Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1884-01-01
A Christm IS Sketch
COUSIN TOMS wooINe.

Grandpa and grandma live in grand
old homestead in the country, and there al
every Christmas they gathered their grand
children And what merry days they were
! to be sure We youngsters all assembled
in the big nursery and spent the two even
ings-Christmas eve and Christmas evening
in playing games and 'having all sorts OF
fun, as we phrased it, winding mp the fes-
tivities by repast Of apples and nuts, en-
livened with popped corn, which we popped
ourselves with infinite relish is the glowing
| stove
Cf all the cousins the prettiest girl was
Amy Lee, SLENDER blue eyed creature
d tnty little ways and the sweetest laugh
THAT ever was heard. We all loved her, but
there was one OF the boys that by common
consent was given the place by ner side as
being his of right, from his long established
and pre-eminent devotion TO her.
This was Harry Allen, only q second cou-
SD, but his home was so near that he and
his father always came to grandma's for the
great festival of the year.
j, nile. we juveniles yere holding high
Carnival IN the nursery tie eluesss t.: ssioe-
family sat in what seemed t. us stupidity
solemn state in the big drawing room, and
of course Harry's father sat with them
And yet when | first remember him he was
but a boy himself, and even after Harry was
grown up, might be counted a young man.
VIII u lie was no more than eighteen he
had run away with my mothers cousin
Harriet Lee, and married her. The young
creature only lived year, leaving him at
nineteen the father of this boy.
At first when he ca;no to grandma's he
would come in often OF q Christmas and
play games with us, and he seemed hardly
more than youngstor himself; he had a
most ainiable face with big blue eyes, and
an ever ready smile, and he vas great IA
vorite with us all.
think it was way back in that early
time that the story am going to tell be-
gan: One Christmas eve we were all play
ing games, Mr.. Allen or Cousin Tom,' as
we all called him. suddenly appeared among
us, and was greeted with shouts of delight.
Come and play! come and play" was
called in wild chorus, and Cousin Tom
was seized by half a dozen hands and drag
ged into 81 game of forfeits.
Presently it was Amy's turn to redeem
pledge, and the mighty potentate who had
our destinles in his hands gave out the time
worn forfeit.
s'Bow to the wittiest, kneel to the pret-
tiCot anu hlSo biAO ciO you iONO oOoo'
Amy stepped out and stood among us
laughing ard blHshing. She was about
twelve years old at the time, a pretty little
sylph, and as she stood there in her blue
dress and long hair she was as dainty a pic
ture as one would wish to see.
After moment of hesitation she made a
solemn bow to Sam, famous as the greatest
blundeTer among US. When the laughter
had died away after this fit of satire, she
kuelt with pretty gesture of admiration
before handsome Cousin Annie, who was
watching the game with all the dignity of
an acknowledged belle, and then made an
other brief pause.
Harry, who was watching me jealousy
drew himself up with q lock of expectation.
even holdin g out his hand toward her, but
Amy never noted the gesture, emily after q
short hesitation made "a sudden rU sh to Cou
sin Tom, and flung her arms around his
neck. giving aim d hearty kiss.
Tom coior.T over 81! his fair face. and
we all shouted and sore amed with delight
ed approval: of her choice.
Tne.ysars siipped " sQd Amy grew to