CHAPTER XIV
CHRISTMAS
As the time for Christmas drew shorter all of the Bobbsey childrenwondered what Santa Claus would bring them and what they would receivefrom their relatives at a distance.
Freddie and Flossie had made out long lists of the things they hoped toget. Freddie wished a fireman's suit with a real trumpet, a railroadtrack with a locomotive that could go, and some building blocks andpicture books. Flossie craved more dolls and dolls' dresses, a realtrunk with a lock, fancy slippers, a pair of rubber boots, and some bigcard games.
"All I want is a set of furs," said Nan, not once but many times. "Abeautiful brown set, just like mamma's."
"And all I want is some good story books, some games, a newpocket-knife, a big wagon, and some money," said Bert.
"Mercy, you don't want much, Bert," cried Nan. "How much money--athousand dollars?"
"I want money, too," piped in Freddie. "Want to start a bank accountjust like papa's."
By dint of hard saving Bert and Nan had accumulated two dollars and tencents between them, while Freddie and Flossie had each thirty-fivecents. There was a wonderful lot of planning between the twins, and allput their money together, to buy papa and mamma and Dinah and Sam someChristmas presents. Freddie and Flossie had not yet purchased thecologne and handkerchief before mentioned, and now it was decided to getMr. Bobbsey a new cravat, Mrs. Bobbsey a flower in a pot, Dinah a fancyapron, and Sam a pair of gloves. Nan and Bert made the purchases which,after being duly inspected by all, were hidden away in the garretstoreroom.
As the time for Christmas came on Flossie and Freddie grew very anxious,wanting to know if Santa Claus would be sure to come. Flossie inspectedthe chimney several times.
"It's a dreadfully small place and very dirty," said she. "I am afraidSanta Claus won't be able to get down with a very big load. And some ofhis things will get all mussed up."
"Santa Claus can spirit himself wherever he wants to, dear," said Mrs.Bobbsey, with a quiet smile.
"What do you mean by _spirit_ himself, mamma?"
"Never mind now, Flossie; you'll understand that when you grow older."
"Does mamma mean a ghost?" asked Flossie, later on, of Nan.
"No, Flossie; she means the part of a person that lives but can't beseen."
"Oh, I know," cried the child, brightening. "It's just like when aperson is good. Then they say it's the _spirit_ of goodness within him.I guess it's the good spirit of Santa Claus that can't be seen. But wecan feel it, can't we? and that's what's best."
On the day before Christmas the sitting-room door was closed and locked,so that none of the children might enter the room. Freddie was veryanxious to look through the keyhole, but Bert told him that wouldn't befair, so he stayed away.
"We are to hang up our stockings to-night," said Nan. "And mamma says wemust go to bed early, too."
"That's to give Santa Claus a chance to get around," said Freddie. "Papasaid so. He said Santa Claus had his hands more than full, with so manyboys and girls all over the world to take care of."
"Santa Claus must be a twin, just like you and me," said Flossie. "Maybehe's a twin a hundred times over."
At this Freddie roared. "What a funny twin that would be--with each onehaving the same name!"
The stockings were hung up with great care, and Freddie and Flossie madeup their minds to stay awake and watch Santa Claus at his work.
"Won't say a word when he comes," said the little boy. "Just peek out athim from under the covers." But alas! long before Santa Claus paid hisvisit that Christmas Eve both Freddie and Flossie were in dreamland,and so were Bert and Nan.
It was Flossie who was the first awake in the morning. For the momentafter she opened her eyes and sat up she could not remember why she hadawakened thus early. But it was for some reason, she was sure of that.
"Merry Christmas!" she burst out, all at once, and the cry awokeFreddie. "Merry Christmas!" he repeated. "Merry Christmas, ev'rybody!"he roared out, at the top of his lungs.
The last call awoke Nan and Bert, and before long all were scramblingout to see what the stockings might contain.
"Oh, I've got a doll!" shrieked Flossie, and brought forth a wonderfulaffair of paper.
"I have a jumping-jack!" came from Freddie, and he began to work the toyup and down in a most comical fashion.
There was some small gift for everybody and several apples and orangesbesides, and quantities of nuts in the stockings.
"We must get the presents for the others," whispered Nan to Bert and thesmaller twins, and soon all were dressed and bringing the things downfrom the storeroom.
It was a happy party that gathered in the dining room. "MerryChristmas!" said everybody to everybody else, and then Mr. Bobbsey, whowas in the sitting room, blew a horn and opened the folding doors.
There, on a large side stand, rested a beautiful Christmas tree, loadeddown with pretty ornaments and apples and candies, and with manyprettily colored candles. Around the bottom of the tree were four heapsof presents, one for each of the children.
"Oh, look at the big doll!" screamed Flossie, and caught the present upin her arms and kissed it.
"And look at my fireman's suit!" roared Freddie, and then, seeing atrumpet, he took it up and bellowed: "Bring up the engine! Play awaylively there!" just like a real fireman.
Bert had his books and other things, and under them was hidden a realbank book, showing that there had been deposited to his credit tendollars in the Lakeport Savings Bank. Nan had a similar bank book, andof these the twins were very, very proud. Bert felt as if he was trulygetting to be quite a business man.
"Oh! oh!" cried Nan, as she opened a big box that was at the bottom ofher pile of presents, and then the tears of joy stood in her eyes as shebrought forth the hoped-for set of furs. They were beautiful, and sosoft she could not resist brushing them against her cheek over and overagain.
"Oh, mamma, I think they are too lovely for anything!" she said, rushingup and kissing her parent. "I am sure no girl ever had such a nice setof furs before!"
"You must try to keep them nice, Nan," answered the mother.
"I shall take the very best of care of them," said Nan, and my readersmay be sure that she did.
"And now we have something for you, too," said Bert, and brought out thevarious articles. Flossie gave their mamma her present, and Freddie gavepapa what was coming to him. Then Nan gave Dinah the fancy apron andBert took Sam the new gloves.
"Well this is truly a surprise!" cried Mr. Bobbsey, as he inspected thecravat. "It is just what I need."
"And this flower is beautiful," said Mrs. Bobbsey as she smelt of thepotted plant. "It will bloom a long while, I am sure."
Dinah was tickled over the apron and Sam with his gloves.
"Yo' chillun am the sweetest in de world," said the cook.
"Dem globes am de werry t'ing I needed to keep ma hands warm," came fromSam.
It was fully an hour before the children felt like sitting down tobreakfast. Before they began the repast Mr. Bobbsey brought forth thefamily Bible and read the wonderful story of Christ's birth to them, andasked the blessing. All were almost too excited to eat.
After breakfast all must go out and show their presents to their friendsand see what the friends had received. It was truly a happy time. Thenall went coasting until lunch.
"The expressman is coming!" cried Bert a little later, and sure enoughhe drove up to the Bobbsey house with two boxes. One was from theirUncle Daniel Bobbsey, who lived at Meadow Brook, and the other fromtheir Uncle William Minturn, who lived at Ocean Cliff.
"More presents!" cried Nan, and she was right. Uncles and aunts had senteach something; and the twins were made happier than ever.
"Oh, but Christmas is just the best day in the whole year," said Bertthat evening, after the eventful day was over.
"Wish Christmas would come ev'ry week," said Freddie. "Wouldn't it be_beau_tiful?"
"If it did I'm afraid the presents wouldn't reach," sai
d Mrs. Bobbsey,and then took him and Flossie off to bed.
The Bobbsey Twins Page 14
