the Bulletin
A CHRISTMAS STORY
B Z NJ 7.
INV dear Fred

By NAY
"But, my dear Fred :.
"Pshaw! don't talk to me-" replied Fred.
<sThe idea Those who like your country
can STAY in it but for me-give me the dear
old North, with its frozen rivers and snow
upon the ground-with its skating and sleigh
ing! Pooh And This is your winter? Why.
1 haven't had on my greatcoat once since
came down, and to-day il Christmas and no
snow. Christmas without snow!"
"But you forget, Fred" interrupted Mr..
Arleton the younger" you forget this is the
South, and that snow is not one of its special
ties /; but, if we have not snow and ice, ska
ting and sleighing, nor all of your boosted
winter amusements, see what we do have
Can you on Christmas morning, or any other
morning of the winter, walk through your
garden and see beautiful flowers on all sides.
and inhale the perfume of violets at every
tread? Have you anything which can COM
mare with that? 2" he continued, pointing to
large shrub of sweet olive which was abso-
lutely loaded with its fragrant blossoms; "or
to this?" he added, as they paused beneath
an orange tree, whose green branches were
weighted with its golden fruit-"say. are we
not fully recompensed by the absence OF
snow"
"Indeed, l think you are /" broke in .
MERRY voice, as two young girls tripped lightly
up the path. "The idea of being able on
Christmas day to 60 through the garden bare
headed and without any wraps and gather
such q nosegay IS this" said the younger of
the two girls, q dark-haired and darked-eyed
maiden Of eighteen, as she laid her arm upon
the elder Mr.. Arleton's shoulder, and raised
her flowers to his face.
.Arn't they sweet? But you dear old OBJ
1stinate papa" she added with q merry smile,
81 hope You haven't been quarrelling with
uncle Jack about the North--have you? Why,
thought you were pleased with this beautiful
South; am perfectly delighted! I wish
could live here alwaysT' And her rapid glance
took in the large old house with it's surround
ing grounds full of the sweetest flowers and
fruits.
s.Iris, there, doesn't seem to appreciate her
blessings in the least. She has just been con-
fding &c me her longings to spend winter
in the North, and her delight in the prospect
of being able to do 80 next winter"
"You are mistaken, Hattie" replied Iris,
shaking back the bright curls that would fall
into the blue eyes, II do appreciate them
every one. love very much this dear old
place, just as I suppose you love your home;
but" she added with miscellaneous smile. as
she twined her arm about her cousins waist,
ssdont Won think I should enjoy q visit to
your home quite as much as you do one to
miner"
"Oh, We will not quarrelw laughed Hattie.
AS they entered the house.
In the doorway they were met by one of
Iris's younger brothers, who rushed up to
them exclaiming:
ooh. Ire! was just coming for you to
give you this. It was left ut the gate q little
a,nall PACKAGE, addressed in strange hand,
thus Miss Iris Arleton-A Merry Christ !
mas"
'.Now, mamma" said Iris, with puzzled |
look, as they seated themselves around the |
fire in the sitting room, "this is some joke |
that the boys are trying to play on me-"
"No, it ain't!" shouted the "boys" in
chorus
81 think / can safely assure you, said Mrs.
Arleton, "that the boys have had nothing to
do with it."
II was down at the gate while ago, spoke
up Willie, aged ten, "and a boy came up aud
handed me that package. I asked him who
sent it, and whether it was q gentleman or q
lady, but he wouldn't tell me anything at all Il
and that's all know about it. Maybe the
names inside"
All eyes were turned toward Iris Is she I'M
rolled fold after fold of the soft, white paper,
disclosing at length q small box. She hest
tatsd moment, looking inquiringly around
/
and uttered an exclamation Of surprise.
"What is it, Irie?" shouted the "boy."
"WeI," said Hattie, after pause "Iris
seems afraid it will burn her fingers SO shall
take it upon myself to exhibit it to the assem-.
bled company )" and so saying she held up to
view tiny gold locket suspended from fine
gold chain.
"Oh, oh - murmured the ''boys" in CON-
cert. |,
There's nothing in the box can give us
any clue" unused Iris.
The locket was passed around the circle,
eliciting admiring remarks from each men,
Der. Mr.. and Mrs. Arleton exchanged puz-
zled glances, as they looked at it together, but
renamed silent.
.sIris." whispered Hattie, few moments
later, when the locket had been returned to ,
its new owner, ''have you no idea at oil of
who it might have come from? No ardent adj
mirer or devoted lover who would be likely to [
choose such means of conveying to you q
Of his feelings?" and little teaser
that she was, the blush that suffused her !
cousins face only settled her determination !
to keep up the '.fun." ,
ssNonsense, Hattie of course not" replied :
iris, but her blush had answered the question I
more truthfully than her words, and Just at |
that moment she suddenly remembered she !
had something demanding her immediate !
retired. Hattie soon followed her, and the
..boys" declaring the day was too fine to stay !
indoors, and that their fire-crackers were not
vet used up, Mr. and Mrs. Arleton and their
brother were left alone. :
..What does it all mean ?" unused Mr.. A. II
81 have my suspicious, replied his wife. {
'.And divine them, and agree with You" I
.himed in their brother. Mrs A. continued: y
'.Did you not mark Iris blush at Hattie's /
raillery, and then her abrupt departure just I
low p a
Swell, yes, l eaw, but what Of that ?" II
"Wel," laughed Mrs. A., "men always '
are blind in such matters, unless they are the 3
principal parties concerned. But, no doubt, b
in day or two the mystery will be solved
think, we can trust Iris.
Christmas day was passed - it generally is .