American citizen. [volume] (Canton, Miss.) 1864-1890, 1880-12-18
IN A BONBON BOX.

II should tell you all, or even half, or even
quarter. there was in that immense store, 1 am
afraid shouldn't get through until this time
next year, and as have several other holiday
stories to write, L sha'n't attempt it.
Sufnce 1t to say 1t was one of the most mag
nincent establishments in New York City
which is saying great deal-crowded with ev-
erything that any reasonable or unreasonable
person could think of in the way Of gifts use
ful and ornamental, and on this particular
Christmas-eve lighted in such recklessly
gcneruos manner that floods of light fell from
1t away across the street and for half block
ON each side
Directly over the four very large show win
dows outside was q remarkably warm greeting
to passers-by, as well as comers-in, formed of
sparkling letters docking like a crowd of stars
that had come down from their proper sphere
to see how things really were managed on this
terrestrial ball on gala occasions), which in
turn were formed of brilliant gas-jets. "A
Merry Christmas to Everybody" it read, and
stout evergreen trees stood in the doorways,
and inside sturdy dark green vines were twined
around pillars and posts and festooned from
the ceilings. and dolls, hats, vases, everything,
in fact, that could hold flower or bit of ivy,
held flower or bit Of ivy.
And such a noise As there was-such q
variety of noises, should say-such sounds of
laughing, talking. buying and selling; such
crowds of children .oh ling and :" ah'-ing and
81 wish" ing; hundreds of music-boxes play
ing, each, totally unmindful of its rivals, its
own particular tune; Thousands Of mechanical
toys doing their mechanical tricks-drums
drumming. dogs barking, cats me-owing,
dancing-jacks dancing. tumblers tumblingl
OIL how merry, how very, pery merry it all
wasi
But my story has only to do with the tempt
ing corner Of this great establishment where
fnnumerable bonbon boxes and picture-decked
cornucopias were piled under the counter, be
: hind the counter, and upon the counter, and
millions Of many-colored and many kinds of
sweets waited their turns to be slowed away in
the pretty paper houses, and carried to the
numerous stockings from which they should
emerge on Christmas morning to giadden the
hearts OF children great and small
Six young girls were just as busy as they
could be waiting upon the people who stood
before this counter three rows deep, all of
them bright and demonstrating girls, but
ono rs pretty as large sparkling black eyes,
short dark brown hair, curling in soft rings
all over little round head, pouting red lips,
small. straight nose, brown cheeks with an
underlying rose tinge, petite plump figure,
and tiny dimpled hands could make her.
Fast as the other young girls worked, the
black-eycd one worked faster; and with this
difference-while they simply wrapped the
purchases in dainty paper and handed them
to the purchasers, she quickly and deity
slipped into each parcel that left her hands q
small "nte caru' on wnicn was written In pam
characters just TWO hhes.
Hcr nimpie hngers never eeased TOT one mo
ment- An the boys ana young men CROWDED
before the place she occupied-"she was SO
awful pretty, you know?'-untfl the word
went around, Mine O'Clock; work over" and
tne sweet giris' US tneir companions caiieu
them IN sport, nastened TO don cneir mats and
wraps Black Eyes fingered behind the rest
for second or two to pick up asmail bouquet
which had fallen from her bosom, when q
pleasant, pleading, masculine voice Tell on
her ear, and as she rose from her STOPPING po-
sifion she looked up into pleasant young
masculine face.
Deg thousand paruons, miss, sad the
owner OF the pleasant young masculine face,
"but couldn't get away from our store be-
fore, and 1 want box OF candies, II you
please-peppermint drops and burnt almonds