Year: 1873

After plum-pudding, that was brought
in all of a blaze and smelling delightfully."-,
they went to the pantomme, in company
with the very queen of landadies and her
princess of daughter; and, after the pam
tomime, the company sat down to cold slices
of plum pudding, and ate heartily Not
that there was any excuse for so doing but
it was Christmas, and there was much to
talk about and it seemed more like Christ
mas to talk with ones mouth full of har-
lequins and coumbines, and sprites and
fairies, and of numerous theatrical advent
ures, as just witnessed by the ladies in
question, together with your humble serv-
ants, Messrs. Tom, Dick, and Harry


You see they were three chums, occupy
ing chambers that ran into each other,
through doors that were never known to be
shut. The landlady used to say, if she
knocked at Toms door, she was sure to be
answered from the window in Dicks room
where Tom and Dick were on the lookout
for the arrival of Harry, who was, of course,
overdue, he being the slowest of the three
fellows, who were instinctiveIy trihe fast.
And later, if she raped at Harrys door,
she was answered by chorus of three, who
were celebrating Halls arrival at Toms side
board. And that Was the way that Tom,
Dick, and Harry passed their off hours
when the stupid offices in - street were
closed, and there was nothing left for them
to do but to be perfectly jolly


As Christmas drew on apace, the three
chums had the greatest difficulty in keeping
the secret of their gifts to themselves Tom
told Dick what he was about to bestow upon
Harry as holiday token of his love; Harry
divulged to Tom the mystery that was in
store for Dick; and they managed to puzzle
one another to an unlimited extent, and that
made all three of them supremely happy.


There was girl in the case; there always
is. How could there be any case worth
mentioning that didn't in some way or other
involve this very important subject?


Rosebud wasn't her name; but T., D., and
H. used to call her Rosebud, and take turns
at loving her little better than any one else
they knew Of Rosebud was as pretty as
she was useful, and seemed more like sis
ter than anything else in the house. She
used to tidy the three rooms when Tom,
Dick, and Harry were off on business, and
there was unanimous vote of thanks passed
Immediately upon the return of the young
gentlemen and great many complimentary
illusions were made during the evening, the
very whisper of which should have made the
ears of Miss Rosebud tingle deliciously.
Such was the fate of the landlady's pretty
daughterl


Tom admired Rosebud for her good heart
and her amiable disposition. He was happy
as possible when Rose found time to talk to
him aud the other two fellows noticed u
finer moral tone in his conversation, and
more gentleness of manner in Tom, when
ever he came from one of those coveted
sednces.


Dick thought Rosebud the most useful
little body it had been his good fortune to
fall in with; she was ever ready to repair
his bursted gloves, or to put a neat mono
gram in the triangle OF his handkerchief.
Once, when he was i'll, she brought him cups
of tea and slices of toast, made with her
own hands; she trotted about all day, and
was so convenient and useful that Dick loved
her from necessity; he wanted everything
done for him, and she was willing to do
everything for somebody. Itactually seemed
as if the two were born for one another
how could he help loving her?


Harry was more selfreliant than either oil
his friends, and he was surer and slower OF
heart. He had to raise steam gradually, and
little by little get under headway; but, once
started, he was certain as sunrise, and there
was no resisting him.


Tom, Dick, and Harry sat at cold slices Of
plum pudding, talking of pantomimes and
thinking of Rosebud. Rosebud's mamma,
very Christmas like landlady, presided for
propriety's sake, looking the picture of a
dear, delightful pudding, with two large
plums for eyes, and unctious wrinkles under
her chin, as though the pudding-bag had
been tied there and left an indelible impress
then her mouth suggested little break in
the richest and plumpest of puddiags, and
all over her face there was a kind of spiritu
Gus and sauce-like glow


Rosebud's mamma thought cold pudding
uneharitable. So she mixed a savory cup
that was passed merrily around the circle
and five happy hearts grew as warm as pos
sible. and five glib tongues wagged almost
incessantly in that cozy supper-room back Of
the chambers.


| believe the whole pantomime the party
had just witnessed was rehearsed at least
three times before it grew at all tedious to
narrators or listeners. Young HARLEQUIN
was made to go over his thorny path of love
In very picturesque and desirable fashion ;
Columbine danced again and again. in the
language of Tom, Dick. and Harry; Mamma
Rosebud had good word to say for the iu-
venle frog of unusual dimensions. who near
ly swallowed man-but not quitel Rose
bud listened and laughed, and was as good
to one friend as another, so that YOU could