Mark Twain
Virginia City Territorial Enterprise/December 25-27, 1863
A CHRISTMAS GIFT—”Mr. Twain—compliments of Miss Chase—Christmas, 1863.” This handwriting disposed us to suspect treachery, and to regard the box as a deadly infernal machine. It was on this account that we got a stranger to open it. This precaution was unnecessary. The diabolical box had nothing in it but a ghastly, naked, porcelain doll baby. However, we are much obliged—we always had a hankering to have a baby, and now we are satisfied—the mythical “Miss Chase” helped us to the business, and she has our cordial thanks for her share in it.
The Archive 