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

Agamemnon and Solomon John. The
little boys and the small cousins wert
never allowed even TO look inside sk.
room.
Elizabeth Eliza meanwhile went iutt
town number OF times. She wanted
to consult Amanda as to how much ict
cream they should need, and whether
they could make il tat homo, as they haj
cream md ice. She was pretty busy iu
her own room; tho furniture Ind to b.
changed, and tho carpet altered. The
"hump" was higher than sho had ex.
pected. There was danger of humping
her own head whenever sho crossed it,
Sho Ind to nail some padding on the
ceiling for fear Of accidGuts.
The afternoon before Christmas,
Elizabeth Eliza, Solomon John and
their father collected in tho back parlor
for o council. Tho carpenters had done
their work, md the treo stood OF its
full height at tho back Of tho room, the
top stretching up into tho space ar.
ranged for it. All tho chips and ahav.
ings were cleared away, and it stood on
q neat box.
But what were they to put upon the
treei
Solomon John had brought in his
supply Of candles, but they proved to
DO very "stringy" aud very few OF
them. It was strange how many bay.
berries 1t took 10 make few candles
The little boys had helped him, aud he
had gathered rs much as bushcl oi
bayberries. He had put them in water,
and SKINNED of the wax, according ia
tho directions, but there was 30 little
wax!
Solomon John had given tho little
boys some OF The bits sawed OF from
tho legs OF the chairs. He had suggest
ed they should cover them with gilt
paper, to answer for gilt apples, without
telling them what they wcrAor.
These apples, q little blunt at the end,
and the candles, were al they had for
tho tree.
After all her trips into town, Eliza.
beth Eliza had forgotten to bring any
thing for it.
al thought OF candies and sugar
plums," she said, ,"but I concluded II
we made caranels ourselves we should
not need them. But, then, we have not
made carameIs. The fact is, that day
my head was full Of my carpet. I had
bumped it pretty badly, too"
Nj. Petcrkin wished he had taken,
instead Of o Or tree, on apple tree he
had seen in October, full ol rcd fruit.
"But the leaves would have fallen OF
by this time" said E!izabeth Elizl.
Sand tho apples, too," sail Solomon
John. John.=
at is odd I should have forgotten,
that day I went in on purpose to got tho
things" said Elizabeth Eliza, musing.
ly. But went from shop to shop,
aud didn't know exactly what to get. l
saw great many gilt things for Christ.
mas trees, but I knew the little boys
were making tho gilt apples; there were
plenty OF candles i'll tho shop, but I
knew Solomon john WIS making tho
candles"
MIR. Peterkin thought it was quits
natural.
Solomon John wondered il it were too
late for them to 60 into town now.
Elizabeth Eliza could not go in tho
next morning, fer there was to bo n
grand Christmas dinner, and Mr.. Peter
kin could not b. spared, md Solomon
John was snre he and AgOmemnon would
not know what to buy. Besides, they
would want to try the candles to night.
Mr.. Pcterkin asked il tho presents
everybody had been preparing would
not auswerl But Elizabeth Eliza knew
they would bo too heavy.
A gloom came over tho room. There
was only Aickering gloom from one Of
Solomon Johns candles that he had
lighted by way CT trial.
Solomon John again proposed going
into town. flo lighted match to c1-
amino tho newspaper about tho trains.
There were plenty Of trNins comi-g ont
at that hour, but none wcro going in c1'
cent very late one. That would not
leave time to do anything and come
back. 49,,
"We could 40 in, Elizabeth Eliza
md l." said Solomon John, "hut VIC
should not havo timo to buy anything"
ACamemnon was summoned in. Mrs.
Peterkin was entertaining tho upclGs nnd
aunts in tho front parlor. Agememnon
wished there was time TO study up soulc'
thing about electric lights. II they
could only havo calcium light! SI!o.
mon Johns candle sputtered and went
not. 49,,
AT this moment there was n loud
Knocking at tho front door. The little
bows. and the small cousins, and the
uncles aud aurts, and Mrs. Peterkin,
bastoued to SEQ what was the matter.
Tho uucIes md aunts thought some
body's house must 10 Oh fire. Tho door
yas opened, and there was o man, whito
with flakes, for was beginning to snow,
aud he was pulling in o lArgo box. -,
Mrs. Peterkin supposed it contained
sonu OF Elizabeth Eliza's purchases, 80
sbo ordered it to be pushed into tho
back parlor, md hastily called back
her guests mud tue little boys into the
other room. The little boys and tie
small cousins wero sure they had seen
Santa CLAUS himself. ~,
MI. Peterkin lighted tho lamp. The
box was addressed to Elizabeth Eliza.
II was from tho lady from Philadelphia
She had gathered hint from Elizabeth
EIiza's letter that thoro was to be q
Christmas tree, aud had filed tho box
with all that would be needed.
II was opened directly. There was
every kind Of gilt hanging thing, from
siIt pca.pols to butterflies on springs.
There were shining flags and lanterns,
md bird cages, and nests with birds sit
ling on them, baskets OF fruit, ,gilt
applcs aud lunches Of grapes, and. at
tbe bottom Of tho whole, q large boz
Of candles and box Of Philadelphia