St. Tammany farmer. [volume] (Covington, La.) 1874-current, 1884-01-26
A BUNCH OF CHRISTMAS HOLLY.

A BUNCH OF CHRISTMAS HOLLY.
1t still wanted three weeks of Christ
mas, but the Hollands little unpainted
cottage, on the edge of beautiful old
wood, was redolent with the sweet.
spicy odor of pine, hemlock and laurel.
great bunches OF which We're heaped in
one corner of the tiny kitchen, and
which ten-year-old Katy and twelve
Near-old Phil We're rapidly and skilfully
transforming into graceful wreaths and
festoons, while their mother busted her
self over the fire, preparing the simple
dinner for her young family. For well
they knew there would soon be a call
from the great city for Christmas greens,
to deck its homes and churches: and
that upon the sale of these garlands
their mother depended to pay the rent
for the wee house and small patch of
land they called ..home." The summer
had been an unusually cold one, and
the crops had failed, SO the wolf stood
closer TO the door than ever before,
while Pills only coat was thin and
threadbare; Katy had had TO make her
three ysar-old hat last another season.
and the twins. Nelly and Molly. had
run through their shoes until their feet
were almost on the ground ON account
of the holes.
q wish we had some hollyr ex-
claimed Katy, as she held up large
wreath of rich, heavy ground pine; 1.-THE
red berries look SO pretty, mingled with
the green. u have hunted every
where for some," said Phil, ssbut. like
the potatoes and cabbages, the holly
crop seem, to have failed this year. 1t
is pity, too, for it brings the highest
plice of any greens. And we want
all the money we can get, sighed Mrs.
Holland, stirring the bean-soup that was
bubbling merrily in the iron pot; ''poor
children, you are helping to make
Christmas bright and merry for others,
and will shave none yourselves, for
shall not have a penny to spare this
year for sugar-plums. '--''Never mind,
mother said Phil, cheerfully; s'we can
be happy without sweet things" But
Katy looked grave, and her lip quiv-
cred, as she thought of the disappoint-
ment of the dear little twins, should
they wake on christmas morning and
find their stockings empty.
AT that moment there was heard the
patter of footsteps outside of the house,
and two childish voices cried: "Open
the door! open the door!"
Phil flew to do so, and, painting and
breathless, in rushed Nelly and Molly,
their eyes sparkling, and their small
arms clasping tightly huge bundles of
dark, glossy holly, plentifully dotted
with the much-prized scarlet berries.
'There: isn't that tine?" asked Molly,
as she threw the burden at her sister S
feet; Though l have most scratched
my hands off gathering it" '.Lovely.
but where did you find it," exclaimed
Katy. Away over in Bramble Hol-
low" said Nelly. "Mr Pillsbury told
us of it; and Noll and went and got
as much as we could carry, to surprise
you. 1t is the only bush near here, and
it's dreadful prickly," and both chill
,ren displayed their mutlated hands.
You are a dear, smart little pair" said
Phil, patting the curly heads; at which
praise from their bic brother the SIX
vear-olders blushed with delight. Il
hope Santa Claus will think SO, and
bring us some skates" said Molly, as
as Greenland, ana the pond is freezing
hard.'' '.And some new shoes. and
candy. and oranges added Nelly.
"1h, / wish it was Christmas now!' at
which words the kind mother turned
aside to wipe away tear. and Katy and
Phil at once became strangely silent.
That night the two Older children sat
mp long after the others, by the fire of
pine knots which served them for both
fuel ndlights; for it was cold in the
attic, where they slept, and they dreaded
to leave the warm. comfortable kitchen.
The old clock on the mantel shelf ticked
fifteen minutes away wit out a word
being spoken: then Katy threw a fresh
knot on the fire. and. as it blazed up.
said: 'Phil, 1 have an ideal" ''Well,
what is it?n The children must have
a taste of Christmas. somehow Pres
ents, do YOU mean2' Yes" But
where are they to come frome" Il
don't know; but have been thinking
OF something. Suppose we write let
ter! To whom. Santa Claus? ''1es:
or some other kind hearted person; and
hide it away in that bunch of holly" !"
and Katy pointed to bouquet of scar
let and green that she had Just carefully
arranged. placing rare piece of mis-
tletoe in the center. Perhaps some
thing may come of it,
hill whistled, which with him was
expressive of deep astonishment You
are queer girlr' he said at last. Il
never should have thought of such a
thing: but it will do no harm. if it does
no good" Then. let us try it!'' cried
Katy. and hurried to bring the f1y-leaf
of an ancient arithmetic, and i stump
of 8 pencil. they being the only writing