The Colfax chronicle. [volume] (Colfax, Grant Parish, La.) 1877-1981, 1882-01-14
TED's ACCOUNT OF NEw.YEAR'S.

Gloss, % I've a letter from little led.
It's quite heavy one, you see, for a chap
of ten; but | can't make out such mass
of scrawl. Here, mamma, suppose you
read it"
Before Mrs. Gloss could reach out
her hand, Uncle Joe, Mr.. Gloss's bache-
Tor brother, interfered with: "Let me
have the boys letter; L always did like
that young scamp of yours"
After smiling at the down-hill tenden-
cy of the superscription, Uncle Joe soon
became absorbed over the pages that be-
gan in text-hand, continued in spider
tracks, and at last rose to the dignity OF
hieroglyphics.
The Gloss family, tired out after the
holiday season, were having a domestic
evening in the dining-room. The library,
artistically hung in old Spanish leather,
lacked the embellishments that grow out
of daily use, and oppressed one like a
great bronze extinguisher; the long
drawing-room, the conventional New
York parlor, was too like a mammoth
and splendid hcarse to admit of even its
proprietors feeling at home in it. So
about the dining table were gathered
and Rosie Gloss, Mr.. Sorghum, a gentle
man of many smiles and compliments, of
many suits of fine clothing, of a dog-cart
and gorgeous living generally land Uncle
Joe. unmarried, crusty and rich. There
was also a young fellow called Fred Ire
maine, but he was only chap in papa S
Office at a small salary. Though he had
six good feet of uncommonly good looks,
still he was very modest. "And no won
DER" as Lou whispered to Rosie. " He
ought to be, Twelve hundred year,
indeedr'
Sorghum remarked in his sweetest
tones, allow seldom poor dog of a
bachelor like me has the chance of en-
joying a happy family gatherings
A sigh, carefully given out for only
Rosie to hear, was graceful hint of his
dissatisfaction with bachelor existence.
Mamma Gloss clasped her plump
hands in little ecstacy, and answered.:
mo one can have any idea of the peace
and content of family life" A smile
both maternal and encouraging showed
that Mr.. Sorghum was an approved can
didate for the position of son-in-law.
Lou, who was clever, and had a lofty
bearing, a marble-white skin, and won
derful rows of coal-black scallops on her
pretty forehead, made properly inno-
cent and girlish comment on the bach
elor remark; but Rosie, who was a con-
fiding blonde with big gray eyes, said
nothing, and kept on with her crotchet
work; Sorghum used inwardly warm
emollient of Wall Street invective, and
wished himself the Afghan stripe that
could so hold her attention.
just then Charlie Hedge (the Young
stock brokerage firm was Hedge & Sor-
ghum) droppedin, and nodding familiar
ly to his partner, joined the family circle
by taking place atLou's side. He ex-
claimed:
'How jolly! A regular boom in do
nestle evenings, eh, Miss Lou?"
Now Uncle Joe was sixty at least, tall,
grizzled, clean shaven, heavy browed,
with cast-iron look that seemed ex-
pressly made to withstand humbug, and a
steel-cold, sharp eye that could pierce
the neatest coating of sham. Having at
last finished his reading, he sat awhile
shading his face with his hand; then
looked up suddenly, as if he had made
up his mind to something, cast search
ing and discOmforting glance around
the table, and asked:
"Who would like to hear Teddy's
letter?'
a." said Sorghum, with the liveliest
interest. lied must be a capital boy.
He's your brother" (This last in an
aside to Rosie.)
Zine boy" confirmed Hedge. saw
him here New Years: So cheeky.
Cheek is business capital. Ted will sue
coed. Let's have the letter."
81 think my Teddy is very bright"
remarked Mrs. Gloss, land so / always
keep him away at school, where he has
the best advantages"
YES" answered Uncle Joe, with an
inscrutable information, boarding school
is such an advantage to child of ten.r
20, yes, undoubtedly" sighed man.
ma, with pensive look at the diamonds
on her nice fat fingers; ''and we moth
ers sacrifice everything to the good of
our dear children
Uncle Joe coughed noisily, and then
asked: care you all sure you want to
hear the letter, and that you'll sit still
until the endp'
Quite an amiable clamor of voices as
sented; SO he began the epistle, which,
dramatically and orthographically, ran
in this wise:
DEAR FATHER& MOTHER Professor Whack-
err gave US a subjec for our first composition
when we come bac after the holidays he said
We must rite an account of new Years & put
into all we saw & herd vile we was home at
New Year time so rote mine & Yesterday he
give 1t back to me with very good marked onto
II 4 he said for me not to leve 1t Lyon roun
luce SO guess he thort 1t was pretty good Il
guess viii send II to You so as you can see
make some proggres | brush my teath very
CAREFUL vry mite 4 l am entirly out of pockit
money your all son TEDDY"
A murmur of amused admiration went
around, and every one composed him.
self, with smile, for further listening.
"An account of New Years
Boys & girls hav fun at Christmas & get
presints in there stockings &c but new Years
times is for grown Folks crismas eve children
has lots OF fun so think Grown folks ort to
have fun New years eve. don't want to
be mean about nothin so didunt answer back
pOthin IN my Sister loo wen she called Me n