Susan.—It is such a great pleasure to have you young folks all here, for Abner and I would have spent a very quiet Christmas together, and this really seems like a very festive celebration. My father was always a great hand for keeping Christmas, and he contrived to combine generosity with economy in a very remarkable manner. I remember one year he purchased a china cup for my mother, and desiring to prolong her pleasure in the gift he gave her the cup alone for Christmas and the saucer for her birthday in April.
Edith.—My Aunt Malvina is a great hand for giving useful presents, and one Christmas she gave the boys a rubber doormat, and Lilian, her little girl, a set of soup spoons.
Miss Priscilla.—I’m thankful that this tie is almost completed, and I’m sure that it will please my nephew who is most elegant and refined in his tastes. (Exhibits tie.)
(Voices without are heard.)
“Easy there!”
“Hey, you, Abner. Doan you drop dat ar on my toes!”
“Givin’ me all the weight.”
“I ain’t! Hol’ on dar!”
“Look out, you’ll smash the door!”
“Easy! Whoa dar, Abner!”