Perrysburg journal. (Perrysburg, Wood Co., O. [Ohio]) 186?-1965, 1877-02-02
THE CAT BROUGHT IN.

OF all evenings in the year for lovers
to quarrel-Christmas Eve, when the
whole world should not be only at peace,
but uncommonly jolly; when everybody
should be buying presents for everybody
else; when Scrooge should be dreaming
the wonderful dreams and seeing the won
derful visions which are TO convert him
from detestable old miserinto the most
benevolent of public benefactors; when
the cricket and the kettle should be be-
ginning, in merry rivalry, to sing their
tireside songs of love and welcome; when
the green Christmas trees, standing in
groups in the crowded toy shops, should
be wishing each other pleasant good
by" ere they are separated to be hung
with hundreds of tiny wax tapers and
pretty gifts for young and old in many a
happy home; when people who, during
the last three hundred and sixty.tive
days, had fallen out, should be seriously
thinking of shaking hands and falling
in again; when all the churches should
be bright with sturdy evergreens, and
sweet with lovely flowers, and musical
with the sound of joyful children voices
blended harmoniously together in quaint
old Christmas carols. And no doubt
most of these things were being done,
for there was no end of laughter and
merry talk in the streets, and the shop
windows were blazing with gas jets, and
crowded with all sorts of articles for all
sorts of purposes; and from all the houses
came long rays of lightan sounds ofmusiC
and dancing and romping (where there
was house which gave forth no light OF
sounds of merriment it was only because
the family had gone to party next door
or across the way, or around the corner)
and every man, woman and child abroad
carried bundle, package or basket, and
every face wore smile-with one eX
ception. And that isn't the worst of it
That exception wore the frownIcst kline
of frown instead.
Ptolcmy Lolliver, carpenter, young
goodlooking, honest, sober, industriou
with but one fault, in fact-and shoI
of his own in prospect as soon as the new
year was fairly installed in the place o
of the departing one; and yet here hi
was, on Christmas Eve, walking rapid,
through the street, looking neither to thu
right nor left, his fur cap pulled dowI
over his eyes, and his hands thrust dcel
in his overcoat pockets
"Confound the felloww he muttered
with his handsome face and romanti
name Arthur Godfrey wonde
what possessed the old folks to call m
Ptolemy-Ptolemy, great in war; tha
may be-Tve never had chance to fin,
out--but mighty small in lsve, | take il
saw him kiss her hand as she stood il
the doorway. She must have given hin
the glove. If she didn't, why should h
-confound his mpudencel- flourish
in my face in such triumphant manne
as was coming up the stepsY and why
if she didnt-confOund his impudenc
again!-should he call out: Take car
of her, Lolliver,' as he thrust it into hi
breast. pocket, showing those confounde
white teeth of his all the time? 1t Wd
hers; I'm sure of it. That shades on
in hundred. ought to know; ha
trouble enough finding it. Off for
year, is her He'll be back in month
that's my opinion. I'd come back if
were he, and Essie had given me he
glove to wear next my heart. ProvoE
ing little thing! not a word would sh
say; only drew herself up with TRACED
air, and flashed her bright eyes at INT
And yet she's only known the handsom
scamp half year, and I-why, Nv
loved her ever since ! saw her first, on
summers day ten years ago, a cunning
rosy-cheeked, golden haired girl, stanC
ing near the schoolhouse looking afte
the big dog that had snatched her luncl
basket and run away with IL, with
queer look on her sweet face, as thoug
she didn't know whether to laugh or cry
/ gave her my lunch-two apples and
; piece of gingerbread-and bought her
new basket, thought took almost all tn
money I'd been saving for months fC
the Fourth of July, leaving me onl
enough To buy two packs of fife cracker
. and three wheels. And this is ho
it's ended-hal ha!'-laughing sardoI
ically-" like the fireworks, in smoke,
couldn't have expected anything els
from such feathery headed little thin!
Essie's too pretty to be constant TO on,
especially when the ones Ptolemy Loll
. yer, carpenter, blunt and rough-lool
ing, and the others Arthur Godfrey,
book-keeper, handsome and well ed
Gated. Great heavensl how love her
you dor sQueaked an old woma
against whom he had run. Then you
: better go and tell her so, instead of u
setting market. baskets, and knocklr
honest folks down and walking ov
them" which, TO put it mildly, was
: slight exaggeration.
Il beg your pardon. I'm very sorry
: said Ptolemy.
| n 4. h.