The Eaton Democrat. (Eaton, Ohio) 1875-1903, 1875-12-30
WHAT COUSIN GEORGE FOUND IN
HIS STOCKING.
BY HARRIET IRVING.

GrandtAthers house In the city was
merry with the sound of romping feet
and laughter and noisy prattle, for It was
Christmas-tide and there were Christ
masdoings there. Under that hospitable
roof the whole of numerous family was
gathered, children and children's chill
dren to the fourth generation, velvet and
homespun on equal terms, and jollity the
order Of the day.
On the morning before Christmas,
when their elders had retired to various
occupations, and the little ones to their
games, Grace and Adelaide still fingered
at the breakfast table discussing their
morning plans, while handsome Cousin
George, cousin only in name, lounged
by the window in a velvet smoking
Jacket, his splendid head enyeloped in
the curling wreaths he blew from his
cigar, and his furtive glances bent upon
the two pretty faces so close together and
so full OF girlish eagerness and interest.
There was very charming y.play of
youthful gallantry and coquetry going
on between these three, but not one Of
the wise heads in the house could deter.
mine which Of the two girls was Georges
fayorite or what his chances would be
with either. Grace thought she knew,
and, perhaps, she did.
Modest little Grace, plain though she
felt herself to be, and countriied and
old fashioned in her ways, felt also thai
she, in her simple, pink gingham or hel
brewn delaipe, as the case might be
was pleasanter to dashing George. eye
than Adelaide with all her brillian
brunette beauty, enhanced though it wa
by creamy cashmeres and jewel ltintet
silks; and that gave her courage to ask
with a shy smile, if he would hang hi
stocking on the morrow.
| The hanging of the stockings befor
the broad kitchen-frep'ace was Christ
mas Eve ceremony that had never beel
omitted in the old mansion since the old
est SOD, now a prosperous man of fifty
had toddled across the hearth for rattl
and cornucopia on the first Christina
Of his life, but George and Adelaide an
Grace, the oldest of this third generation
were getting little past that kind Q
thing new; not but what grandpapa an
grandmamma condescended to head tn
3 hne.s
: George laughed his sunny laugh, an
> glowed all over with delight. The que
lion mesnt that Grace had remembers
him in making her Christmas purchase
al should he said, throwing bac
his curly head in lazy, boyish }ashio
5 of his own, and half closing his dancin
|, blue eyes, "a / should, if l thought Sam
!. Claus would bring me anything"
"Never fear, GeorgeI Ithink you
! a GOOD boy" said Grace, coquettishl
al guess it won't be rod"
"Or mitten," put in Adelaide, al
+ blushed furiously, for she was your
r enough to make incoDsequent speeche
is and not old enough to know how
"a mend them.
\ Wouldn't be any oose of one mitten
, piped small frankie from his high cha
]. where he sat devouring the scrapings
a jeIly-dish.
as HWorse than useless" said George, 1
~ some occult reason in great glee, a
tossing the child high in the air in a
:. ing sweep.
,e "What would 90 do wiz one mitten
at persisted frankie, with baby pertinaci
it as soon as he could get his breath.
be Gwen see, when l get it."
lv And off walked George, with the ch
!. on his shoulder, with an air that s
% " very plainly that be was not afraid
10 receiving such present.
On Adelaide escorted Grace around
he city for shopping purposes. Here A
he laide was quite at home, but Grace, W
to her slender purse and rural notions, ,
an soon quite out Of her depths. She
- - bought the goods for next years dres
nc all the necessary things her mother
ng cautioned her NIT to forget, Coz
on Backgammon board for grandpa, a
lie. velocipede for frankie, bonbon-bo1
two, and several yards of wide blue
Iey bon to finish her took-marks with,
es, she;had only two dollars left, and no P
emit for Cousin George.