FullReads

And then, with many caresses and kisses and cries of “Take this side, father, where the coals are bright!” or “Put your feet here and get them good and warm, poor Little Scout!” then, when thick flying questions and travellings to the one end of the room for things that were not wanted, and excursions to the other end of the room for things that were wanted; when the chairs were drawn up; when the grateful old man and his little daughter, with those tender hands over their mouths to stifle the gratitude they struggled to utter, were duly seated at the table, and when the kettle was singing its approval in the corner, then, only,–when all these preliminaries were gone through with,–did the possessors of the hands that devised them seat themselves on a low wooden settee opposite the table and enjoy the zest and delight they had ministered to.

Good nature and tender hearts, pale faces and cheerful eyes, honest red hands and neatly bound-up hair have never been faithfully reproduced in a state of print and paper, much less in imagination, and, indeed, how can anything so buxom and comely, even if the plainest in dress, be expected to be? It is, therefore, needless to say that the twin daughters of David, namely, Molly and Polly Dubbs, being all that is here set down, should have been seen in all their kindliness to be truly known, and no other form of introduction would do them full justice.

Molly was the counterpart of Polly in all respects save height. She was a very little taller than Polly, and a fortunate thing it had been for all concerned that she was so. Else, consider the vexation of the measles and other diseases essential to youth. Why, in their quandary which to begin on, they almost missed the twins altogether as it was. Consider the complexity of young lovers who should pour into the ears of Polly passionate adjectives intended solely to captivate the heart of Molly; and, most important of all, consider the conflict of choice which would have disquieted the soul of Mr. Jacob Tripple and at last driven him to the alternatives of suicide or bigamy.

But all these dangers had been averted by the provisions of Nature, and the twins, who had supped, for economic reasons, earlier in the evening, sat beaming on while David and little Dolly heartily devoured the supper.

David, looking up now for the first time, in the interval of a mouthful swallowed and a mouthful threatened, espied a bowery wreath of holly that hung around a picture of General Washington in the act of crossing a dark, green river Delaware in a court dress of red and breeches of yellow, surrounded on all sides by ice and officers in rainbow uniforms, and, as this was the only adornment of a rather bare room, it is no wonder it caught his eye.

“Why, who’s been a-brightening up the gen’ral so Christmas-like?” he exclaimed.

“We did, father! Leastwise it was Polly’s present,” said Molly.

“And who may be a-sending presents to Polly now?” asked David, with a twinkle in his eye that had seen better days but none kindlier. “It wasn’t young Cuffy over at the baker’s, nor Jake Tripple, now, was it?”

He looked at Polly for an answer, whereat she stretched her arm along the back of the settee and let fall her hand on Molly’s shoulder with a punch which was intended as punishment for the giggles her sister struggled to confine in her mouth with both hands; but which, in spite of her, bubbled over and attacked David, and then, with a blush, Polly muttered,–

“It wasn’t young Cuffy at all, and I hate his loafy, little face, and I hate—-“

“Not Jacob Tripple! No, no, not good Jake Tripple?” said David, reprovingly.

“I didn’t say that, father!” she exclaimed. “He’s your good old friend, and how could I hate him? He came in just before leaving for the day, and asked for you–what, made him think you were home I can’t tell, for it was long before your time–and asked for you, and left the wreath for–for–me.”