Edward Everett Hale

Christmas Eve and Christmas Day Edward Everett Hale

Publisher Marketing: HERE he comes! here he comes!" "He" was the "post-rider," an institution now almost of the past. He rode by the house and threw off a copy of the "Boston Gazette." Now the "Boston Gazette," of this particular issue, gave the results of the drawing of the great Massachusetts State Lottery of the Eastern Lands in the Waldo Patent. Mr. Cutts, the elder, took the "Gazette," and opened it with a smile that pretended to be careless; but even he showed the eager anxiety which they all felt, as he tore off the wrapper and unfolded the fatal sheet. "Letter from London," "Letter from Philadelphia," "Child with two heads,"-thus he ran down the columns of the little page, -uneasily. "Here it is! here it is!-Drawing of the great State Lottery. 'In the presence of the Honourable Treasurer of the Commonwealth, and of their Honours the Commissioners of the Honourable Council, -was drawn yesterday, at the State House, the first distribution of numbers'--here are the numbers, -'First combination, 375-1. Second, 421-7. Third, 591-6. Fourth, 594-1. Fifth, '"-and here Mr. Cutts started off his feet, -"'Fifth, 219-7.' Sybil, my darling! it is so! 219-7! See, dear child! 219-7! 219-7! O my God! to think it should come so!"