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diff --git a/13213-0.txt b/13213-0.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..fecc2fb --- /dev/null +++ b/13213-0.txt @@ -0,0 +1,1026 @@ +*** START OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13213 *** + +[Transcriber's Note: The Table of Contents was added by the transcriber.] + + + + +THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS + +AND OTHER POPULAR STORIES FOR CHILDREN + + + +HANDSOMELY ILLUSTRATED + +COPYRIGHT. 1903, BY W. B. CONKEY COMPANY + +CHICAGO + +W. B. CONKEY COMPANY + + + + +CONTENTS + + THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS. + + THE NIGHT AFTER CHRISTMAS. + + SANTA CLAUS DOES NOT FORGET. + + THE FAIRY CHRISTMAS. + + THE BALL GAME. + + CHRISTMAS DAY. + + THE DOLLS' CHRISTMAS PARTY. + + GRANDMA'S CHRISTMAS GIFTS. + + MAMA'S HAPPY CHRISTMAS. + + THE CHRISTMAS CAROL OF THE BIRDS. + + A TURKEY FOE ONE. + + LITTLE CHRISTMAS CAROLLERS. + + WHAT HAPPENED CHRISTMAS EVE. + + SUSY'S CHRISTMAS PRESENT. + + SANTA CLAUS'S LETTER. + + A RAGGED CHRISTMAS FEAST. + + + + +THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS. + + + 'Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the house, + Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse. + The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, + In the hope that St. Nicholas soon would be there. + The children were nestled all snug in their beds, + While visions of sugar-plums danced in their heads. + And mamma in her kerchief, and I in my cap, + Had just settled our brains for a long winter's nap; + + When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, + I sprang from the bed to see what was the matter. + Away to the window I flew like a flash, + Tore open the shutters and threw up the sash. + The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow + Gave the lustre of midday to objects below-- + When what to my wondering eyes should appear + But a miniature sleigh and eight tiny reindeer. + + With a little old driver so lively and quick, + I knew in a moment it must be St. Nick. + More rapid than eagles his coursers they came, + And he whistled and shouted and called them by name-- + "Now, Dasher! Now, Dancer! Now, Prancer! Now, Vixen! + On, Comet! On, Cupid! On, Dunder and Blixen! + To the top of the porch, to the top of the wall! + Now, dash away! Dash away! Dash away! All!" + + As dry leaves before the wild hurricane fly, + When they meet with an obstacle, mount to the sky, + So up to the house-top the coursers they flew + With the sleigh full of toys, and St. Nicholas, too. + And then in a twinkling I heard on the roof + The prancing and pawing of each tiny hoof. + As I drew in my head, and was turning around, + Down the chimney St. Nicholas came with a bound. + + He was dressed all in fur from his head to his foot, + And his clothes were all tarnished with ashes and soot; + A bundle of toys he had flung on his back, + And he looked like a pedlar just opening his pack. + His eyes--how they twinkled! His dimples, how merry! + His cheeks were like roses, his nose like a cherry; + His droll little mouth was drawn up in a bow, + And the beard on his chin was as white as the snow. + + [Illustration: THE REINDEER AND THE SLEIGH] + + The stump of a pipe he held tight in his teeth, + And the smoke, it encircled his head like a wreath. + He was chubby and plump, a right jolly old elf, + And I laughed when I saw him, in spite of myself. + A wink of his eye, and a twist of his head, + Soon gave me to know I had nothing to dread. + + He spoke not a word, but went straight to his work, + And filled all the stockings--then turned with a jerk, + And laying his finger aside of his nose, + And giving a nod, up the chimney he rose. + He sprang to his sleigh, to his team gave a whistle, + And away they all flew, like the down of a thistle; + But I heard him exclaim ere he drove out of sight, + "Merry Christmas to all, and to all a good-night!" + + + + +THE NIGHT AFTER CHRISTMAS. + + + 'Twas the night after Christmas, and all through the house + Not a creature was stirring--excepting a mouse. + The stockings were flung in haste over the chair, + For hopes of St. Nicholas were no longer there. + The children were restlessly tossing in bed, + For the pie and the candy were heavy as lead; + While mamma in her kerchief, and I in my gown, + Had just made up our minds that we would not lie down, + When out on the lawn there arose such a clatter, + I sprang from my chair to see what was the matter. + Away to the window I went with a dash, + Flung open the shutter, and threw up the sash. + The moon on the breast of the new-fallen snow, + Gave the lustre of noon-day to objects below. + + When what to my long anxious eyes should appear + But a horse and a sleigh, both old-fashioned and queer; + With a little old driver, so solemn and slow, + I knew at a glance it must be Dr Brough. + I drew in my head, and was turning around, + When upstairs came the Doctor, with scarcely a sound, + He wore a thick overcoat, made long ago, + And the beard on his chin was white with the snow. + He spoke a few words, and went straight to his work; + He felt all the pulses,--then turned with a jerk, + + And laying his finger aside of his nose, + With a nod of his head to the chimney he goes:-- + "A spoonful of oil, ma'am, if you have it handy; + No nuts and no raisins, no pies and no candy. + These tender young stomachs cannot well digest + All the sweets that they get; toys and books are the best. + But I know my advice will not find many friends, + For the custom of Christmas the other way tends. + The fathers and mothers, and Santa Claus, too, + Are exceedingly blind. Well, a good-night to you!" + And I heard him exclaim, as he drove out of sight: + These feastings and candies make Doctors' bills right!" + + + + +SANTA CLAUS DOES NOT FORGET. + + +Bertie was a very good boy. He was kind, obedient, truthful, and +unselfish. He had, however, one great fault,--he always forgot. + +No matter how important the errand, his answer always was, "I forgot." +When he was sent with a note to the dress-maker his mother would find +the note in his pocket at night. If he was sent to the store in a +great hurry, to get something for tea, he would return late, without +the article, but with his usual answer. + +His father and mother talked the matter over, and decided that +something must be done to make the little boy remember. + +Christmas was near, and Bertie was busy making out a list of things +which Santa Claus was to bring him. + +"Santa Claus may forget some of those things," said his mother. + +[Illustration: CHRISTMAS FROLICS] + +"He cannot," replied Bertie; "for I shall write sled, and skates, and +drum, and violin, and all the things on this paper. Then when Santa +Claus goes to my stocking he will find the list. He can see it and put +the things in as fast as he reads." + +Christmas morning came, and Bertie was up at dawn to see what was in +his stocking. His mother kept away from him as long as she could, for +she knew what Santa Claus had done. + +Finally she heard him coming with slow steps to her room. Slowly he +opened the door and came towards her. He held in his hand a list very +much longer than the one he had made out. He put it in his mother's +hand, while tears of disappointment fell from his eyes. + +"See what Santa Claus left for me; but I think he might have given me +one thing besides." + +His mother opened the roll. It was a list of all the errands Bertie +had been asked to do for six months. At the end of all was written, in +staring capitals, "I FORGOT." + +Bertie wept for an hour. Then his mother told him they were all +going to grandpa's. For the first time he would see a Christmas-tree. +Perhaps something might be growing there for him. + +It was very strange to Bertie, but on grandpa's tree he found +everything he had written on his list. Was he cured of his bad habit? +Not all at once; but when his mother saw that he was particularly +heedless she would say, "Remember, Santa Claus does not forget." + +M. A. HALEY + + + + +THE FAIRY CHRISTMAS. + + +It was Christmas Day, and Toddy and Tita were alone. Papa and mamma +had gone out West to see their big boy who was ill. They had promised +to be home for Christmas, but a big snow had blocked the railroad +track, and nurse was afraid the train would be delayed until the day +after Christmas. What a dull Christmas for two little girls, all alone +in the great city house, with only the servants! They felt so lonely +that nurse let them play in the big drawing-room instead of in the +nursery, so they arranged all the chairs in a row, and pretended +it was a snowed-up train. Tita was the conductor, and Toddy was the +passengers. Just as they were in the midst of it, they heard music in +the street, and, running to the window, they saw a little boy outside, +singing and beating a tambourine. + +"Why," said Tita, "his feet are all bare!" + +"Dess he hanged up bofe stockin's an' his shoes, too," said Toddy. + +"Let's open the window and ask him." + +But the great window was too high to reach, so they took papa's cane +and pushed it tip. The little boy smiled, but they could not hear what +he said, so they told him to come in, and ran to open the big front +door. He was a little frightened at first, but the carpet felt warm to +his poor bare feet. + +He told them that his name was Guido, and that he had come from Italy, +which is a much warmer country than ours, and that he was very poor, +so poor that he had no shoes, and had to go singing from house to +house for a few pennies to get some dinner. And he was _so_ hungry. + +"Poor little boy!" said Tita. "Our mamma is away, and we're having a +pretty sad Christmas, but we'll try to make it nice for _you._" + +So they played games, and Guido sang to them. Then the folding doors +rolled back, and there was the dining-room and the table all set, and +Thomas, the black waiter, smiling, just as if it had been a big dinner +party instead of two very little girls. Nurse said: "Well, I never!" +when she saw Guido, but she felt so sorry for the lonely little girls +that she let him come to the table. And _such_ a dinner as he ate! He +had never had one like it before. "It is a fairy tale," he said. + +Just as dessert came on, the door opened and in rushed mamma and papa; +the train had gotten in, after all. They were so glad to see their +darlings happy instead of moping that they gave them each some extra +kisses. You may be sure little Guido never went hungry and barefoot +after that. Long afterward he would say: "That was a fairy Christmas!" + +That night, after Tita had said her prayers, she said: + +"Mamma, I know something. Whenever you feel sad and lonely, if you +will just find somebody sadder and lonelier than yourself and cheer +them up, it will make you all right." + +And I think that that was the very best kind of a Christmas lesson of +love. Don't you? + +ETHELDRED B. BARRY. + + + + +THE BALL GAME. + + Did you ever know a boy + Make believe he had a toy? + That's the way + Babies play; + Babies who are young and small + Make believe they play at ball! + + + + +CHRISTMAS DAY. + + +"Boys," said Mrs. Howard one morning, looking up from a letter she was +reading, "I have had a letter from your grandmamma. She writes that +she is returning to England shortly." + +The boys went on with their breakfast without showing any great amount +of interest in this piece of news, for they had never seen their +grandmother, and therefore could not very well be expected to show any +affection for her. + +Now Mrs. Howard, the mother of two of the boys and aunt to the third +little fellow, was a widow and very poor, and often found it a hard +task to provide for her "three boys," as she called them, for, having +adopted her little orphan nephew, she always treated him as her own +son. She had sometimes thought it strange that old Mrs. Howard should +not have offered to provide for Leslie herself but she had never done +so, and at last Mrs. Howard had ceased to expect it. But now, right at +the end of her letter, Grandmamma Howard wrote:-- + +"I have been thinking that perhaps it would come a little hard on you +to support not only your own two boys, but poor Alice's son, and so, +on my return to England, I propose, if you are willing, to adopt one +of them, for I am a lonely old woman and shall be glad of a young face +about me again." + +After thinking the matter over, Mrs. Howard decided she would say +nothing about their grandmother's intention to the boys, as she +thought that it was just possible she might change her mind again. + +Time passed on, and winter set in, and full of the delights of +skating, the boys forgot all about the expected arrival of their +grandmother. + +During the Christmas holidays the boys one morning started off to +Broome Meadow for a good day's skating on the pond there. They carried +their dinner with them, and were told to be sure and be home before +dark. + +As they ran along the frosty road they came suddenly upon a poor old +woman, so suddenly that Leslie ran right up against her before he +could stop himself. The old woman grumbled about "lazy, selfish boys, +only thinking of their own pleasure, and not caring what happened to a +poor old woman!" + +But Leslie stopped at once and apologized, in his polite little way, +for his carelessness. + +"I _am_ sorry," he said. "I hope I did not hurt you; and you have such +heavy parcels to carry too. Won't you let me help you?" + +"Oh! come on, Leslie," said his cousins; "we shall never get to the +pond at this rate!" + +"Yes, go on," said the old woman sharply; "your skating is of a great +deal more importance than an old woman, eh?" + +But Leslie's only answer was to take the parcels and trudge merrily +along beside his companion. + +On the way to her cottage the old woman asked him all sorts of +questions about himself and his cousins, and then, having reached her +cottage, dismissed him with scarcely a "thank you" for the trouble he +had taken. But Leslie did not take it much to heart. + +He raced along, trying his hardest to overtake his cousins before they +reached the pond, and was soon skimming about with the rest of them. + +Squire Leaholme, in whose grounds the boys were skating, afterwards +came down to the pond to watch the fun, and, being a kind-hearted old +gentleman, offered to give a prize of a new pair of skates to the boy +who should win the greatest number of races. + +As it was getting late, it was arranged that the racing should come +off on the following day, and the Squire invited all the boys who took +part in it, to come up to his house to a substantial tea, after the +fun was over. + +How delighted Leslie was, for he was a first-rate skater, and he _did_ +so want a new pair of skates! + +But the Squire's skates were not to be won by him, for on the +following day as he and his cousins were on their way to the pond, +they came across the queer old woman whom they had met on the previous +day. + +She was sitting on the ground, and seemed to be in great pain. The +boys stopped to ask what ailed her, and she told them that she had +slipped and twisted her foot, and was afraid that her ankle was +sprained, for she could not bear to put it to the ground. + +[Illustration: FROM THE CHRISTMAS TREE.] + +"You musn't sit here in the cold," said Leslie; "come, try and get up, +and I will help you home." + +"Oh! Leslie," cried both his cousins, "don't go. You will be late for +the races, and lose your chance of the prize." + +Poor Leslie! He turned first red, then white, and then said, in a +husky tone of voice-- + +"Never mind--you go on without me." + +"You're a good laddie," said the old woman. "Will you be _very_ sorry +to miss the fun?" + +Leslie muttered something about not minding _much_, and then the brave +little fellow set himself to help the poor old woman home, as gently +and tenderly as he could. + +She would not let him come in with her, but told him to run off as +quickly as he could, and perhaps after all, he would not be too late +for the skating. But Leslie could not bear to leave her alone and in +pain, so he decided to run home and fetch his Aunt. + +When Mrs. Howard arrived at the cottage, you can think how surprised +she was to find that Leslie's "poor old woman" was none other than +Grandmamma Howard herself, who wishing to find out the real characters +of her grandsons, had chosen to come in this disguise to the little +village where they lived. + +You will easily guess which of the three boys Grandmamma chose to be +her little companion. And oh! what a lovely Grandmamma she was, as not +only Leslie, but his cousins too, found out. She always seemed to know +exactly what a boy wanted, and still better, to give it to him. + +Walter and Stanley often felt terribly ashamed of the selfish manner +in which they had behaved, and wished they were more like Leslie. + +But Grandmamma told them that it was "never too late to mend," and +they took her advice, and I am quite sure that at the present moment +if they were to meet a poor old woman in distress by the roadside, +they would not pass her by, as they once did Grandmamma Howard. + +ANNA MORRISON. + + + + +THE DOLLS' CHRISTMAS PARTY. + + +It was the week before Christmas, and the dolls In the toy-shop played +together all night. The biggest one was from Paris. + +One night she said, "We ought to have a party before Santa Claus +carries us away to the little girls. I can dance, and I will show you +how." + +"I can dance myself if you will pull the string," said a "Jim Crow" +doll. + +"What shall we have for supper?" piped a little boy-doll in a Jersey +suit. He was always thinking about eating. + +"Oh, dear," cried the French lady, "I don't know what we shall do for +supper!" + +"I can get the supper," added a big rag doll. The other dolls had +never liked her very well, but they thanked her now. She had taken +lessons at a cooking-school, and knew how to make cake and candy. +She gave French names to everything she made, and this made it taste +better. Old Mother Hubbard was there, and she said the rag doll did +not know how to cook anything. + +They danced in one of the great shop-windows. They opened a toy piano, +and a singing-doll played "Comin' through the Rye," The dolls did +not find that a good tune to dance by; but the lady did not know any +other, although she was the most costly doll in the shop. Then they +wound up a music-box, and danced by that. This did very well for some +tunes; but they had to walk around when it played "Hail Columbia," and +wait for something else. + +The "Jim Crow" doll had to dance by himself, for he could do nothing +but a "break-down." He would not dance at all unless some one pulled +his string. A toy monkey did this; but he would not stop when the +dancer was tired. + +They had supper on one of the counters. The rag doll placed some boxes +for tables. The supper was of candy, for there was nothing in the shop +to eat but sugar hearts and eggs. The dolls like candy better than +anything else, and the supper was splendid. Patsy McQuirk said he +could not eat candy. He wanted to know what kind of a supper it +was without any potatoes. He got very angry, put his hands into his +pockets, and smoked his pipe. It was very uncivil for him to do so in +company. The smoke made the little ladies sick, and they all tried to +climb into a "horn of plenty" to get out of the way. + +Mother Hubbard and the two black waiters tried to sing "I love Little +Pussy;" but the tall one in a brigand hat opened his mouth wide, +that the small dollies were afraid they might fall into it. The clown +raised both arms in wonder, and Jack in the Box sprang up as high as +me could to look down into the fellow's throat. + +All the baby-dolls in caps and long dresses had been put to bed. They +woke up when the others were at supper, and began to cry. The big doll +brought them some candy, and that kept them quiet for some time. + +The next morning a little girl found the toy piano open. She was sure +the dolls had been playing on it. The grown-up people thought it had +been left open the night before; but they do not understand dolls as +well as little people do. + +VIOLA ROSEBOROUGH + + + + +GRANDMA'S CHRISTMAS GIFTS. + + +Grandma Burns sat knitting busily in the sun one bright morning the +week before Christmas. The snow lay deep, and the hard crust glistened +like silver. All at once she heard little sighs of grief outside her +door. When she opened it there sat Peter and Jimmy Rice, two very poor +little boys, with their faces in their hands; and they were crying. + +"My patience!" cried grandma. "What can be the matter with two bright +little boys this sunny morning?" + +"We don't have no good times," sighed little Peter. + +"We can't slide. We haven't any sleds," whimpered Jimmy. + +"Why, of course boys can't have a good time without sleds," said +grandma, cheerily. "Let us look about and see if we can't find +something." And grandma's cap-border bobbed behind barrels and boxes +in the shed and all among the cobwebs in the garret; but nothing could +be found suitable. + +"Hum! I do believe this would do for little Pete;" and the dear old +lady drew a large, pressed-tin pan off the top shelf in the pantry. +A long, smooth butter-tray was found for Jimmy. Grandma shook her +cap-border with laughter to see them skim over the hard crust in their +queer sleds. And the boys shouted and swung their hands as they flew +past the window. + +"I do expect they'll wear 'em about through," murmured grandma; "but +boys must slide,--that's certain." + +And the pan was scoured as bright as a new silver dollar and the red +paint was all gone off the wooden tray when Peter and Jimmy brought +their sleds back. + +Grandma knitted faster than ever all that day, and her face was bright +with smiles. She was planning something. She went to see Job Easter +that night. He promised to make two small sleds for the pair of socks +she was knitting. + +When the sleds were finished she dyed them red and drew a yellow +horse upon each one. Grandma called them horses, but no one would have +suspected it. Then the night before Christmas she drew on her great +socks over her shoes to keep her from slipping, put on her hood and +cloak, and dragged the little sleds over to Peter and Timmy's house. + +She hitched them to the door-latch, and went home laughing all the +way. + + + + +MAMA'S HAPPY CHRISTMAS. + + +It had seemed to the little Wendell children that they would have +a very sad Christmas. Mama had been very ill, and papa had been so +anxious about mama that he could not think of anything else. + +When Christmas Day came, however, mama was so much better that she +could lie on the lounge. The children all brought their stockings into +her room to open them. + +"You children all seem as happy as if you had had your usual Christmas +tree," said mama, as they sat around her. + +"Why, I _never_ had such a happy Christmas before," said sweet little +Agnes. "And it's just because you are well again." + +"Now I think you must all run out for the rest of the day," said the +nurse, "because your mama wants to see you all again this evening." + +"I wish we could get up something expressly for mama's amusement," +said Agnes, when they had gone into the nursery. + +"How would you like to have some tableaux in here?" asked their French +governess, Miss Marcelle. + +"Oh, yes," they all cried, "it would be fun, mama loves tableaux." + +So all day long they were busy arranging five tableaux for the +evening. The tableaux were to be in the room which had folding-doors +opening into Mrs. Wendell's sitting-room. + +[Illustration: MAMA'S HAPPY CHRISTMAS] + +At the proper time Miss Marcelle stepped outside the folding-doors +and made a pretty little speech. She said that some young ladies and +a young gentleman had asked permission to show some tableaux to Mrs. +Wendell if she would like to see them. Mrs. Wendell replied that she +would be charmed. + +Then mademoiselle announced the tableaux; opening the doors wide for +each one. This is a list of the tableaux: First, The Sleeping Beauty; +second, Little Red Riding Hood; third, The Fairy Queen; fourth, Old +Mother Hubbard; fifth, The Lord High Admiral. + +Miss Marcelle had arranged everything so nicely, and Celeste, the +French maid, helped so much with the dressing, that the pictures all +went off without a single mistake. + +[Illustration: LITTLE RED RIDING HOOD] + +[Illustration: THE LORD HIGH ADMIRAL] + +Mama was delighted. She said she must kiss those dear young ladies, +and that delightful young man who had given her such a charming +surprise. + +So all the children came in rosy and smiling. + +"Why, didn't you know us?" asked the little Lord Admiral. + +"I know this," said mama, "I am like Agnes; I _never_ had such a happy +Christmas before." + +MIRIAM T. BARNARD. + + + + +THE CHRISTMAS CAROL OF THE BIRDS. + + +Do you know, when we are having such good times at Christmas, what +sweet music they have in Norway, that cold country across the sea? One +day in the year the simple peasants who live there make the birds very +happy, so that they sing, of their own free-will, a glad, joyous carol +on Christmas morning. + +And this is why they sing on that morning more than on any +other. After the birds have found shelter from the north wind on +Christmas-eve, and the night is still and bright with stars, or even +if the storm be ever so severe, the good people bring out sheaves of +corn and wheat from their storehouses. Tying them on slender poles, +they raise them from every spire, barn, gatepost, and gable; then, +when the Christmas sun rises over the hills, every spire and gable +bursts forth into joyous song. + +You can well believe that these songs of the birds make the people +of Norway very happy. They echo, with all their hearts, their living, +grateful anthem, "Glory to God in the highest, on earth peace, +good-will to men!" + +MRS. G. HALL. + + + + +A TURKEY FOR ONE. + + +Lura's Uncle Roy is in Japan. He used to take Christmas dinner at +Lura's home. Now he could only write her papa to say a box of gifts +had been sent, and one was for his little girl. + +The little girl clapped her hands, crying, "Oh, mamma! don't you think +it is the chain and locket dear uncle said he would sometime give me?" + +"No," replied her papa, reading on. "Your uncle says it is a turkey +for one." + +"But we do not need turkeys from Japan," remarked the little daughter, +soberly. + +Her papa smiled, and handed the open letter to her mamma. + +"Read it aloud, every bit," begged Lura, seeing her mamma was smiling, +too. + +But her mamma folded the letter and said nothing. + +On Christmas eve the box, which had just arrived, was opened, and +every one in the house was made glad with a present. Lura's was a +papier-mache turkey, nearly as large as the one brought home at the +same time by the market-boy. + +Next morning, while the fowl in the kitchen was being roasted, Lura +placed hers before a window and watched people admire it as they +passed. All its imitation feathers, and even more its red wattles, +seemed to wish every man and woman, boy and girl, a Merry Christmas. + +Lura had not spoken of the jewelry since her uncle's letter was read. +It is not nice for one who receives a gift to wish it was different. +Lura was not that kind of a child. + +When dinner was nearly over, her papa said to her, "My dear, you have +had as much of my turkey as you wanted; if you please, I will now try +some of yours." + +"Mine is what Uncle Roy calls a turkey for one," laughed Lura. She +turned in her chair towards where her bird had been strutting on the +window-sill, and added, in surprise, "Why, what has become of him?" + +At that moment the servant brought in a huge platter. When room had +been made for it on the table it was set down in front of Lura's papa, +and on the dish was her turkey. + +"Oh, what fun!" gayly exclaimed the child. "Did uncle tell you to +pretend to serve it?" + +"I have not finished what he directs me to do," her papa said, with a +flourish of the carving-knife. + +"But, papa--oh, please!" Her hand was on his arm. "You would not spoil +my beautiful bird from Japan! + +A hidden spring was touched with the point of the knife. The breast +opened, and disclosed the fowl filled with choice toys and other +things. The first taken out was a tiny box; inside was a gold chain +and locket; the locket held Uncle Roy's picture. + +It was a turkey for one,--for only Uncle Roy's niece. But all the +family shared the amusement. + +LAVINIA S. GOODWIN. + + + + +LITTLE CHRISTMAS CAROLLERS. + + + We are a band of carollers, + We march through frost and snow, + But care not for the weather + As on our way we go. + + At every hall or cottage + That stands upon our way, + We stop to give the people + Best wishes for the day. + + We pray a merry Christmas, + Made bright by Christmas cheer, + With peace, and hope, and gladness + And all they may hold dear. + + And for all those that happen + To pass us on our way + We have a smile, and wish them + A merry Christmas-day. + +L.A. FRANCE + + + + +[Illustration: CHRISTMAS CAROLLERS] + + +WHAT HAPPENED CHRISTMAS EVE. + + +It was Christmas Eve and the frost fairies were busy getting ready +for Christmas Day. First of all they spread the loveliest white snow +carpet over the rough, bare ground; then they hung the bushes and +trees with icicles that flashed like diamonds in the moonlight. Later +on, they planned to draw beautiful frost pictures on the window panes, +to surprise the little children in the morning. + +The stars shone brightly and the moon sent floods of light in every +nook and corner. How could any one think of sleeping when there was +such a glory outside! + +Jessie and Fred had gone to bed very early so they might be the first +to shout "Merry Christmas!" but their eyes would not stay shut. + +"Oh dear! it must be 'most morning," said Fred; "let us creep softly +down stairs and maybe we'll catch Santa Claus before he rides off." + +Hand in hand they tiptoed to the dining-room and peeped out the big +window;--surely, surely, that was something climbing up the roof of +cousin Nellie's house; it must be old Santa. Fred gave a chuckle of +delight; to be sure the reindeer were very queer looking objects, and +the sleigh such a funny shape, but the children were satisfied. + +The old fir tree, whose high branches almost touched the roof, +knew all about those shadows, but it was so old no one could ever +understand a word of the many tales it told. + +"There's something scratching on the door," whispered Jessie; but +it was only a mouse, who had sniffed the delightful odors of the +Christmas goodies and was trying his best to find a way into the +pantry and test them with his sharp teeth. + +"Come," said Jessie, "we'll turn to icicles if we stay here much, +longer"; so up-stairs they quickly scampered. + +Papa had been to town on an errand, so it was quite late when he came +home. As he was hunting in his pockets for his key, he heard a pitiful +cry, and looking down he saw a big, white cat carrying a tiny kitten +in her mouth. + +"Poor thing," said papa, "you shall come inside till morning." + +Santa Claus had been there with the nicest wagon for Fred and a warm, +seal-skin cap that lay right in the middle of it. When papa left the +room, puss and her kitty were curled up comfortably on the rug singing +their sleepy song. + +The sun was shining brightly in the dining-room window when Jessie and +Fred made their appearance; then Fred just laughed with delight, for +right in the crown of his new cap lay the cutest white kitten, with +big, blue eyes and wee pink nose, while standins close by as if to +guard her darling from danger, was good old mother puss. + +"I never had a live Christmas present before," said Fred, "now I know +Santa Claus read the letter I threw up the chimney because I told him +to bring me a kitten and here it is." + +Papa smiled and looked at mamma, and then everybody said "Merry +Christmas" at once. + +OLIVER HERFOLD. + + + + +SUSY'S CHRISTMAS PRESENT. + + +"Tell us a story, nursie; please do", begged two little golden-haired +girls, as they snuggled on the soft rug before the fire. "Did you ever +have just what you wished for at Christmas, when you were a little +girl?" + +"Yes, I did once. I was the oldest, and had two brothers and three +little sisters. We did not have a beautiful home like this. We lived +in a little cottage. It was pretty, though, in the summer time, when +the roses and pinks were in bloom. My father was dead, and mother +worked for the rich people around the village. There was plenty to do +about holiday times. + +"It was the day before Christmas. Mother was at the house of a +very rich and kind lady. She was going to have a grand party in the +evening. + +"Mother told me, when she went away, to mind the children, and perhaps +I might have a nice Christmas present. I knew we should have plenty of +candy and cake, and other nice things, from Mrs. Reid's. We often had +pretty clothes, too, that Mamie and Robbie Reid had outgrown. + +"I had been wishing for a muff; but I knew Mother could not afford to +buy me one. It was hard enough even to get shoes for us all. I thought +I should have to be satisfied with mittens. + +"It was quite dark, and we all sat around the fire. I had rocked Tilly +to sleep and put her to bed. Willie and Joe were playing cat's-cradle. +The rest of us were making believe we were rich and could have all we +wanted for Christmas. + +"All at once there was a heavy step on the porch, and a knock at the +door. I opened it, with Margie and Amy clinging to my dress. A boy +shoved a big box into the room and shouted, 'A merry Christmas to +you!' He then ran out at the gate. + +"The box had all our names on the cover, and the children were wild to +see what was inside. + +"'Wait till mother comes,' I said; and pretty soon we heard her at +the gate, She seemed surprised, and said Santa Claus had remembered us +early. + +"Mother advised us to go to bed and wait until morning to see our +presents. It was pretty hard; but we had some oranges and candy, and I +put the boys to bed. Margie and I wondered and guessed what was in the +box; but at last we fell asleep. + +"You may be sure we were up early in the morning. There were dolls and +toys for the little ones, with hoods and mittens, and for me a lovely +squirrel muff, lined with blue, with a soft little boa for my neck. I +was a happy girl that Christmas, I can tell you. + +"And now, my dears, you must go to bed, or Santa Claus will not be +able to find your stockings." + +"Oh! I hope I shall have what I want to-morrow!" said Gracie. + +"And I, too," echoed Helen. "And your story was very nice, nursie." + +"Good-night, and call us early in the morning." + + + + +SANTA CLAUS'S LETTER. + + +Christmas was coming. Jamie and Ted had already begun to write long +letters to Santa Claus. But one thing was rather queer: both boys +asked him for the same things. + +Each little letter ended with,--"Just like Brother's." + +They agreed to ask for only one sled. They would rather ride together. +Now was not this very sweet and loving? + +One night, after they had gone to bed, Jamie said, "Ted, if Santa +Claus brings us skates, Jim can teach us how to use them." + +"Oh, yes; and if we get fur mittens it will be such fun to make a +fort." + +"And a snow-man," Jamie answered. + +Ted went oh: "I'll always ride the sled down a hill, and you can ride +it up." + +"I guess you won't," Jamie said, speaking loudly. + +"Why not?" Ted asked. + +"Because it'll be as much my sled as yours." + +"Yes, of course," Ted replied; "but I chose it first." + +"You are a selfish boy!" said Jamie. + +"Well, then, so are you!" + +"I don't care. I won't sleep with you. I'll ask mamma if I can't have +the first pick; I'm the biggest," roared Jamie, bounding out of bed. + +"You're a big, cross cry baby," Ted shouted, jumping out after his +brother. + +Away ran Jamie to mamma, with Ted at his heels. Both were angry. Both +talked at once. + +Mamma was grieved. Her dear little boys had never been so unkind to +each other before. She kissed their hot faces and stroked their pretty +hair. She told them how their naughty words hurt her. She showed them +how displeased God was to see two little brothers quarrel. + +That night they went to sleep in each other's arms, full of love and +forgiveness. + +Christmas morning came at last. Very early the boys crept out of bed, +just to "feel" their stockings. + +Papa heard them, and, remembering that he was once a boy lighted the +gas. + +Each little red stocking was full from toe to top. Boxes and paper +parcels were piled around them. Such shouting! Such a good time! It +seemed as if all their letters had been answered. + +Suddenly Jamie cried, "O Ted, here's a letter!" + +They put their little heads together, and with papa's help spelled +this out:-- + + "My dear Boys,--No sled this year. It quarrelled so I was + afraid to bring it. I dropped it off the load about a week + ago. Get ready for it next year. Merry Christmas! SANTA + CLAUS." + + + + +A RAGGED CHRISTMAS FEAST. + + +On Christmas day there is a great feast in Dublin. This, you know, is +the chief city of Ireland. The feast is made for the children. There +are in that city a great many little ones who are very very poor. +There are kind people there, also, who look after these poor children. +They have what they call "ragged schools," where many of them are +taught to read, and to sew, and other useful things. + +Dr. Nelaton is a famous minister in Dublin, and every year he, with +other good people, gets up this great feast for the children. +About eight hundred of them came last year. Some of these were only +half-clad, and all were very ragged. They were seated at long, narrow +tables, which were covered with a white cloth, The children from the +ragged schools wore aprons in bright colors, to hide their rags. Each +school had a color of its own. These aprons were only lent them for +the day, and the children felt very fine in them. But there were two +long rows without any aprons. These were little ones who had been +picked up along the streets. Each ragged scholar had permission to +bring all the children he could find. And, oh, how ragged and dirty +these two rows were! + +But they brightened up, just like the children with aprons, when they +saw the feast. A huge mug of steaming tea and an immense bun to each +child! Rarely did they have such a treat as this. And how they did +eat! Each child had all he wanted. It would have done you good to see +their poor, pinched faces beam with delight. During the meal a large +throng of orphan children in the gallery sung some sweet songs. Then, +after the feast, there were small gifts, and little speeches and +prayers, and more songs. The little ragged ones seemed like new beings +in this atmosphere of love. Such a glad day as that Christmas was a +rare event in their sad lives. Children who live in happy homes know +little about the sufferings of the poor. Perhaps, if they knew more, +such little ones would try harder, by gifts and kind acts, to carry +sunshine to sorrowful hearts. + + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of The Night Before Christmas and Other +Popular Stories For Children, by Various + +*** END OF THE PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK 13213 *** |