Little Prudy's Sister Susy

aze: all the gas-burners were lighted, and so were everybody's eyes. If one had listened, one might have heard, from out of doors, a joyful tinkling of sleigh-bells

re opened, just like the two covers to a Christmas fairy book. Th

and round as winter apples, and where there wasn't a wrinkle there was a dimple; and no doubt there was a dimple in his chin,

nce most affectionately, and you could see that his antiquated coat-sleeves were bristling with toys and glistening with

oat; but when he had found his voice, which at first was

CH OF SA

ta wasn't a-comin', my dears? Did your grandpas and grandmas say, 'Humph! there isn't any such a person.'

; but Prudy whispered, "O, don't he look old all over? What has

ver! But bless your sweet little hearts, I've had a terrible time getting here! The wind has been blowin' me up as

h Pole! This is the very first time the storms have come so heavy as to cover over the end

al shivery night, too! Got so broke up, there

lieve me, over there in Iceland somebody forgot to clear out the chimney, and there I st

me,' says I; 'and I've caught you napping this time!' She helped me out, and when I had caught my breath, I climbed out the window; but, deary me, I shou

d, "I guess he must have bumped his nose

t and dickey; but then, thinks I, I'll come just as I am! I patted myself on the shoulder, and says I, 'Santa Claus, don't you fret if you are growin' old! You may look a little dried up, but your heart isn't wrinkl

pping and

y pockets are running over. I've been preparing presents for y

may have it for nothing; and they are cheap

've got more nuts than you can shake a hammer at; but I think there's more bark to 'em than t

he, 'Now, Santa, my love, do you hurry back to fill my children's stockings before the clock strikes t

ll round, but can't stop. (Kisses his hand and bows.

isappeared at the hall door, drop

the front parlor without any mask, and of course i

g out presents. Prudy seized her

aid she; "just like a lit

l which "would be alive if it could talk." They all had gifts as well as Prudy, and wished to talk rather than to listen. They asked qu

surprised out of their good manners on Christmas evenings, and mu

went through with a whole stanza of i

unto old

life le

more good u

y a crow

!" cried aunt Madge

ooked at it?" said Mrs. Parlin;

e in Susy, at the

ody please notice my drum? If you won't lo

tion, they all had to hear "Dixie" pounded out in t

tweet," whistled the little musical inst

dge; "I am bewildered; my head i

uted Mr. Par

't you try to preserve order? My nerves are strung up like violin-strings! I've go

aid grandma Read, smiling. "Thee and litt

the Quaker cap over her smiling face, and stole off into her own chamber, where

r. Parlin, who had a beautiful dressing-gown to be grateful for, nevertheless found time to tell Susy, over and over again, how delighted he was with her b

Susy; "one is to stay in the middle, at the births and marriages;

aunt Madge, kissing Susy; "every bit as p

or aunt Madge, and something for everybody else but Susy. Not that she forgot

sticking fast to the sole of my new

when she could not stop to find any wrapping-paper. "It isn't so big as it was, but it's the biggest piece

y's candy had not spoiled

s Prudy, she was just as happy. For one thing, she had what she had not dreamed

t it, said, coolly, "O, ho! it smells 's if it didn't

o break several toys, all of which happened to be Sus

remembered; but the most rema

lin, "have you been wondering why

nly expected something hands

nt I have chosen wouldn't sit very well on the s

ouldn't it have b

t Madge; "she isn't t

shining with excitement, "why c

eed, to tell the truth, my child, i

zed to tell you it's something you mustn't take in your lap, mustn't hang on a nail; if you do

you'd make sport of Freddy Jackson! If you was a littl

dancing about the room; "w

O, Prudy, to-morrow morning! Only think of to-morrow morning I All my other present