The Columbian. [volume] (Bloomsburg, Pa.) 1866-1910, 1878-06-07

family feel very kindly disposed toward
their father, whom Of late they had come to
regard almost as an alien.
Jack, whose shoes we're not yet worn out.
went to Sunday school, and after his return
the day was soon gone. Then he began to
idget, and WAS very desrous that his moth.
or should put the little girls to bed while
strange to say his father was desirous that
the whole family should go to bed. except
himself. In course of time the little girls
we're asleep in their trundle bed, with their
little red stockings hanging behind the
door. Mr. Boyd sat with his back to the
door, so Jack slipped in his presents without
his father seeing him, and went to his cold
bed upstairs.
Amt you going to hang up your stockinp
mother !? asked Mr.. Boyd after Jack bsd
gone.
Mrs Boyd looked startled.
Why, no. she answered, hesitatinply. no,
knowing whether the question was asked in
irony or in earnest.
You better said Mr.. Boyd, going to the
bag in the corner, and beginning to unite
the strings.
lie laid out package after package on the
floor. His wife krelt down by them in a
maze OF astonishment. Then, with a grea,
deal of enjoyment, Mr.. Boyd united them
one by one, showing candies, nuts, oranges,
shoes, and all the rest, except the calico
dress which he kept out Of sight.
Aladdin felt very fine when he found the
cave full Of precious stones, but I don't be-
lieve he was much happier than Mrs. Boyd
Her eyes were so full of tears that there
seemed to be eight pairs of shoes, ten bags
and half q dozen Mr.. Boyds but she man.
aged to lay hands on the real one, and him
she embraced fervently. Then she brought
out the cookies and sugar balls she had made
and said to her husband, in a very shame
faced way:
See my poor presents I didn't know
the poor children would have anything nice
and made these. guess l won't put EN-
in their stockings though, now.
But Mr.. Boyd insisted on their going in
with the other things, and think they were
priced by the children little more dearly
ifsuch thing could be possible, than those
which they called their 'boughten' pres.
ents.
Now, / can't begin to describe the Joy.
full time they had the next morning, and
particularly, the utter astonishment of Jack
who didn't expect thing, and hadn't even
hung up q stocking. When that devoted boy
recognized one Of his own gray socks cramm.
cd full of knobs and punches, with beauti.
full plush cap on top, he was almost out OF
his wits. Likewise, Mrs, Boyd's surprise
was great at the discovery of her new dress
Tho little girls we're too happy that day te
do much else but count and arrange and re-
arrange their delightful Christmas presents
Mr.. Boyd killed chicken, and ack con.
tributed four quails, which he had caught
since market day, and the festival of Christ
mas was kept with much hilsrity by the
Boyd family.
The neighbors one by one, were surprised
that Mr.. Boyd hadn't dropped in, as he usu
ally did on Sundays and holidays. But Mr.
Boyd was engaged elsewhere. And this wa,
only the beginning of good days for thai
family, for, somehow, the Christmas feeling
seemed to last through all the year with Mr.
Boyd, and through many other years; and
the little ball set rolling by Jack with his
quail traps grew to be a mighty globe of hap.
piness for the whole family.