The Redwood gazette. [volume] (Redwood Falls, Minn.) 1873-1940, 1876-12-21
A CHRISTMAS COMEDY.
- The best laid schemes O. mice m me,
Gang aft a-gley."

The best laid schemes o mice IN men 81
Gang aft a-gley."
Twas on Christmas that all thi
trouble happened, and Coras happiness
destroyed for almost whole year, though
1t seems rather incredible that such
tritling matter could almost break fiv,
hearts; but so it was. Everybody blamed
everybody else, and finally took the blame
upon himself.
Cora's eighteenth birthday came on thu
S:'d day of December, 1874, and that day
she was made happy by gift from hel
father of beautiful seal-skin suit. sacque
mutf, boa and cap. Nothing could ex
coed her delight, and she danced about
the house, followed by her little brother
Louie, who, not content with EXPLANATIONS
of admiration, must feel the soft fur with
his small sticky hands, much to Cora's
discomfort.
"lou had better take your cloak off,
if you don't want it worn out before
spring" said Maggie, friend who had
came to spend the holidays with Cora.
No danger, Maggie, it seems pretty
tough; but I'd better be at work or
won't have that scarf finished" So Cors
removed her tnery, and as she put it care
fully away she said
There's my old sealskin muff, i be-
lievc Ill send that to cousin Ella for .
Christmas presenter, Maggie?"
Just the thing, if she is fond of cast:
off clothing" laughed Maggie.
Indeed She is. You see Uncle John
can't afford to give her many things, so
give her everything I'm tired Of or cant
wear, and she makes them all over; and
is glad to get them. 1t won't take me
many minutes to finish this scarf, then
Ill write a note to Bowen and tell him to
put new tassels on the muff and send il
direct from there to cousin Ella"
This scarf that Cora was making was
intended as Christmas gift for Mr.. Julius
Brown, a gentleman who was very de.
voted to Cora and stood high in her favor
She had accepted from him an invitation
to a party, to be held the night before
Christmas.
Residing in this village was Mr.. James
Browne, or Jim Browne, as he was usual
ly called. To this gentleman Cora had
taken great dislike; though Mr.. Browne
tried all in his power to make himself in.
tensely agreeable, he only succeeded in
making himself most Internationally dis.
agreeable to Cora.
IL uulSuCO. CIlcu NOTd, uOlulQS
up the scarf for Maggie to see. "Isn't il
lovely:'
" les, it is a miracle of beauty and
good taste. Suppose You lend it to Fred
he has invited me to lake sleigh. ride
this afternoon said Maggie, laughing.
No indeed, I'll not lend it to brother
Fred, it's too precious for that! This scarf
shall never be worn by anybody but Mr.
Irji,,c ;oI
:" 1t must be time for me to be dress.
ing" said Maggie, slowly taking the hair.
pins out of her long brown hair.
Fred, for if there's anything he hates, i,
is to be kept waiting. You see III Keen
You posted about Fred's little failings,' "
She added
Do said Maggie, laughing, 81
would like to know all the idiosyncrasies
of his nature
They are legion; but on the whole,
brother Fred is a pretty good fellow, don't
you think so, Maggie:''
Maggie only laughed, and her fair face
colored slightly.
Now | must write note to Mr..
Brown, and send him the scarf, and q
note to Bowen about the mutf," and Cora
sat down TO her desk and wrote very
pretty note to Mr.. Brown, asking him to
accept the scarf as Il Christmas gift from
her.
Cora, there's ladies down stairs they
want you to go and help fix the presents on
the Christmas tree they are in a dreadful
hurry" said Louie, presenting herself at
the door.
The festival for the children of the
church that Cora attended was to be held
Christmas night, and Cora was called
upon to assist in selecting and arranging
the gifts.
so, what a bOther!' she exclaimed,
haven't written to Bowen about the
mutf, or addressed this note or package
to Mr.. Brown. Maggie, won't you do it
for me-? That's a dear girl"
Yes, run along. I'll attend to it,"
said Maggie.
Remember the address," said Cora.
For there's another Mr.. Brown here,
and he has the same initials, only his
name has final e. Mr.. J. Z. BROWNIE
said Cora, spelling it over. II don't see
why he couldn't as well have been named
Smith. It's so prOvoking."
."Quite hea'trending," laughed Mag
gle.
And don't forget to write that note to
the turrier. l won't have time to stop
there to-day"
Yes, yes, I'll remember everything.
Go on, they are cal: ing you now"
Cora ran down stairs to Join the ladies,
and left Maggie still busi..y arran ging her
hair. When she had dressed herself she
said, Let me see, what was it Cora said
about the address-to be sure and put a
final e. Maggie paused to think, with
her pen suspended over the envelope.
The truth is, Maggie was thinking so
much of the sleigh-ride in prospect, that
she had forgotten altogether, or rather had
not paid any attention to what Cora
had told her After hesitating few mo.
ments, she wrote upon the envelope and
upon the package, Mr. c. Browne"
Then taking sheet of paper, she began
a note to the furrier, when unfortunate
ly at that moment, in rushed Louie,
shouting:
Here's brother Fred, with the sleigh"
Eyes, I'll be ready in half second, :"
replied Maggie. What is the furrier's
name, Louie, is it Rowen:''
Yes answered Louie, repeating the
name, but he pronounced it Bouin.
80, Brown. Yes that's it. Cora said
to be careful about that name. This is
Brown without the e." So Maggie began
the note:
MIR. Brown: Take this"
Louie, who was standing at the win
dow. cried out: Hurry up, Miss Mag
gie!'' -s :
"Is Fred getting impatients'' said
Maggie, running to the window, and look
ing down at the occupant of the sleigh.
You'd better hurry up! You'd better
hurry up!" sang out Louie. : - ) ~
Maggie ran back to her desk, and with
Louie's words ringing in her ears, she
wrote you @s- VI :" :
The horses is dancing, cried
Louie, again. tLN6Ef u
Maggie in her haste. wrote "old
muff-" and then exclaimed s----F
Louie, you're enough to drive one
crazy! III finish this when l come
back" and thrusting the unfinished noe
into the box, she put on her wrappings,
and as she was about to leave the room
she said;
Louie, promised Cora to send this
note and package away; won't you see that
they are sent all right? Be sure YOU