The Lake Charles echo. [volume] (Lake Charles, Parish of Calcasieu, La.) 1876-1898, 1882-12-23

when she was at the house. But to no
purpose, but for once IN her life the dear
old lady was downcast enough.
1.-THE first time I never gave 'em a
thing on Christmas do feel real down
hearted about it, Maria. There's Armies
three girls lotted so on their gloves an
nicknacl1s for parties this winter, for l
was goin' to give them gold pieces SOS
they could get what they wanted sort of
fresh when they did want it; and poor
Gerty's new cloak !"
ooh, never mind that, mother. can
sponge and turn ana fix over the old one
a plush collar and cuffs will make it all
right"
."But there's the boys. Tom did want
that set of tools and bench for 'em; and
/ reckoned on seeing Harry's eyes shine
over real Newfoundland dog. That
makes me think; won't you write TO that
man in New York? I've changed my mind
about the dog. And Jack can't go to
Thomas's now for vacation; oh dearp
Don't worry, mother" said Maria; but
Grandma went on.
But it was her way to make the best of
things, and she sat down at once to tell
Thomas of her loss, and then put it out
of her mind as well as she might.
1t spoke well for all those ten grand
children that they each felt far more
sorry for Grandmother Grants disap-
pointment than their own, and all re-
solved to give her present much nicer
and more expensive than ever before,
pinching little on their other gifts to
this end and because they had to spare
from their other presents for this laud-
able purpose, it was natural enough that
OF ubpttI1 tall nr,afI,nr ul,af THAI
meant to send her, lest it should seem
too extravagant in proportion to what
the rest of the family received.
Christmas morning the arrival began.
The stocking of GrandPa's which Gerty
had insisted on hanging to the knob of
Grandma's door was full, and when she
came down to breakfast she brought it
with Der still unsearched that the family
might enjoy her surprise.
At the top O. square parcel tied with
blue ribbon was marked from Gerty,"
and proved TO be little velvet porte
monnaie.
Dear ahsld how thoughtfuiw said
Grandna ssJs re her kiss, and not OBJ
serving EsA the Doctor looked funnily
at Mrs White across the table.
The next package bore Johns name
and disclosed a pocket-kGok of Russian
leather.
80 nsssll psaaid Grandma, with a
twinkle Of gratitude ia Ser kind old eyes.
Harry emitted long lew whistle, and
his eyes Hlioae as the next paper parcel
wisa hiK nane. on It Slowed an honest
black heather pocAst-boak with steel
clasp.
Grandma haa to laugh. Doctor White
roaFed, and Tosn looked alittle rueful as
his bundls taesucad another wallet as
like To Harry's ~ two peas in pod:
Tear boyAss said Grandma, shaking
like liberal bowl ofielly with the laugh
ter she tried to suppress in vain; but it
was the boys to shout as further explor-
atoms into the foot of the old blue stock
ing brought up lovely seal-skin wallet
from their mother, and vOluminous yell
low one from the Doctor.
six, souls with but single thought
Six, hearts that beat as one"
Misguided Mrs Maria, and chorus of
laughter that almost ratified the windows
followed her. They were still holding
their sides and bursting out afresh every
other minute, when little Sylvia Rutledge
sailed into the dining-roOm with deli
cate basket in her hand.
"MerTy Christmas" said she, "but you
seem to have it already"
The Toys all rushed at once to explain.
"Wait a minute" said she, till have
given Grandma her Christmas gifts" and
produced from her basket four parcels,
Silvia's held anothervelvet porte-mon-
MAE ARnie's contained a SECOND of
hand-painted kid, daisies on a black
ground and Amclia's was third pocket
book Of gray canvas with Russia leather
corners and straps; while Mrs, Rutledge's
tiny packet produced an old-fashiOned
short purse with steel fringe and clasp
which she had knit herself for her moth
er.
How can words tell the laughter which
hailed this repetition? The boys rolled
off thei chairs and TOared till their very
sides aChed tears streamed down Mrs.
Whites lair face; Grace gazed at the
presents with look half ruefIl and halt
funny, while the Doctors vigorous "haw!
haw! haWW could have been heard half
a mile had it not been happily the season
of shut doors and windows, while Sylvia
herself perceiVing the six pocket books
which had preceded her basketful
appreciated the situation and laughed
all the harder because she was not tired
VIII Il IttNtbliS Ut VI IItlttii, anu
ma sat shaking and chuckling in her
chair, out of breath TO be sure, but her
face rosy and her eyes shining more than
ever Suddenly a loud knock at the
front door interrupted their laughter
Tom ran to admit the intruder; IL was
the expressman with box from New
York directed in uncle Toms hand to
Mrs. ]. q. Grant.
Something better than poCket-books
this time mOtherw said the Doctor, as
Tom ran for the sCreW-driyer; but alas
the very first bundle that rolled out and
fell heavily to the floor, proved indeed
when picked up to be another pocket
book, Cornered and clasped with silver
and GraHdma's initials on the clasp
beautiful as the gift was it was thrust
aside with certain impotence, for the
next package, labelled "from Rosamond,"
but openedionly to display the very coun-
terpart of Amelia's gift; and paper box
with Kate's script outside held the reCur-
rent pocket-booS again in black velvet
and gilt corners, with a little carved
white-wood box, the work of Halls pa
tent fingers, showed within its lid
purse of EilyeTed links which had cost all
his years savings.
This was the last touch. Hitherto their
curiosity as one thing was displayed after
another, had kept them in q sort Of bulb
bling quiet, but this final development
was too much; they laughed so loud and
SO long that old Hannah, hurrying fron
the kitchen and opening the door to see
what was the matter, looked thunder
struck as she beheld the whole family
shaking, choking, rolling about or hold
ing on to each other in rosrs of side
splitting laughter, while fourteen purses
and pocket-books made the breakfast
table look like fancy fair.
u thought | heard cracking of
tborns, as scripter says" she glowled.
"Be you a-going to set up fancy store,
Mis- White 2"
Bring in breakfast, Hannah" said the
n..A.... $1,000, hi,,nnoIf III u .nnI