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Mama's Happy Christmas
by Miriam T. Barnard
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.
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.
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." |
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