Port Tobacco times, and Charles County advertiser. (Port Tobacco, Md.) 1845-1898, 1885-01-09
PERFECT CHRISTMAS.

There was no enu OF 1un over Grand
father Nrooman' grain bag stocking,
that was all leg and no foot, but Uncle
Hiram Simpson took it and fastened it
strongly to a branch in the middle OF
the tree. 1t was close to the trunk. and
was almost hidden; but Liph saw Un-
Gle Hiram wink at Aunt Ellen. and he
knew there was fun of some kind that
he had not thought of.
Grandmother Nrooman had been so
busy with all those children from the
moment they came into the house that
She had almost lost her anxiety; but it
came back to her now all Of sudden.
"SakeS alive! Jane" she said to
Mrs. Hardy. every last one of ems
got To he in bed before We can do q
thing with the stockings"
Bijah heard her. for he was just be-
yond the diningroom door. with
crullcr in each hand, and it made him
shivcr all over.
Il wish | WAS in the 'sylum. No. |
don't either. but kind o wish was.
Bijah was a very small boy. and he
had not seen much of the world. but
his ideas were almost as clear as those
er Nrooman for the mex, fifteen min
utcs. The way the Simpson and Hop
kius families got mixed up. with Liph
aud Sue Hardy TO hel p them. was some
thing wonderful Old Bush wandered
from room 10 room after them. wag
ging his tail and whining.
Mother exclaimed Mrs Hardy at
last, 1.-The bed YOU made on the floor in
the store-roomi'
just the thing for him. All the rest
90 in pairs. IN put that poor little
dear right in there"
~ she did. and not one of her own
grandchildren WAS tucked in warmer
than was Bijah. He did not kick the
bcdclothes off next minute. either. and
he was the only child in the house Of
whom that could be said. Grandfather
Nronman paid visi: OF inspection all
around from room TO room. and Bush
went with him. II took him a good
while. When he came 10 the store
room and looked in. Bijah's tired eyes
were already closed as tight IS were the
fingers of the little hand on the cover
let, which was still grasping crul-
Ter
He was fast asleep. but Grandfather
NroOman was not; and yet, when Bush
looked up At him. the old man eyes
were shut too. and there was stir in
his thick white beard as il his lips were
moving.
Things got pretty still after . while.
and then there began \ steady process
sion in and out of the dark room"
which was not dark.
Boxes went in. and bundles. and
these were opened and united. and their
contents spread out and looked nj and
II was no wonder Grand
father Nrooman' big sleigh had been
full. and the Que Pat had driven.
when they brought the Hopkins aud
simpson families from the north and
south railway stations.
Grandfather himself went away out
Ia the barn once for something he said
he had hidden thcrr. and while he Was
gone Aunt Ellen simpson and Uncle
Hiram slipped = package into the grain
bay. and grandmother handed Uncle
Hiram another To snp in on top Of II.
and Uncle John Hardy and Uncle Mar
tin Hopkins each handed him another.
aui the bag was almost half full. but
you could not >se il from outside: and
then they all winkcd at each other when
grandfather came in with n back-load
IL sieIs. Grandmother NAV have
thought she knew what they were
winking about, but she didn't. for I'm
Gle Hiram whispered 10 Aun, Ellen:
I'm glad its i big stocking One
II do for both Of em.
Ii was late when they all went to
bed. and there WAS so much fire in the
fireplace they were half afraid To leave
II, but Grandfather Srooman said i,
was of no use To try and cover il up.
and the room would be warm in the
morning.
When they got upstairs the children
must all have been asleep, for there
was not sound from any room. and
the older people went To bed on tiptoe.
and they had tried hard TO not SO much
~ whisper on the stairs.