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XVII.
_CHRISTMAS._
"WHO is going to hang up a stocking to-night?" asked Fred, as thechildren watched their father and uncle while they dressed the roomwith greens on Christmas-eve.
"I shall," said Harry.
"And I," said Maggie.
"I don't know about it," said Bessie; "maybe Santa Claus will think weare greedy, if we hang up our stockings when we are going to have aChristmas-tree."
"No, pet," said Harry; "he's a generous old fellow, and, besides, he'llknow that we don't expect much in our stockings. We'll leave a littlenote, telling him we only do it for the fun of the thing."
"He'll scorch his old legs coming down the chimney to-night," laughedFred; "there's a roaring big fire in mamma's grate."
"Oh, he's used to it," said Harry; "he minds neither heat nor cold."
"Maggie," said Fred, "if you hear a scrambling and pawing in mamma'schimney to-night, you can jump up and take a look at him through thecrack of the door."
"We wouldn't be so mean," answered Maggie. "If he meant us to see him,he would come in the day-time when we are up; and if he knew we did it,perhaps he'd just go whisking up the chimney, and not leave us a singlething."
"Hurrah for honest Maggie!" said Fred. "I hope Santa Claus is aroundsomewhere, and heard you say that. He'll give you a reward for it."
"Children," said Bessie, "you talk as if Santa Claus yeally was."
"You don't mean to say he really is not!" said Fred. "Now, if he hasheard you, Bess, he'll be affronted, and punish you, as he will rewardMidget."
"I know who Santa Claus is," said Bessie, gravely, "and I wonder ifit's yight to talk so earnest about him."
"Mamma said it was not wrong," said Maggie, "'cause every one knew itwas only a joke, and no one meant to deceive; but it's fun to thinkabout him and talk about him, so I am going to do it."
"I wonder how this notion of Santa Claus ever came about?" said Harry."Let us ask papa."
But Mr. Bradford was too busy just then to attend to them, and said hewould tell them at another time.
When Maggie and Bessie went up-stairs, their brothers went with them toassist in hanging up the stockings, and when nurse found what they weredoing, she came too, bringing Franky's stocking and a tiny worsted sock.
"Holloa," said Fred, "you are not going to hang up that apology for astocking, nursey? Why, Santa Claus will never see it! and if he did,he'll have nothing small enough in his pack to put in it."
"I'll trust to his forgetting my pet," said the old woman. "If heoverlooks any one, it will be the one of the family that's always inmischief and up to some saucy prank; and maybe he'll just put a rod inthat one's stocking."
"Poor mammy!" said Fred, "do you really think Santa Claus will serveyou such a shabby trick as that, and not bring you a single thing?If he does, I'll save all my pocket-money for a month, and buy yousomething nice."
Nursey shook her head at the roguish fellow, whom she dearly lovedin spite of all his mischief and teasing, and having fastened up thelittle sock, she carried Maggie and Bessie away to undress them.
If the little girls had been awake an hour later, when their brothersstopped in mamma's room on their way up to bed, they might have saidthat Santa Claus had a great deal of laughing and whispering to do;but they were sound asleep, and heard nothing till the next morning,when nurse, according to promise, came to wake them at an earlier hourthan usual; for nurse and Patrick had been taken into the secret, andthe latter had promised not to ring the rising-bell for this morning,but to let the children wake their parents in their own way. Harryhad procured half a dozen bells of different tones, and had taught hisbrother and sisters to ring them in tune, producing what they called"Christmas Chimes." I cannot say that they sounded much like chimes,or that the tune was very easily distinguished; but since the childrenwere satisfied with their own performance, it answered all the purpose.And certainly had not papa and mamma been already awake, they could nothave slept one moment after all this din was raised at their door. Mr.Bradford, however, was up and nearly dressed, for Miss Baby had chosento wake at an early hour, and looking around for something with whichto amuse herself, had discovered two new playthings in her father'snose and hair. These she chose to consider her own proper Christmasgifts, and had ever since been making good use of them. Papa tiredof the fun sooner than she did, and had been forced to take the newtoys beyond the reach of the little hands. Both he and mamma laughedheartily at their Christmas greeting; but soon came sweeter sounds,for when the chimes were over, the four clear young voices rose in thebeautiful hymn:--
"Hark, the herald angels sing Glory to the new-born King."
No music ever sounded more delightful in the ears of Mr. and Mrs.Bradford, and when the hymn was finished, papa waited to be sure thatno more was to follow. But now came shouts of "Merry Christmas!" andas he opened the door, the whole happy, laughing flock rushed in, withFlossy barking joyously at their heels.
"Now for the stockings!" said Fred, when all loving wishes had beenexchanged. "One at a time. You begin, Hal."
There hung the stockings all in a row as they had been left last night;but now they were full instead of empty, and to the top of each waspinned a piece of paper with some words written in a large, sprawlinghand.
Now Harry, though he was by no means a miserly boy, had a fancy forsaving all sorts of stray odds and ends, saying that they might be ofuse some day. This habit of his gave a great deal of amusement to Fred,and now he seemed much delighted when on Harry's paper were found thewords, "For Master Save-all." At the top of the stocking was a packetof sugar-plums, below an old battered tin cup, some broken pieces ofchina, part of a knife-blade, and some scraps of paper. Harry rolledthe paper into a ball and threw it at Fred's head.
"Now for number two," said the mischievous fellow, unpinning the paperfrom his stocking, which did not look as full as Harry's. "'Thepattern boy of the house'--that's myself, of course,--'needs nothingbut the reward of his own conscience, and the goodies whose sweetnessis only equalled by his disposition.' Good for Santa Claus! He's agentleman of sense."
"There's something else there," said Maggie.
Fred looked rather surprised, but plunging his hand down to thebottom of his stocking, pulled out a small square box. Opening it, hefound two little parcels, one containing mustard, the other pepper,with the labels, "Like to like." He colored furiously, but laughedgood-naturedly, saying, "All fair; give and take."
On Maggie's paper was written, "For the girl who would not peep." Andbesides sugar-plums, the stocking held a tiny log-cabin, a puzzleof Harry's which she had long wished to have, and two or three othersmall toys. Bessie's and Franky's held pretty much the same, exceptthat in Bessie's, instead of the log-cabin, was a tiny doll dressed asa policeman; for since her adventure she had been very fond of talkingof her friends, the policemen, and her stocking was ticketed, "For thegirl who will not believe that Santa Claus really is."
But now nurse, coming in after her baby, looked first at her littlesock, and to her great disgust, found nothing but a bundle of twigstied on the outside.
"The old rascal!" she said; "does he mean to say my baby wants awhipping? The best baby that ever lived! I'll just lay this rod overhis own shoulders."
"You'll have to catch him first," said Fred, "and you wont have achance till next Christmas-eve."
"Wont I though?" said nurse, and she made a grasp at the laughing boy,who dived, and the next instant was off with nurse after him. But nursewas old and fat, Fred, young and active, and he vaulted over balusters,and took flying leaps down-stairs in a way which quite terrified her;so that she begged him to "stop and not risk his neck on this blessedChristmas morn."
"As well risk my neck as my shoulders," said Fred. "Will you promisenot to visit the sins of Santa Claus on me if I consent not to killmyself?"
Nurse promised, and went back for her baby, whom she carried off tothe nursery, covering it with kisses, and talking to it
as though shethought it very badly treated.
"It's rather droll, is it not, that Santa Claus' handwriting should beso much like that of our Fred?" said Mr. Bradford.
"Not at all, sir, for he took lessons of me when he was young,"answered the rogue, with a comical look at his father.
"Papa," said Harry, at the breakfast-table, "can you tell us now aboutSanta Claus?"
"I will tell you all I know, but that is not much," said his father."Santa Claus is Dutch or German for St. Nicholas. Many hundred yearsago, there lived far away in the East a good old bishop, namedNicholas, who gave up his life to acts of charity and mercy. He wassaid to have a great love for children, and many stories are told ofhis kindness to them; hence, he came to be regarded as their specialfriend. After his death, the Romish Church, to which he belonged,made him a saint; and as his feast day, or the day which particularlybelonged to him, happened to be near Christmas, he was supposed totake a great share in the rejoicings of that day."
"But why is he said to come down the chimney and fill stockings?" askedFred.
"I do not know," said Mr. Bradford, "and though I have questionedseveral people who know a great deal about old customs, I have neverbeen able to find out how this idea arose. In some parts of Europe,he is supposed to be a child angel, not an old man; and in France thechildren call him Noel, and put their shoes on the hearth to be filled.Perhaps the custom of giving presents at this time arose from the giftswhich the wise men of the East brought to the infant Saviour; perhapsit was only intended to remind us of the greatest and most precious ofall gifts which _we_ received on this day. My Bessie can tell what thatwas; can she not?"
"God's Jesus, who came to save us, so his Father could take us toheaven," said the little girl.
"Right, my darling; and can Maggie tell what was the song the angelssang on this happy morning?"
"Glory to God in the highest, and on earth peace, good will towardmen," said Maggie.
"And every Christmas-day since the song has been repeated by men andangels. Is it not a pleasant thought that all over the world, in everyland where Christ is known, millions of happy voices ring forth theglad tidings, 'For unto us is born this day a Saviour, who is Christthe Lord;' that millions of young children are singing praises to himwho became a little child that he might bring to us the one pricelessgift without which all others are worthless? For from this flows everygood thing; without the peace, comfort, and safety which this hasbrought, there would be nothing but misery and unhappiness, even forthose who do not love and bless the holy child Jesus, or trust to hissalvation. Every prayer which we offer, not only on this day but on alldays of the year, finds its way to the Father's ear only through hisname; every joy is made brighter, every sorrow lighter, by the thoughtof the one great blessing the birthday of our Saviour brought."
And now there were down-stairs several poor people to be attendedto before church-time; for on this day, of all others, Mr. and Mrs.Bradford would not forget those who had not as many good gifts asthemselves. There was Mary Bent, who had risen long before daylightthat she might be in the city at an early hour. Very cold and tired shelooked, but she cheerfully answered the children's "Merry Christmas;"and when she had eaten the good breakfast Mrs. Bradford ordered forher, the color came into her pale cheeks, and she quite agreed withMaggie and Bessie that this was the happiest day in all the year.
"Mrs. Duncan ordered our Christmas dinner sent from Riverside, ma'am,"she said, courtesying to Mrs. Bradford; "and old Mr. Duncan sent apuzzle to Jemmy; so there's nothing more to be wished for."
"Still," said the lady, "I suppose you will not refuse the presentwhich the children have for you."
No fear of that, as the sparkle of Mary's eyes showed when Maggie andBessie came with the warm sack which they had bought for her. It wastried on at once, and found to fit pretty well, leaving, it is true,some room for Mary to grow, but that was a fault on the right side.Mrs. Bradford gave her a hood for herself, and a book for Jemmy, witha parcel of cakes and candies, and some tea and sugar for her mother,and the little radish-girl went home with a light, happy heart.
There was an old negro man nearly a hundred years of age, but who stillmanaged to hobble about with a stick and pay a Christmas visit to hiskind friends, and who, when Mrs. Bradford gave him money and a hat,said, "Dear honey, I didn't spect nothin'; I jest came for a sight ofyour pooty face." But, nevertheless, old Jack would have been sadlydisappointed to go away empty-handed; indeed, I think it quite doubtfulif he would have gone away at all until he had received something.
There were several others to be made happy, but it would take too longto tell who they all were. Every one, however, went from Mr. Bradford'sdoor blessing the kind hearts who could not be content unless theyshared with others the many good gifts God had bestowed upon them.Then to church to praise the Lord for all the mercies of the day; afterwhich, Maggie and Bessie were taken to a large room, where the childrenof the Church Mission School were to have a Christmas dinner. Roastbeef and turkey, with other good things, had been furnished for thelittle ones, many of whom, perhaps, never had a comfortable meal saveon this day of the year.
Mrs. Bradford brought her children away before the dinner was quiteover, for she feared Bessie would be too tired, and when they reachedhome, told her she must take a little rest. Bessie thought it a pityto lose a moment of Christmas-day in sleep; but, like the obedientchild she was, lay down on mamma's sofa. But after lying quite stillfor about ten minutes with her eyes closed, she said, "Mamma, I havekept my eyes tight shut for a great many hours, and the sleep will notcome."
Her mother laughed, and said she might get up, since the time seemed solong, and sent her to the nursery to be dressed for dinner.
And now came grandmamma and Aunt Annie, Grandpapa Duncan, Aunt Helen,and Uncle John with Baby Nellie, and afterwards, Colonel and Mrs. Rush.What a long dinner-table that was, and what a circle of bright, happyfaces about it! Maggie and Bessie, and perhaps Fred and Harry, too,had thought it rather foolish to think of dinner when there was theChristmas-tree waiting in the library; but, somehow, they all contrivedto enjoy the merry meal very much. Fred declared he wished his fatherkept a hotel, it was so jolly to sit down to dinner with such a lot ofpeople.
Soon came Tom, Lily, and Eddy Norris, with Gracie Howard, to share inthe grand event of the day. Papa and Uncle John disappeared for a fewmoments, then the servants were called, the library-door thrown open,and there stood the Christmas-tree in all its splendor. On the topmostbough was a figure of old Santa Claus, with his pack upon his back;around him burned a row of wax tapers, and on every little twig hungflags, spangles, bright-colored balls, and bonbons; while the largerand stouter branches and the green tub were covered with the heaviergifts. Such shouts of delight as came from the little ones! Baby, inmamma's arms, seemed to think the whole show was for her amusement,and crowed and laughed and stretched out her dimpled hands towardsthe pretty things, which she would soon have destroyed, had she beenallowed to grasp them.
When the tree had been sufficiently admired, Mr. Bradford steppedforward, and, taking down one after another of the gifts, handed themto the persons for whom they were intended. One of the first things wasa sweet picture in a black walnut frame, which he gave to mamma. Greatwas her delight when she saw the faces of her two little daughters, soprettily painted by her sister.
"Now may we see, Aunt Helen?" said Maggie, and receiving permission,she and Bessie ran eagerly forward. "Oh, how sweet Bessie and Flossylook! And there's another pretty little girl standing by--Why, that'sme!"
Every one laughed, but Maggie was so pleased she did not think aboutthat, but thanked Aunt Helen for putting her in the picture. Bessie waseven more surprised, and could not understand how her aunt could painta picture without her knowing it.
Now papa called Maggie, for there was a beautiful little bed for herdoll; and next came one for Bessie. Never was there a tree that boresuch various and delightful fruit,--fruit suited to large and small,from Grandpapa Duncan down
to the dear baby; and never were richeror happier children than our Maggie and Bessie. There seemed to bepresents from every one to every one, and happy voices and merrylaughter filled the room. The Colonel and Mrs. Rush were very muchpleased with the book-marks, "I love you, Sir," and "Remember me,Ma'am;" that is, if smiles and kisses were to be taken as signs, andpromised to keep them as long as they lived.
Nor were papa and mamma less delighted with the paper-weight andpicture and the markers worked with "To my dear father," and "To mydear mother." Mamma did not in the least care that Maggie, trying to dohers by herself, had put the o and the m, quite close together, makingit read "Tomy dear mother," a mistake which mischievous Aunt Annie,enjoying the joke, had not corrected. Of all the gifts which Mr. andMrs. Bradford received that evening, none pleased them more than thosewhich the fingers of their own little daughters had manufactured.
As for nurse, she scarcely had eyes or thoughts for her own presents,so occupied was she with the treasures which showed that the youngestdarling of the flock had not been forgotten.
"Well, mammy," said Fred, shaking in the old woman's ears the silverand coral rattle which had been grandmamma's gift to baby, "will youforgive the trick which Santa Claus served you last night?"
"I will," answered nurse, "and I wish he may never turn out a worsefellow than the rogue who played his part."
The excitement and gayety was calming down a little, when Harrysuddenly said, "See there, papa. There must be a fire," and he pointedtowards the window.
Mr. Bradford hastily drew back the curtain, and as a crimson glare wasseen upon the snow, it did indeed seem for a moment as if Harry's wordswere true.
But directly Mr. Bradford said, "It is no fire, but a splendid aurora;let us go up-stairs, where we may have a better view;" and takingBessie in his arms, he carried her to an upper room, whither they werefollowed by all the rest. It was indeed a magnificent sight which mettheir eyes. Far down in the northern sky appeared a dark purple arch;above it a second of the brightest gold, while from the latter shotlong rays or streamers of every brilliant color, changing each instant,and overhead glowed the steadier crimson light, which, throwing itsreflection on the pure white snow, had caused Harry to think it was alarge fire.
For a moment Maggie and Bessie stood speechless with delight, forthey had never seen anything like this before. Then Bessie exclaimed,joyously, "Papa, papa, have the angels opened the gates of heaven tolet the glory shine out 'cause it's Christmas night?"
No one smiled at the pretty idea, though all were pleased; for sweet aswas the thought, it yet was solemn, and as they watched the flashingplay of those beautiful northern lights, it did indeed seem almostas if there were reason in the little darling's words, and as ifthe hosts of heaven in their rejoicing over man's salvation mightbe giving them some glimpse of the glory purchased for them on thisblessed night.
But Mr. Bradford whispered softly as he drew her closer to him, "No, mydarling. Our eyes may never behold the beauty of heaven till our Fathertakes us to himself. This is the work of his hand, and lovely it is;but it is as nothing to the glory of the great white throne whereon hesits."
And so ended this happy Christmas which our Maggie and Bessie will bothremember as long as they shall live.
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XVIII.
_THE PURCHASE OF THE LIBRARY_
ON the Sunday morning following Christmas, Mrs. Rush asked her littlescholars if they all had their money ready for the library. Each oneanswered "Yes," and she told them she would allow them to choose whatbooks they would send; and that on the next day she would take them alldown town to a large store, where they would find a great number ofpretty and suitable children's books. Accordingly, on Monday morning,she drove up to Mr. Bradford's door at the appointed hour. Maggie andBessie, ready for the ride, were watching for her, and did not keepher a moment waiting. Then they stopped at Mr. Howard's door to takeup Gracie, and next at Mr. Norris' for Lily. Each little girl, as sheentered the carriage, would offer Mrs. Rush her share of the money; butshe told them they had better keep it until they had bought the books,and then pay for them with their own hands.
"Please don't say 'the books,'" said Maggie.
"And why not?" asked Mrs. Rush. "Are you not going to buy books?"
"Yes'm," said Maggie; "but then it is a great deal more satisfaction tosay 'library.'"
"Oh! that is it," said Mrs. Rush, laughing. "Well, hereafter, I shallbe careful to say your 'library.'"
"Not ours; the log-cabin children's library," said Gracie.
"Very well," said Mrs. Rush. "You will have me all right by and by. Isee I must be on my guard with such very particular young ladies."
"Don't you like to be coryected, Mrs. Yush?" asked Bessie.
"Certainly; when I am wrong, I always wish to be put right; and I shallspeak of your log-cabin library in any way you please; for you havesurely earned the right to say how it shall be."
"Tom says Maggie and Bessie deserve more credit than Gracie and I,"said Lily, "because they really earned the money, and Gracie and I hadit without taking any trouble about it."
"But you have denied yourselves in order to give it," said Mrs. Rush,"and I think you ought not to be without your share of credit."
"What does 'credit' mean?" asked Bessie.
"Oh!" said Maggie, before any one else could speak, "it means to thinkyourself very great, and to have a fuss made about you. I am sure wedid not do it for that; did we, Bessie?"
"I know Tom did not mean that," said Lily. "He thinks you're very nice."
"And I think Maggie makes a mistake, and does not quite understand themeaning of the word 'credit,'" said Mrs. Rush. "To give a person creditfor any action, dear Maggie, is only to give him the praise that is dueto him. There is no need to think that people are making a fuss aboutyou because they do this."
"I can't help it, Mrs. Rush," said Maggie. "I always do feel great whenpeople praise me, and nurse says it is not good for me."
"What do you mean by feeling great?" asked Mrs. Rush. "Do you mean youfeel vain and self-glorious?"
"No," said Maggie, "not quite that, but I feel pleased, and as if Iliked it; and I know sometimes I do things because I hope people willpraise me; but I am quite sure I did not do this for that, but becauseI felt sorry for those log-cabin children, and wanted to help them."
"I have not a doubt of it, my dear little girl," said Mrs. Rush, "and Ido not think you could have been so earnest and persevering if you hadnot had a better motive than the desire for praise. I believe you haveall done it from a sincere wish to help others who are not as well offas yourselves; and it is not wrong to like praise, Maggie, if we do notallow it to make us vain, or to cause us to cease from well-doing. Weall enjoy it, old and young; and if it is sincere, and we feel that wedeserve it, it is quite right to be pleased with the approval of ourfriends."
"But Maggie is a great deal nicer than she thinks herself," saidBessie. "I don't think anybody knows how very nice she is, 'cept me."
Mrs. Rush smiled at the affectionate little sister, who never missed achance of saying a kind or loving word for Maggie.
So they chatted away until they reached the bookstore, where Mrs. Rushwent in with the whole of her small flock. This was a very large store,and from the floor to the ceiling the walls were covered with shelves,on which lay piles on piles of books. The gentleman whom Mrs. Rushwished to see was engaged, and she sat down to wait until he should beat liberty to attend to her; while the children gathered about her,noticing all around them, and prattling away as fast as their tonguescould go.
"Did you ever see such lots and lots of books?" said Gracie.
"I suppose the gentleman who owns this store must be about a millionyears old," said Lily.
"Why, he couldn't be," said Maggie; "only the people that lived in theBible were so very old. I wish I had lived then, it's such fun to bealive."
"If you had lived then, you would not be alive now," said Mrs. Rus
h,with a smile; "and no one ever lived to be a million years old. Theworld has not been created so long, and the oldest man, Methuselah, wasonly nine hundred and sixty-nine when he died. But what made you thinkMr. ---- must have lived a million years, Lily?"
"Because he has written such lots of books," said Lily; "just see howmany!"
"But you do not think Mr. ---- has himself written all these books?"
"Why, yes'm," said Lily.
"It would indeed take a long life-time to write so many," said Mrs.Rush, "but I do not believe Mr. ---- has written more than half adozen."
"Who did it, then?" asked Lily.
"A great many different persons. People write books and bring themto Mr. ----, and he publishes them; that is, he has them printed andbound, and then sells them."
"I am glad it took a great many people to do it," said Maggie, "becauseif they take the trouble to write books for children, I suppose it'sbecause they like us; and it is pleasant to have a great many people tolove you."
"I wonder why 'most everybody loves children," said Gracie.
"If you thought about Christmas, you'd know that," said Bessie. "It's'cause Jesus was once a little child; and besides, when he was a man,he loved children his own self."
Just then the gentleman for whom Mrs. Rush was waiting came forward,and said he was now at leisure to attend to her. She told him for whatshe had come, and that she wished these little girls, who were going topay for the library, to choose their favorite books.
He shook hands with them all, and then, taking paper and pencil, toldthem to tell him in turn what they would have.
Bessie, being the youngest, had the first choice, and she named thebooks she liked best. The others did the same, but when the list wasmade out, Mr. ---- said ten dollars would purchase several more, andbringing some volumes which had just been published, said he couldrecommend those for their purpose. The children were quite ready totake them upon his word, and when the whole ten dollars' worth was laidout, looked at the pile with great satisfaction. Mr. ---- offered tosend the books wherever they might choose but that would not answer atall. The library must be taken with them in the carriage, and carriedhome by Mrs. Rush, with whom it was to remain until those of thechildren's friends who wished to see it had had the opportunity, whenit was to be sent to Miss Winslow, with a note from the four littlegirls to the Western children. Maggie was asked by the others to "makeup" the note, and as Mrs. Rush took them all home to spend the rest ofthe day with her and the colonel, it was done before they separatedthat evening. This was the note which Colonel Rush wrote out and put upwith the books:--
"Dear log-cabin children, whose names we don't know, but we like you all the same, please to take this library. Four of us send it to you,--Maggie and Bessie and Gracie and Lily; and I am Maggie, and the others are the rest. Our dear teacher, Miss Winslow, who used to have us all except Bessie, who was too little, in her Sunday-school class, is going to teach you in your log-cabin, and Santa Claus put a log-cabin in my stocking, but I knew it was Fred; and she says you have very few books, and we would like you to have some more; so we have bought this library for you, and we hope you will read all the books and like them. Papa and Colonel Rush are going to send you some picture cards with hymns and verses like those in our Sunday-school, and Miss Winslow is going to take you some Bibles, so you see if you want to learn about Jesus you can, and if you are good children, you will. Miss Winslow is very good, and you will love her very much, and we are very sorry she is going away; but now we have Sunday-school in Mrs. Rush's room, and she is so sweet you can't think, and the colonel does tell us such stories; so we can spare Miss Winslow, and you must be very good to Miss Winslow, because she left her comfortable home to be a missionary to you, and Mr. Long, too, so you ought to mind all they say, and if you do not, you ought to be served right, and never have any of the library books to read. But we think you will be good, and some day Miss Winslow is going to write to us about you, and if you are naughty, you would be ashamed to have it put in a letter. Dear log-cabin children, we all send you our love, and we hope you had a Christmas-tree, and here are our names:--
MAGGIE BRADFORD. GRACIE HOWARD. LILY NORRIS. BESSIE BRADFORD."
The colonel wrote it all down just as Maggie dictated it to him, butwhen Miss Winslow read the letter to the Western children, she did notthink it necessary to read the whole of the last part, but left out afew words here and there. As Maggie did not know this, it did not makeany difference to her.
The books were covered and put up in a neat box which Mr. Bradfordprovided, and then given into Miss Winslow's care. She was very muchpleased, and told the little girls she should not fail to tell theWestern children all about their kind young friends in the East.
Some weeks after she went away, there came a letter from her, directed,"To my dear little scholars." It had come in another to Mrs. Rush, andarrived on Saturday night; so when they came to her room on Sundaymorning, they found this pleasure awaiting them. Mrs. Rush read italoud to them.
"MY DEAR LITTLE GIRLS,--
"After a long and tedious journey, we arrived at this place. We lost several articles of our baggage by the way, but I am glad to tell you that your precious library was not among them. That came quite safely, and it would do good to your generous young hearts to see what delight these poor children take in the books; and not only the children, but the grown people, also, are very anxious to have them.
"We are not living in a large city or village, but in a small settlement of a dozen or so of houses, and very different the houses are from those you are accustomed to. They are all log-cabins, our own as well as the rest; but we manage to make ourselves pretty comfortable and quite contented. Then we have so much to do that there is no time to think of little annoyances.
"On Sunday the people come from other settlements, miles and miles away, to hear Mr. Long preach; and when our simple services are over, the children beg for the books you have sent for their use. Some of them are well thumbed already, but, on the whole, they take good care of them, partly for their own sakes, partly for that of their kind little friends so far away.
"On week-days, Mr. Long rides from place to place to teach and talk to the people. When I can borrow a pony or mule, I go with him, and the cry is always for 'books, books.' I take two or three from the library with me, and leave them here and there. They pass from house to house, till all who wish have read them, then they are returned to me, and others asked for.
"There is an old colored woman who lives in one of the houses near us; she has not left her bed for years; she is lame and helpless. I went to see her when I first came here, but she took little notice of me until I offered to read to her. Then she turned her face to me, and asked if I had books. I told her yes, and seeing she was ready to listen, I opened my Bible and read several chapters to her. To my surprise, she seemed to be quite familiar with God's word, and asked for certain chapters, not by name or number, but by repeating some verse they contained, or by telling me the subject. Since then I have been to see her every day; and thinking she might like to hear some of the pretty stories in your library, I took one with me the other morning. She seemed well pleased with the idea, and before I began, I told her how I had procured the books. She was much interested, and at last asked the names of the children who had been so thoughtful. When I mentioned Maggie and Bessie Bradford, her whole face lighted up, and she asked me whose children they were. I told her, and she at once said she had known Maggie's and Bessie's papa when she was at home, 'to dear ole New York;' and told me that her brother Jack, if he were still alive, often went to
see Mr. Bradford's family, who were very kind to him. So when Maggie and Bessie see old Jack, they can tell him this news of his sister. Poor old Dinah never tires of asking about you, or of talking of the family, and when I go away, always begs me to leave one of the library-books with her. She cannot read a word, but she says she likes to look at the picturs, and to hold the book in her hands, because it does her good just to feel it and think it came from 'dear Massa Henry's chillen.'
"So, my little darlings all, you see what joy your present has brought to these poor people. That God may bless you for your readiness to help in his work, and reward you abundantly is the prayer of
"Your loving "MARY LONG."
The End.]
* * * * *
Transcriber's Notes
Minor punctuation typos have been silently corrected. Retainedauthor's preferences for "wont" instead of changing to "won't;" andkept both variations of "mean while" and "meanwhile."
Page 72: "stiches" is probably a typo for "stitches." (Orig: learning to put in stiches that grew neater)
Page 132: "crimsom" is probably a typo for "crimson." (Orig: butterfly, with wings of crimsom, blue, and gold.)
Page 264: Retained spelling variations of "Charlie" and "Charley."
Page 278: Retained the question mark, but it may be a typo. (Orig: "We are going to do a purpose with it?" said Bessie,)
Page 394: "picturs" may be a typo for "pictures" or intentionaldialect. (Orig: but she says she likes to look at the picturs,)
Bessie in the City Page 17
