THE HOLLY BOY.

ILL WINTER does not think himself quite dressed

till somebody lends him a muff, for his dimpled

hands. He has been with his sister to the church where the

young people are winding Christmas wreaths. A lady gave
him this bunch of holly.

Holly is the favorite Christmas trimming for the house
where Will is taking it, as fast as his fat, short legs can go.

His mamma’s name is Hollis; papa calls her Hollie, and
they live in Holliston. So here goes the holly!

Will could travel faster if he were not in rubber boots.

They live where the snow lies deep in open squares, and
where boys snowball each other. Will coaxed papa to buy
these boots, so that he could frolic in the snow.

He does enjoy them very much; he feels tall and manly
when he stands up in them.

When he was called in from play, to be washed and
dressed for the walk to-day, pretty long stockings and dainty
button shoes ‘were laid out for him to wear.

He looked from boots to shoes, and began to whimper.

“Dust look at doze ‘ittle shoes!” he said scornfully ;
* Dey so ‘ittle nobody will see my feet !”

When sister found he felt so badly, she said; “O mamma!
Let him wear the boots; heis so happy in them!”

No foot-gear since Cinderella’s glass slipper has had more
to do with a body's happiness than the new rubber boots

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