Alpena weekly argus. [volume] (Alpena, Mich.) 1871-1893, 1876-12-27

viously decorated in a most gorg-
eous manner. At length the fani-
ly and guests were all assembled,
the preliminary arrangements COM
pleted, and your humble and ODE
dent servant was appointed COM
mittee of four to distribute the va
rious gifts.
With feeling a great pride and
satisfaction / accepted the position,
confident that all must surely feel
overjoyed with their valuable gifts
when l handed them forth. After
the numbers had all been taken
from the tree and handed to those
whose names they bore, it became
my duty to bring forth the articles,
which | did with but little ceremo-
ny.
Nos. /, 2, 3, A and 5 appeared to
find their correct locations but as
l called No. 6, which was set Of
shaving tools calculated for our son
Bob, who is just starting a little
down on his upper lip, Miss Smith
ers, a lady friend of fifty-nine sum
mers, stepped forward to receive
them. / allowed that there must
he some mistake, but she insisted
upon keeping them, saying that il
she should marry, they would be
handy to have in the house.
No. 9 was q handsome doll which
Arabella had purchased for our lit
tie Fraud, but unfortunately that
number was held by the minister's
wife, who had not o child in the
world, and never expected to have.
No. IL was a heavy, solid gold
ring meant for Arabella, but it
was claimed by Miss Short, a very
beautiful young lady who resides
just across the street. Twas dumb
founded, and as / looked toward
Arabella saw that her eyes were
flashing with the fire Of indigna-
ton, but she did not speak.
No. II was the handsomest dress
ing gown l ever beheld, and l felt
certain that it could be for no one
but Quence himself; but l was
doomed to disappointment, for as /
announced the number, the hired
man reached out, took the garment
and said it would abe bully thing
to wear about the barn, taking care
Of the horses, and doing other odd
Jobs" Arabella looked confused,
and | felt that l had been shame
fully treated. However, pro-
ceeded with the work, anxious to
finish the business. l began to
feel uneasy, and my voice trembled.
No. 90 was costly silk dress,
and 1 had previously imagined in
my own mind how elegantly Ara
bella would sppesr when clad in
that rich rsi,nent, and now that l
perceived her smiling so sweetly as
searched for the number, my hap
piness was unbounded. But, alas
all hope was blasted, as the colored
cook produced No. 20 and claimed
the dry goods. | felt as if | would
like to have the floor open aud let
me through, out Of sight, and Ara
bella's countensnce put me in mind
of a cloudy sky preparing for a
thunderstorm, while the minister
and his wife smiled audibly.
No. "a was "Gen. Schenk's Rules
for Poker Playing calculated for
Tom, but by some mishap fell into
tho hands of the reverend gentle
man, who did not appear to be very
highly pleased.
No. 81 was the last-a handsome
gold watch that l had purchased at
a high price for Arabells, when !
visited the Centennial. 1t was
real beauty, and no mistake, but
when Synthia Miranda, the cham
Der maid, arose from her chair and
with "thank you" bore the little
ticker away, my heart jumped into
my mouth, and all was confusion
for few moments. What took
place after that | am unable to
state with any degree of correct
ness. The first / remembered after
coming back to consciousness, was
the family physician bending over
my bed the next morning. He
said / must keep very quiet, and
not call my wife from her household
duties any more than l could pos
sibly help, for Arsbella had dis
charged her female help. My left
elbow, he said, was dislocated, and