The Percys Author:Elizabeth Prentiss Purchase of this book includes free trial access to www.million-books.com where you can read more than a million books for free. This is an OCR edition with typos. Excerpt from book: CHAPTER YIII. IEAR papa," said Evelyn, in her next letter home; " can you afford to give Harold a watch for his Christmas present ? I do not know whether... more » you've got money enough, but if you haven't, I will go without my present this year. All the boys in his school have watches, and he is just crazy for one." Papa was greatly pleased with this suggestion. And when a few hours later, there came a line from Harold declaring that Evelyn was crazy for a little portable desk, and proposing to subscribe half-a-dollar towards its purchase in case such help was needed, he was so delighted to find he had two insane children, that he decided to go to town at once to see them. Mamma said she had half a mind to go, too; only if she went, baby would have to go. Grandma said she wished she had baby's likeness ; she wanted a photograph as large as life, and colored; but supposed there wouldn't be time ' for that, and so would be satisfied with a dozen little ones. 3 (49) "Why, grandma!" cried Rio; "you've got twelve now!" "Pshaw," said grandma; "those were taken nearly three months ago. Besides, I've given them all away except the one in my album, and the one I had framed to hang in my bed-room, and the one that I keep on the bracket over my desk." In fact, grandma's rooms were perfect museums of babies. She had Harold in his mamma's lap, and Harold in a chair; Harold holding a rattle, and Harold holding a stuffed dog; Harold laughing, Harold scowling, Harold doing nothing. If any one laughed at her for it, she always said: " Well, he was the first boy, and we were all so proud of him!" But she had just as many Evelyns, Daisies and Pets, and as for the twins—well, she was their grandmamma, and why shouldn't she have a whole picture-gallery of them, if she chose ? ...« less