Year: 1860

tnc intense -hJtt est WHICH lhc ltt+At- VdANr
in our behalf, We propose to give a 5risf out
line Of what We said. did, and thought during
our one holiday. We all know how stormy
it was Christmas eve We went home early
with some misgivings we must own as to
whether it would be possible for Us to enjoy
ourseh with such wet sky above and such
wet earth beneath But as soon rs we
brought oursef under the cheering inllsences
of good fire in the Parlor and good light
from one ofAbbotts Kerosene lamps, and our
better half told us that she had at that very
moment stored away in the pantry, one Of
the biggest and fattest gobblers that were
ever bought at Ayres's and, by his side, one
of the plumpest, incest dressed little turkey
hens that ever graced a arn-yard-presen-
ted with the compliments of Aaron Cobb, the
man who has such splendid lot of stereo-
scopic pictures-we began to feel that it
would not be go difficult to enjoy ourself af-
ter all. Prowling around, just before going
to bed in the dining room to get something
to eat, we discovered, standing close by the
door of the room where little Miss Democrat
takes her slumbers, two slender, ghostly,
white fguresl We started back, leach par
ticular hair stood" etc, "and We scarcely more
than whispered" Mrs Democrat lol behold,


where it comes again III cross it, though it
blast me" and we pitched frantlcally toward
them, when Mrs Democrat caught us by the
coat tail and said gently, but firmly, "calm
yourself my dear, it is only dauG GhteI's stock
ings hanging up there, for Santa Claus's con-
yenience"


On retiring to bed, wishing to make things
| as convenient for Santa Claus as possible, we
swung across the knob of our bedroom door
our own stockings. On rising in the morn
ing we proceeded to explore them very mi
nutely and with very considerable interest
and found them full and running over Of
nothing We made our toilet in silence and
said to ourself Democrat, you are too old and
too dignifed to commit such childish folies."
In short time we made our appearance at
the breakfast table. Mrs. Democrat cried out
daughter, did you know that your father
hung up his stockings last night % "Yes, he
did-and he has got them filed with pair
of the cunningest little fee ooh pshaw,''
said we before she finished the sentence.


Breakfast was scarcely over when there
arrived through the door of our humble but
hospitable dwelling box, a large-szed gen
erous looking box, all nailed up and full of
something. All the family gathered round
to inspect it. There was card tackled on
the top Of it which read, -. r. Ridge, Esq,
with compliments of"-and here cruel piece
of ugly mud had obliterated almost entirely
the name of our generous friend. We put
our eyes down closely and viewed it in ey-
cry possible light, then Mrs Democrat push
ed us to one side and put her eyes down
closely and she tried it-then Miss Democrat
pushed us both aside and put her eyes close
down and peeped through a crack to see
what was inside. Presently she looked up
with flush on her check and strong twin


1le in her eye, and said ut is something
with white skin on" We guessed that
perhaps a sudden hope had futtered her
heart (this is a very young MISS and here
we advise all erusty bachelors, who think
wives and children nuisances, and selfish
bachelordom a heaven, We advise all such to
| skip this parenthesis, for we are going TO in
dulge parental weakness and tell some ba-
by anecdotes. (This, then, is young Miss
who has grieved all her life for brothers and
sisters-who used to try various strategems
by which she might come in possession of
one. The first day she ever went to school
she was terribly IL ortifed and grieved when
her teacher in order to teach them to count,
began to ask her class how many brothers
and sisters they had. Little Democrat hung
down her head and looked very sorrowful.
Finally, her turn came. "IIold up your head
Miss" said the teacher, "and tell us how ma
ny brothers and sisters you have" She held
it up, as all good Democrats do and answer
ed, havnt got any, but I've got two eous-
ms" She is the same Miss who, when about
four years old, came to her mother and
plucked her silly by the sleeve, and said in
half whisper-"Mother let us buy a baby
wagon and perhaps God will see it and send
us baby, and wouldn't it be nice surprise
for father when he comes home from Calfor-
nial" In a word, Miss is always thinking
that perhaps by some sort of miracle the
great desire of her life will be gratifed. So.
when she lifted her eyes from that box and
spoke of something with white skin, we
suspected that that baby was running in her
mind.)


Well, finally the box was opened and
found to contain beautiful pig, all ready for
roasting, and two large balls of sweet home
churned butter. After much gentle scraping
and busting we think we made the name of
the donor to be our friend, Zabriskie, of "a
briskie's Ranch. Many thanks, Col. 1t
seemed as though the whole world was in
league to make us transeendantly happy, for
in came friend Bowman with bottle of
soul-inspiring native California wine. And
Mr. Peal of the Orleans Bakery, our friend
and neighbor, who always keeps the cleanest
and best bread, cake and pies, sent in large
pound cake, which was covered all over
with something like "hiry FROST work."
which melted in the mouth. In word.
we were well treated by our friends and will
forget them never, but try to be good boy
and send them each day better paper.


Now, we are aware that much of the fore
going is little too frank and simple for the
more critical portion of man and woman