The Weston Democrat. [volume] (Weston, W. Va.) 1875-current, 1876-12-11
The Peterkins' Christmas Tree.

Inc PeterklnS' Christmas Tree.
Pretty early in the autumn tho Peter
kins began to prepare for their Christ
mas tree. Everything was done in
great privacy, as it was to be surprise
to the neighbors. rs well as to the resi-
OF tho family. Mr.. Peterkin had beer
up to Mr.. Bromwich's wood lot, and,
with his consent, selected the tree.
Agamemnon went to look at it occa
sionally after dark, and Solomon Johr
made frequent visits to it, mornings,
Just after Eunrise. Mr.. Peterkin drove
Elizabeth EEzl and her mother that
way, aud pointed furtively to il with his
whip, but mono OF them spoke Of italoud
to each 0ther. It was suspected that
tho little boys had been to SEQ it Wed.
nesday and Saturday afternoons. But
they came homo with their pockets full
OF chestnuts and said nothing about it.
At len3th Mr.. Peterkin had it cut
down and brought secretly into the Lar
kins' barn. a week or two before
Christmas a measurement was made OF
it, with. Elizabeth El;za's yard measure.
To Mr.. Poterkin's great dismay, il was
discovered tha! it was too high to stand
in tho back parlor. This fact was
brought ont at secret council Of Mr..
mud Mrs. Peterkin, Elizabeth Eliza, aNd
Agamemnon.
Agamemnon suggested that it might
be set mp slanting, but Mrs. PetGrkin
was very surc it would make her dizzy,
and tho candles would drip.
But brilliant idea camc to Mr.. Peter.
kin. He proposed that the ceiling OF
tho parlor should be raised to make
room for the top OF tho tree.
Elizabeth Eliza thought tho space
would need to DO quite large. II must
not bo like q small box, or you could not
see the tree.
"Yes," said Mr.. Pcterlin, 81 should
have tho ceiling lifted all across the
room; tho effect would DO finer"
Elizabeth Eliza objected to having
the whole ceiling raised, because her
room was over the back parlor, aud she
would have no floor while tho alteration
was going on, which would DO very
awkward. Besides, her room was not
very high now, aud il tho floor were
raised, perhaps shO could not walk in it
upright. :,
Mr.. Peterkin explained that he didn't
propose altering tho whole ceiling, but
to Lift up ridgo across tho room at the
back part where tho trco was to stand.
This would mako q hump, to DO suro, III
Elizabeth ELIAS room; but it would go
across the Whole room.
Elizabeth Eliza sail sho would not
mind TINT. It would ho like tho cuddy
thing that comes up on tho deck Of n
ship, that you sit against, only hero you
would not haye tho scasickncss. She
thought she should like it for o rarity.
She might use it for diyAn.
Mrs. Potsllin thought it would come
in tho worn plAco OF tho carpet, and
might be convenience in making the
carpet over. -,
Agamennou was afraid there would be
trouble in keeping the matter secret, for
IL would be long piece OF work for q
carpenter; but Mr.. Peterkin proposed
having the carpenter for Il day or two,
for number Of othcr jobs.
Ono OF them was to makeall tho chairs
in the hou'e OF tho samo height, for
Mrs. Peterkin had nearly broken her
spine by sitting down il chair that she
had supposed was her own rocking
chair, and it had proved 10 DO two
inches lower. The littlc boys were now
largo enough to sit in any chair; so q
medium was fixed upon to satisfy all the
family, and tho chairs wero made uni
formly OF the same height.
On consulting tho carpenter, however.
he insisted TINT thu tree could 10 cut OIL
OF tho lower end to suit tho height OF
the parlor, and demurred nt SO great a
change as altering tho ceiling. But Mr..
Psterkin had set his mind upon the
Improvement, and Elizabeth Eliza had
ont her carpet in preparation for it. =,
50 the folding doors into tho back
parlor were closed, and for nearly o
fortnight before Christmas theIe was .
great litter OF fallen plasteriug, and
laths, aud chips, and shariugs; and
Elizabeth Eliza's carpet was taken up,
md tho furniture had to be changed,
and one night she had to sleep at the
Bromwich's, for there was long hole
In her floor TINT might be dangerous.
All this delighted the little boya.
Thoy could not understand what was
going on, Perhaps thOy suspected q
Christmas tree. but they did not know
why q Christmas treo should have so
muuy chips, and wero still moro aston
ished at tho hump that appeared IN
Elizabeth Eliza's room. It must bs q
Christmas present, or else tho tree in u
box.
Some aunts and uncles, too, arrived a
day or two before Christmas, with some
small cousins. These cousins occupied
the attention OF the little boys, and
thero was great deal Of whispering and
mystery, behind tho doors, mud under
the stairs, and in the corners OF the
entry. ...,
Solomon John was busy, privately,
making somo candles for tho trec: Ae
hati been collecting some bayberfies, af
he understood they mado very nice can
lies, GO that ii would not DO necessary
tIbuy any. - :,
The elders Of the family mover OIL
,rn,t ;rIo Jbn l,act pnrlor tonether, QilC