In the Yule-Log Glow, Book I

ein very much of his life and very little of his money was spent-which latter fact had, however

and nearly hummed a tune in his impatience, suddenly, as the car appeared like a new planet, and with the easy-going motions of a planet in its ascent had nearly reached him-suddenly a thought of something forgotten flashed throu

hat I forgot to tell David; but Mrs. G. 'll never forget it, nor forgive it, either, if I don't attend

ing of dinners for ladies of limited domestic conveniences in fashionable life. Heedless of the delicious scents which had attracted several men with greedy eyes to linger at the window and devour in fancy-a process which left them hungrier than ever-the heaps of loaves and cakes on the counter within; heedless of the supplicating looks the men turned on him, and of the confidential attempts of one or two at a begging whisper (b

een or twenty pounds, cooked and sent

aid the young man, who knew h

aimed Mr. Griffin, wi

t," returned the

eved; "I thought you meant t

iffin, it's so late in the day that all our teams is orde

en it is ready, and carry it over here to Dubbs's-David Dubbs is my clerk. He will understand the card, and bring the turkey out to

the price, a

Cuffy;" to which tha

fin, but then, you see, the

a long, cold ride, got home to allay the anxiety of Mrs. Griffin by assuring her th

uated servant either, but to the unaided impulse of nature, which climbed, in the form of bowery vines, wherever a vine could find clinging room; but now, in the midst of winter, bright though the day was, the skeletons of so much green gayety looked bare, and inhospitable, and cold. The house was approached by a long path that started at the iron gate and led up to the porch. It was far from

he Superannuated, it was decided that when the company were all in the parlor the dining-room door should be left open, and at the bottom of the table, which now projected against the door, an additional chai

beside them, a set of red velvet furniture and a shining piano, on legs which emulated the unsteadiness of Superannuated's own, and which, in huskiness of voice, also resembled that person; a por

uted as Fred. He was short, and bald, and spasmodic,-so much so that his pantaloons were never straight, and his collar, through much moistening of its raspy edges, was soiled. After him, a lady and gentleman drove up to the gate in a carriage, and, alighting, the

ith a careful look at the house, where

so swept in, and was introd

hall and sit on the stairs, which they did up to the very top one. When the company had simmered down a good deal, and only a few very bold gentlemen ventured to launch remarks into the unanswering silence, and when everybody was wondering what everybody else was going to do next,

culty, through the seated guests, bestowing bows, and smiles, and "Glad to see you, my dear Mr. Dripps," and "How well you're looking, my dear Mrs. Abbert," and "Welcome, gentlemen," (whereat a murmur ran through the crowd and all sh

and Mr. Abbert, receiving the hostess from the arm of her husband and in tu

ch was imitated by the rest of the company, who were finally seated close up to the door-all but Mr. Griffin, who was to occupy the extra chair, and, as he was already insi

ered in her mistress's ear. Mrs. Griffin thereupon uttered a little cry and looked at Mr. Griffin. Mr. Griffin, in consternation, cried, "My dear!" and attempted to squeeze betwe

you! Oh, the humiliation! th

along her salts bottle. Mrs. Abbert held Mrs. Griffin's head, and Fred applied water. Under the strong influence of these res

urst out again, with her handkerchief to her eyes, and Mrs. Abbert soothingly said, "Oh, never mind him, my dear. I wouldn

said, in a

s not arrived,

hat is all, he says; and isn't it enough, sir, to ha

ities, and grew very bitter, while "t

ad left the card for David Dubbs, and paid for the turkey, and come un

im with symptoms of another

l that rascally clerk, and he

lied wisdom, which, by the way, was the only species

t in his denunciation of David, as he had set his heart

twofold, for nobody could get through to the door but by going around the house. This Superannuated finally did, and brought back with her the identical little clerk,-the poor, agitated, and bowing little clerk who had unconsciousl

hat in hand, he walked up to him, presente

u, sir, left for

avid continued tr

and madam," turning to Mrs. Gri

; "what gift? Where is the turkey

turkey, with yo

descent of Mr. Griffin's hand upon David's coat-collar, and finally by poor, frightened David's ejectment from the kitch

in!" and then he slammed the door, and joined the hungry guests, to who

ace to make the most of what had been prepared in the way of vegetables and side dishes, long ago cold. Mr. Griffin was mad, insulted, and hungry, and the contents of the letter he had received seemed to add very little war