Frostburg mining journal., 1883-12-22
ONE CHRISTMAS EVENING.
A Little Girl Tells Us How IL Was mt Her
House Lust Christmas.

Well, evening came at last, and we all had
happy time. Pa got pair of slippers from
Helen and slipper case from Aunt Sophia,
box of cigars from William, a smoking-jac
from Ma, smohing-cap and two kisses from
sister Gwen, and a silver matchbox from
Johnny, who got Ma to buy it for him. Ma got
Il new coupe from Pa and a bracelet from the
girls, and handkerchiefs from Aunt Sophia,
and William gave her II pug dog, which had q
fight with Romeo, Aunt Sopha's cat, the first
thing, and came off second best, and Johnny
gave her a fan Aunt Sophia bought for him
Then Helen got her presents, and William his,
and Aunt Sophia hers, which made her so happy
that she cried; and then Johnny got his lot of
toys Pa gave him $5, gold-and broke three of
them right off; and then Gwen got twice as
many presents and kisses as any one, and we
all went i'll to dinner.
On Ovens plate there was a little package in
white paper and Gwen whisked it away quickly
and tried to hide it, and Ma smiled and asked
her what was in it, and Gwen blushed. Then
Pa winked at William and remarked that he
had seen Mr.. Forsyth down town to-day, and
Gwen blushed some more and Jane, the house
girl, giggled, and then Johnny said that Ovens
face looked like n house afire, and Ma said,
'You, Johnny ~ and Aunt Sophia said, ''Neyer
mind, Gwen" and Jane giggled again, and
Gwen said that everybody was real mean there
now, and then she laughed and said she didn't
care.
BY and by when dinner was over and Pa and
William were sampling PAS new cigars, and
Gwen was tying u pink satin bow on the pug,
and Aunt Sophia was trying to calm Romeo,
and Helen was petting Mas neuralgia, and
Johnny was trying to see if his new music-box
would wind up the wrong way, the bell rang,
and Jane brought in Mr.. Forsyth's card, and
Gwen blushed and Ma said she wouldn't re-
| ceive, but Helen could and Pa winked again
at William, and Johnny said he'd go in, too,
and tackle Mr.. Forsyth awhile, and Pa said he'd
tackle him if he did, and then Jane giggled
again. and Gwen told Helen to tell Mr.. Forsyth
she'd be down in minute, and went over and
whispered to Ma and Ma nodded, and then
Gwen went out very quietly, and Aunt Sophia
rubbed Romeos back down, and chivvied his
ears and beamed sweetly on everybody.
Then about nine o'clock Johnny jammed the
cats head into the milk jug while that PAM
pered animal was stealing drink, and the jug
| had to be broken to save the cats life, and
Johnny just escaped trouncing because it was
Christmas Eve. Then Helen came in from the
parlor, pretending she had lost something and
said she didn't think either Gwen or Mr.. For
syth would be lonely. Then Aunt Sophia
poured out the lemonade and Jane packed
Johnny off to bed. Meanwhile Romeo tackled
| the pug again and made his Christmas right
| lively. Then Helen and Ma went into the par
lor to see Mr.. Forsyth minute, and Mr.. For
| syth came into the library to see Pa, and he
and Pa talked very gravely awhile, after Will
liam and Aunt Sophia had left the room. Then
Pa and he drank each others healths and Mr..
Forsyth blushed and said he was the happiest
man living, and went back into the parlor and
kissed Gwen right before Ma and Helen and
Aunt Sophia, and put a big diamond on her
finger and then Ma and Helen slipped out
again, and Aunt Sophia went upstairs and
cried because she was so happy and Pa asked
where was that William, and Ma said she
guessed he had just dropped out to call on
Adele, and Pa said that if he was William he'd
have married that girl year ago.