Grant County herald. [volume] (Lancaster, Wis.) 1850-1968, 1891-10-29

ages BUSTED ab9ut, some or tho |cotle
men mounted chairs in order to take
down the topmost gifts.
Then there was laughter, question
ing, and joking in all imaginable
tongues and tones Of voice.
Mr.. White was in his element; he was
the confdant 81 all the young ladies
from six to sixteen years Of age.
The little children pressed around
Ellen, who had stood her pretty tree OF
side table. She looked charming
among all those rosy baby faces.
Miss Ellen" whispered !, over q
four-year-old blonde head, have you
not Christmas gift for me?''
She looked at me smilingly yet
embarrassed. put her curls back from
her glowing face, and shook her head.
"Givc me small sprig % holly"
begged softly, ''tay button hole looks
so bare. ard it is Christmas tide
With bewitchingly graceful move
ment she broke oi2 small bunch from
the bouquet on her shoulder and handed
it to me.
"No. YOU must fasten it. am much
too clumsy to do it. With which
bent nay knee a second, while Ellen
made fast the spray. ] tried to look
into her eyes at the same time She
turned away blushing deeply My
heart beat wildly. At that moment we
heard Mr.. Whites CHEEKY voice: Very
beautiful indeed: the Christmas tree is
very pretty custom. But prefer the
mistletoe bough Of merry old England.
Does the fr tree ever call forth any
thing rs sweet as our mistletoe? Oh! if
that blessed bough were only hanging
here There are SO many pretty young
ladies here, and poor young men for
whom Christmas comes only once a
year. But one must know how to help
oneself he concluded laughingly,
and drew forth from his coat a branch
of mistletoe. 'Helloi Lucy, Amy,
Cora" he cried to his young friends;
england forever which Of you will
allow herself To be kissed in honor of
old England?'
Laughingly the crowd dispersed. and
a merry chase began, until finally
Amy, the smallest, was caught and
kissed under the mistIetoe in honor of
old England.
~ delightful custom, that is true, it
should be introduced amongst US, cried
Count Degenfeld. But hope it would
not include bread aud butter missesl"
"Julklap rang out all Of sudden
from the door, and in flew a number of
large and small packages, carefully
wrapped up We'll, that is what | call
truly international Xmas celebration,
Just suited 10 Nice" said the German
professor. MY good people, this is a
Swedish custom" continued he, and
gave long explanation of the "Julb-
lap" which no one heard, as they were
all busted with the packages, the
largest of which bore Mrs Chords I'D
dress. She drew near blushingly, but
hesitated about opening it. Her hus-
band and the professor began to en-
wrap it and to the delight of the chill
dren there came one cover after the
otac. yfe, 2 handsome ease was dis
closed. WStcAcd, as the lovely WON
an oPe ned ID. Il was the serpent with
the turquoise eyes.
"How bcautiful!' cried all
"See here" cried the professor cur
iously examining the oraaJaeut, "a
tongued serpent with hlra cyes is
that a symbol" Mrs. Cir a.orcd,
and threw down the CO.'S ,raceIet
c. slv. Count DeCenfeu stepped
u III looked at it closely; it seemed
to me he whispered something t.
hcr, bu, | G'3rot notice the pair fur
Their. Ny ga-c rested on Ellen. who
with the bclD Of different children's
hands, ha, just opened her package
eagerly; and uo.v was holding thought
fully in her hcad the 70 me wcll-known
enamel &C.
She stepped up to her aunt, seatep
next Miss Rennert on the sofa: Only
see, aunt, how lovely and how odd.
Should it bc vS,rn around the ncck?"
in my youth" said corpulent lady
from east Prussia, such an ornament
was worn fastened over the forehead by
a small chain; it was called: Think Of
me-"
We'll, l would rather wear it around
my neck" said Ellen, smiling; and
knecling down gracefully she allowed
the countess to fasten the chain.
~ LOOKS very neaulIuI, SAID the
stout lady, but on the forehead it looks
very well, too, you may believe me-
The little ones nudged one another
and laughed. They could picture to
themselves the old. tat lady as looking
very droll and yet there was one
Christmas when she stood under the
tree rosy and hcaming, and loving
glances rested ON her as they now dc
on Ellen and the delicate English
woman.
In the meantime numerous packages
had been opened amid laughter and
mirth
Count Degeufcld had received a large
bottle containing Fan &c Cologne: Miss
Bennert lovely, little homeopathic
medicine chest
One Of the neat little English Girl.
came and gave me, 5yit3a curtsey. a r..e3z-
age addressed to me wHich had rolled an
dera table. ! opened it, astonishe,l, and
foundan antique, very finely wrought.
wide ring, which was - small for lns
that | conld Scarcely srat Il an, my. fst43