As grandmothers rummage their piece-bags and bundles in search of gayodds and ends to make gifts with which to fill the little stockings thathang all in a row on Christmas Eve, so I have gathered together somestories, old and new, to amuse the large family that has so rapidly andbeautifully grown up about me.
I hope that when they promenade in night-caps and gowns to rifle theplump stockings, the little 'dears' will utter an 'Oh!' of pleasure, andgive a prance of satisfaction, as they pull out this small gift fromAunt Jo's Scrap-Bag.
Christmas Holidays,
1871-72.
MY BOYS.
TESSA'S SURPRISES.
BUZZ.
THE CHILDREN'S JOKE.
DANDELION.
MADAM CLUCK AND HER FAMILY.
A CURIOUS CALL.
TILLY'S CHRISTMAS.
MY LITTLE GENTLEMAN.
BACK WINDOWS.
LITTLE MARIE OF LEHON.
MY MAY-DAY AMONG CURIOUS BIRDS AND BEASTS.
OUR LITTLE NEWSBOY.
PATTY'S PATCHWORK.
Feeling that I have been unusually fortunate in my knowledge of a choiceand pleasing variety of this least appreciated portion of the humanrace, I have a fancy to record some of my experiences, hoping that itmay awaken an interest in other minds, and cause other people tocultivate the delightful, but too often neglected boys, who now run towaste, so to speak.
I have often wondered what they thought of the peculiar treatment theyreceive, even at the hands of their nearest friends. While they are[Pg 2]rosy, roly-poly little fellows they are petted and praised, adorned andadored, till it is a miracle that they are not utterly ruined. But themoment they outgrow their babyhood their trials begin, and they areregarded as nuisances till they are twenty-one, when they are againreceived into favor.
Yet that very time of neglect is the period when they most need allmanner of helps, and ought to have them. I like boys and oysters raw;so, though good manners are always pleasing, I don't mind the roughoutside burr which repels most people,