The Delaware ledger. (Newark, Del.) 1879-19??, 1884-12-25
[coSTISuED FROM LIST PAGE. ]


ond of hand-painted kid, daisies
on black ground and Amelia's
was third pocket-book of gray can
vas with Russia leather corners and |
straps; while Mrs. Rutledge's tiny
packet produced an old-fashioncd
short purse with steel fringe and
clasp, which she had knit herself for
her mother
How can words tell the laughter
which hailed this repetition? The
boys rolled off their chairs and
.roared till their very sides ached;
tears streamcd down Mrs. Whites
fair face; Grace gazed at the presents
with a look half rueful and half fun
nv, while the Doctors vigorous
'Haw haw! haw!" could hive been
heard half 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 laugh
ed all the harder because she was
not tired with a previous fit OF
mirh, and Grandma sat shaking
and chucking in her chair, out OF
breath to be,sure, but her face was
rosy and her eyes shining more
than ever. Suddenly a loud knock
at the door interrupted their laugh
ter. Tom ran to admit the intrud-
err; it was the expressman with a |
box from New York directed in I'm
Gle Toms hand to Mrs. J. G. Grant.
Something better than pocket
books this time, mother |" said the
Doctor, as Tom ran for the screw
driver; but alas! the very first bun
die that rolled out and fell heavily
to the floor, proved when picked up
to be indeed another pocket-book,
cornered and clasped with silver,
and Grandma's initials on the clasp;
beautiful as the gift was, it thrust
aside with certain impotence for
the next package, labeled From
Rosamond," but opened only to dis
play the very counterpart of Anne.
las gift; and paper box witt
Kate's script outside held the re
current pocket-book again in blacl
velvet and gilt corners, while littl'
carved white wood box, the work o
Halls patient fingers, showed with
in its lid purse of silvered link
which had cost all his years say
ings.
This was the last touch. Hithel
to their curiosity, as one thing wa
displayed after another, had keE
them in sort of bubbling quie
but the final development was to
much; they laughed so loud and
long that old Hannah, hurryin
from the kitchen and opening tt
door to see what was the matte
looked thunderstruck as she behel
the whole family shaking, chokin
rolling about or holding on to eaC
other inroars of side-splitting laug
ter, while fourteen purses and poe
etbooks made the breakfast tab
look like fancy fair,
II thought / heard cracking
thorns, as scripter says" she grow
ed. "Be you a-going to set up
fancy store, Mis- White?"
'Bring in breakfast, HANNAH
said the Doctor, recovering himse
Its a melancholy truth that
can't eat pocketbooks r -
For the satisfaction of the curlo
l must explain that next May, VIII
a certain old clock on the landing
the garnet stairs was taken down
be put in order and made into
household god, after the mode
rage for such things, right unde
lay Grandma's pocket-book intac
'Well, now remember |" said
astonished old lady, who never
remember where she had hid
ANYTHING till somebody else fol-
it. II was goin up to the ches
get out those things Of husbands
Sally Slack, and thought | wo
not leave my pocket book in
room, 'twould be putting temptat
in her way, which isn't right 9
person is ever so honest were
frail when our time comes, M
didn't have my cloak on to put
the pocket, and my under pc
was full, so just slipped it III
the clock case as went up, fec
certain sure | should rememhC
because never put it there bet'
But the family voted that no b
had been done after all, for
Christmas the Rutledge girls
had a lovely silk party dress
the double fund Gracie's coat
mated by the prettiest hat and n
Harry owned a real gold "
which was far betterthan dog,
Ionl,,s ton Unld eagles took him i