The interior journal. [volume] (Stanford, Ky.) 1872-1881, 1877-01-05
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pihuu"tntfr uVuct w tut Guy va
merey with the sound Of romping fee,
and laughter and noisy prsttle. for i
was Christmas, and there we're Christ
mas doiugs there. Under that hospi
table roof the whole Of a numer, u,
family was gathered. children aud chil
drcu's children IL the fpu:ta genera.
ton, vivct and homepun on equal
terms, and jollity the order Of the day.
On the morning before Christmas,
when the ellcrs had retired to various
occupations, and the little ones TO their
games, Grace aud Adelaide still ling
cred at the breakfast table discussing
,heir morning plans. while handsome
Cousin George, cousin only In
name, Ioungel by the window in vel.
vet smokingja jacket, his splendid head
envelopcd in the curling wreath. he
l,lew from his cigar. and his furtive
glanccs bent upon the two pretty faces
70 close together and so full o. girli-h
cagerncss and interest.
There was very charming by play
Of youthful gnllantry and coquetry go
ing on between these three, but not
one of the wise heads In the house
could determine which Of the two girls
was Georges mvorite. or what his
chances would be with either. Grace
thought she knew. and, perhaps, she
did.
Modest little Grace, plain though
she felt herself to be, and countrifed
and old.fashioned Ia her ways, felt also
that she. in her simple, pink gingham
o, her brown deIainc, as tho cnse
might he, was pleasanter TO dashing
Georges eyes than Adelaide with all
her brilliant brunette beauty, enhanc-
ej though it was by creamy cash.
meses and jcwel-tinted silks; and that
gave her courage to ask. with a shy
smile, IL he would hang his stockings
on the morrow.
The hanging Of the stockings before
the broad kitchen-6replace was
'Christmas Eve ceremony that had
nevsr been omitted ia the old mans ion
-eince,the oldest son, now prosper Us
msn h fifty, had toddled across the
Hearth for rattle and q cornucopia
on the first Christmas of his life, but
George aud Adelaide and Gr.ce, the
oldest OF this third generation. were
SstAing si&ttle past that kind Of things
now; ~ but what grandpa and grand.
,na'contls sscndcd to head the line.
George laughed his sunny laugh,
and glowed al over with delight. The
question meant that Grace remember.
ed hin in a,aking her Christmas pur.
,chases.
II shaASl." 10 raid, throwing back
Ihis curly head in a lazy. boyish fash.
ion Of his own. aud half closing his
dancing. blue eyes. 81 should II T.
thought Santa Claus would bring me
anything"
Never fear, George! Think YOU'RE
"A good boy said Grace, coquet,ishly, !
II guess it won't he a rod
''Or q mitten, put in Adelaide, and
blushed iuriously. for shs was young
enough to make inconsequent speech.
c., and not old enough to know how
10 mend them.
Wouldn't be any DOSE Of one nit.
ien." piped small frankie from his
high chair. where he sat devouring
The serapings Of u jelly-di
Worse than useless, said George:
for some occult reason in great glee,
aud tossing the child high in the mir
in flying sweep.
What would 90 do wiz one nit.
tent persisted frankie, with baby
liertinacity, as soou as lie could get
Lis breath.
well see. when / get it,
And off walked George with the
Child Oh his shoulder, with an air that
laid very plainly that he was not
afraid pfreceiving such present. A,
Adelaide escorted Grace around the ,
city for shopping purposes. Here
adelaide was quite ut home, but Grace
with her slender purse and rural no.
lions. was soon quite out of her depths.
She had bought the goods for next
ears dresses, all the necessary things
her mother had cautioned her |
'ot 10 forget. costly backgammon {
board for grandpa. a toy velocipede
or frankie. bonbon-box or two, and ,
'sveral yards Of wide blue ribbon 10 !
inish her book marks with, aud she
iad only two dollars left. and no pres.
mt for Cousin George.
Much To her CONSERVATION. "just
lite. at u Fashionable restaurant finish. I
Il this small sum, and Grace left the /
establishment u sadder and wiser ,
;irl. with exactly ninery-six cents in
Ter pocket-book. /
They might have lunched On home.
naJe apple pie and cheese at grand. .