Half and Half [pp. 86-91]

HALF AND HALF.
HALF AND HALF.
A CHRISTMAS CHRONICLE.
FTER a plum - pudding, that was
brought in all of a blaze and
smelling delightfully, they went to the
pantomime in company with the very
queen of landladies and her princess of
a daughter; and after the pantomime
the company sat down to cold slices
of plum-pudding, and ate heartily-not
that there was any excuse for so doing;
but it was Christmas, and there was
much to talk about, and it seemed more
like Christmas to talk with one's mouth
full-of harlequins and columbines, and
sprites and fairies, and of numerous
theatrical adventures as just witnessed
by the ladies in question, together with
your humble servants, Messrs. Tom,
Dick and Harry.
You see they were three chums, occupying chambers that ran into each
other through doors that were never
known to be shut. The landlady used
to say if she knocked at Tom's door she
was sure to be answered from the window in Dickl's room, where Tom and
Dick were on the lookout for the arrival
of Harry, who was, of course, overdue,
he being the slowest of the three fellows, who were instinctively a trifle fast.
And later, if she rapped at Harry's door
she was answered by a chorus of three,
wvho were celebrating Hal's arrival at
Tom's sideboard; and that was the way
that Tom, Dick and Harry passed their
off hours, when the stupid offices in
street were closed, and there was nothing left for them to do but to be perfectly jolly.
As Christmas drew on apace the three
chums had the greatest difficulty in
keeping the secret of their gifts to them
selves; Tom told Dick what he was
about to bestow upon Harry as a holiday token of his love; Harry divulged
to Tom the mystery that was in store
for Dick; and they each managed to
puzzle one another to an unlimited extent, that made all three of them supremely happy.
There was a girl in the case; there
always is: how could there be any case
worth mentioning that didn't in some
way or other involve this very important
subject?
Rosebud wasn't her name, but T., D.
and H. used to call her Rosebud, and
take turns at loving her a little better
than anyone else they knew of. Rosebud was as pretty as she was useful, and
seemed more like a sister than anything
else in the house. She used to tidy the
three rooms when Tom, Dick and Harry were off on business, and there was
a unanimous vote of thanks passed immediately upon the return of the young
gentlemen; and a great many complimentary allusions were made during the
evening, the very whisper of which
should have made the ears of Miss
Rosebud tingle deliciously. Such was
the fate of the landlady's pretty daughter!
Tom admired Rosebud for her good
heart and her amiable disposition; he
was happy as possible when Rose found
time to talk to him; and the two other
fellows noticed a finer moral tone in his
conversation, and more gentleness of
manner in Tom whenever he came from
one of those coveted sianzces.
Dick thought Rosebud the most use ful little body it had been his good for
[JAN.