|
Susie'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 tomorrow!" said
Gracie.
"And I, too," echoed Helen. "And
your story was very nice, nursie."
"Good-night, and call
us early in the morning."
|
Other
Short Stories
Email this page to a friend
