You have a gentle cure for parting's pain;
It is your German word Aufwiederseh'n.


These are just old-fashioned Christmas tales, to be read before an
open fire, with a heart full of charity for me. There is no modern
realism in them, for every word is a lie, the telling of which has
given me the greatest pleasure. I have also stolen a quotation from
Hawthorne, which is the best thing in the book, and last I have had
the exquisite joy of bloodless murder in killing one of my people.
Thus, you see, I need your charity truly, for I have broken
deliberately, for your entertainment, Three out of a possible Ten.

CHARLES A. GUNNISON,
In the Embarcadero Rd.
Palo Alto, Santa Clara.
_Christmas, 1896._


[Illustration: Scroll]




A Napa Christchild.




I.