Connecticut western news., 1891-12-24

of the children started after him, to pound him.
 When they were ill bed the boy called down stairs to the papa, Well, anyway, l didn't put up my lip."-William Dean Howells in Harper's Young People.
 BABY's CHRISTMAS GIFTS. Little Margarits Had Her Own Views
 About Making Presents
 We were talking over Christmas gifts at luncheon, when Margarita said:
 ''Want to buy Kis'mas p'esents too. Want to buy Kis'mas p'esents too!'' |. At once U ncle Jim eXclaimed:
 "So Margarita shall buy Christmas presentsr
 Upon which Margarita rewarded him with smile enchanting enough to have made a far poorer man than Uncle Jim do exactly what Uncle Jim did. He pulled big roll of bank bills from his pocket and put them ln the little ones tiny hand.
 "That is all nonsense. Jim! Don't you do it!'' said papa.
 ''She will bankrupt you in an hour, said Inez.
 l U, tly. ''She knows no more about the worth of money than any other little two -year-old girl, if she is my baby and your niece"
 "You were two and half years old last month, weren't you, petY' cried her uncle, catching her in his arms. And you shall buy some Christmas presents if you want to. We don't care what they say. We will show them that Mar garita has as much wisdom as some older people in selecting gi1ts. We know. don't we, pet?'
 And of course Margarita said yes.
 So it came about that as the others were engaged 1 accompanied Margarita that afternoon on her first round of Christmas shopping. had my strict in- functions from Uncle Jim not to urge any purchase upon the child, but 10 al low her to have her own choice in every thing, provided prices did not exceed d certain sum.
 When Margaritas nurse brought her down to the carriage she did look sweet and wise enough to almost win me over to Uncle Jir1's opinion.
 Thinking that books would please the little one as much as anything. we drove to book store and made our way from counter to counter At first nothing seemed to interest Margarita so much as the gay crowds of people. Finally she looked up from picture book. ill reply to my question, wv hat do you want to buy for Maurice?" she said. ''Want to buy tandy lelephant.' At the confectioners there was d grand array of sugar animals, and Mar garita seized upon white elephant, and was perfectly satisfied.
 Twill the little lady have anything else?" asked the saleswoman politely
 DO you want to buy anything here for Ine:: or Uncle Jim or nurse?' Iaslted But the yellow curls shook decidedly i as she answered:
 Muffin now
 Our next stop was at a large fancy goods store, and 1 thought that here the little girl would certainly see something to strike her fancy. But the beautiful things were passed unheeded. At las, she said:
 Want to buy mamma tandy titten! l As Tony. the coachman, said tha, there was q confectioner's near by we drove there instead of to the place where we bought the elephant. A saleswoman informed me that l 1 would find the animals at the lower end of the store. whereupon Margarita said:
 Don't want to buy animals! Want to buy tandy titten!' | Of course everybody within hearing laughed, and hurried Margarita along toward the counter where kittens we're kept.
 The purchase made, other stores were visited, but all to no purpose. Five times we returned to one or the other of the two large candy stores for 'tandy wabbit" for nurse, q "tandy piggy" fo1 Inez, d "tandy but'fy" for Mamie, a ''tandy mousey" for papa, and, to cap all, which was. like the others, her own rhoine. ''tandy monkey for Uncle Jim.
 Aren't you going to buy me any thing:' I asked.
 No" said Margarita, rather wearily, Il loves 'ou!" as.if love were enough. and l felt that it was.
 Contrary to my expectations, the lit tie one was silent in regard to her shop ping, and even Uncle Jim asked nc questions.
 On Christmas eve went to the drawer where had 3 it the gifts that Margarita had bought. bat not a package was there. felt almost certain that Margarita had not touched them, for she was not q med llesome child. But if she had not been Rsleep 1 would have questioned her. As 1t was searched everywhere, but could ind no trace of them.
 The next morning asked Margarita about it.
 She looked up innocently and said, with the sweetest smile in the world "Oh, 1 eated up thuln all!'-Toronto Empire.
 Mrs. Snowien-l hear that Jimmy Jenkins, the coachman, has eloped with old Moncybage daughter. MT. Snow den-That will tickle the old man ilp- mensely. Mrs. Snowden-Hows so? Mr. Snowden-Why, the old skinhint will cvat out Of Ui vinr her a Christmas nres.