The Birds' Christmas Carol ...............................................................................................................................1

Kate Douglas Wiggin ...............................................................................................................................1

I. A LITTLE SNOW BIRD.....................................................................................................................1

II. DROOPING WINGS..........................................................................................................................3

III. THE BIRD'S NEST...........................................................................................................................5

IV. "BIRDS OF A FEATHER FLOCK TOGETHER."..........................................................................7

V. SOME OTHER BIRDS ARE TAUGHT TO FLY...........................................................................10

VI. "WHEN THE PIE WAS OPENED, THE BIRDS BEGAN TO SING!"........................................14

VII. THE BIRDLING FLIES AWAY. ..................................................................................................18

It was very early Christmas morning, and in the stillness of the dawn, with the soft snow falling on the

They had intended to name the baby Lucy, if it were a girl; but they hadn't expected her on Christmas

morning, and a real Christmas baby was not to be lightly namedthe whole family agreed in that.

They were consulting about it in the nursery. Mr. Bird said that he had assisted in naming the three boys, and

that he should leave this matter entirely to Mrs. Bird; Donald wanted the child called "Maud," after a pretty

little curlyhaired girl who sat next him in school; Paul chose "Luella," for Luella was the nurse who had

been with him during his whole babyhood, up to the time of his first trousers, and the name suggested all

sorts of comfortable things. Uncle Jack said that the first girl should always be named for her mother, no

Grandma said that she would prefer not to take any part in the discussion, and everybody suddenly

remembered that Mrs. Bird had thought of naming the baby Lucy, for Grandma herself; and, while it would

be indelicate for her to favor that name, it would be against human nature for her to suggest any other, under

Hugh, the "hitherto baby," if that is a possible term, sat in one corner and said nothing, but felt, in some

mysterious way, that his nose was out of joint; for there was a newer baby now, a possibility he had never

taken into consideration; and the "first girl," too, a still higher development of treason, which made him

But it was too profound a subject to be settled then and there, on the spot; besides, Mama had not been asked,

and everybody felt it rather absurd, after all, to forestall a decree that was certain to be absolutely wise, just

The reason that the subject had been brought up at all so early in the day lay in the fact that Mrs. Bird never

allowed her babies to go over night unnamed. She was a person of so great decision of character that she

would have blushed at such a thing; she said that to let blessed babies go dangling and dawdling about

without names, for months and months, was enough to ruin them for life. She also said that if one could not

make up one's mind in twentyfour hours it was a sign thatbut I will not repeat the rest, as it might

So Donald took his new velocipede and went out to ride up and down the stone pavement and notch the shins

of innocent people as they passed by, while Paul spun his musical top on the front steps.

But Hugh refused to leave the scene of action. He seated himself on the top stair in the hall, banged his head

against the railing a few times, just by way of uncorking the vials of his wrath, and then subsided into gloomy

silence, waiting to declare war if more "first girl babies" were thrust upon a family already surfeited with that

Meanwhile dear Mrs. Bird lay in her room, weak, but safe and happy with her sweet girl baby by her side and

the heaven of motherhood opening before her. Nurse was making gruel in the kitchen, and the room was dim

and quiet. There was a cheerful open fire in the grate, but though the shutters were closed, the side windows

Suddenly a sound of music poured out into the bright air and drifted into the chamber. It was the boychoir

singing Christmas anthems. Higher and higher rose the clear, fresh voices, full of hope and cheer, as

children's voices always are. Fuller and fuller grew the burst of melody as one glad strain fell upon another in

Mrs. Bird thought, as the music floated in upon her gentle sleep, that she had slipped into heaven with her

new baby, and that the angels were bidding them welcome. But the tiny bundle by her side stirred a little, and

though it was scarcely more than the ruffling of a feather, she awoke; for the motherear is so close to the

She opened her eyes and drew the baby closer. It looked like a rose dipped in milk, she thought, this pink and

white blossom of girlhood, or like a pink cherub, with its halo of pale yellow hair, finer than floss silk.

"Why, my baby," whispered Mrs. Bird in soft surprise, "I had forgotten what day it was. You are a little

"Why, Donald, don't you think 'Carol' is a sweet name for a Christmas baby? It came to me just a moment

"I think it is a charming name, dear heart, and that it sounds just like you, and I hope that, being a girl, this

baby has some chance of being as lovely as her mother," at which speech from the baby's papa, Mrs. Bird,

Of course, it was thought foolish by many people, though Uncle Jack declared laughingly that it was very

strange if a whole family of Birds could not be indulged in a single Carol; and Grandma, who adored the

child, thought the name much more appropriate than Lucy, but was glad that people would probably think it

Perhaps because she was born in holiday time, Carol was a very happy baby. Of course, she was too tiny to

understand the joy of Christmastide, but people say there is everything in a good beginning, and she may

have breathedin unconsciously the fragrance of evergreens and holiday dinners; while the peals of

sleighbells and the laughter of happy children may have fallen upon her baby ears and wakened in them a

Her cheeks and lips were as red as holly berries; her hair was for all the world the color of a Christmas

candleflame; her eyes were bright as stars; her laugh like a chime of Christmas bells, and her tiny hands

Such a generous little creature you never saw! A spoonful of bread and milk had always to be taken by Mama

or nurse before Carol could enjoy her supper; and whatever bit of cake or sweetmeat found its way into her

pretty fingers, it was straightway broken in half and shared with Donald, Paul or Hugh; and, when they made

believe nibble the morsel with affected enjoyment, she would clap her hands and crow with delight. "Why

does she do it?" asked Donald, thoughtfully; "None of us boys ever did." "I hardly know," said Mama,

catching her darling to her heart, "except that she is a little Christmas child, and so she has a tiny share of the

It was December, ten years later. Carol had seen nine Christmas trees lighted on her birthdays, one after

another; nine times she had assisted in the holiday festivities of the household, though in her babyhood her

For five years, certainly, she had hidden presents for Mama and Papa in their own bureau drawers, and

harbored a number of secrets sufficiently large to burst a baby's brain, had it not been for the relief gained by

whispering them all to Mama, at night, when she was in her crib, a proceeding which did not in the least

For five years she had heard "'Twas the night before Christmas," and hung up a scarlet stocking many sizes

too large for her, and pinned a sprig of holly on her little white night gown, to show Santa Claus that she was

a "truly" Christmas child, and dreamed of furcoated saints and toypacks and reindeer, and wished

everybody a "Merry Christmas" before it was light in the morning, and lent every one of her new toys to the

neighbors' children before noon, and eaten turkey and plum pudding, and gone to bed at night in a trance of

Donald was away at college now. Paul and Hugh were great manly fellows, taller than their mother. Papa

Bird had grey hairs in his whiskers; and Grandma, God bless her, had been four Christmases in heaven. But

Christmas in the Birds' Nest was scarcely as merry now as it used to be in the bygone years, for the little child

that once brought such an added blessing to the day, lay, month after month, a patient, helpless invalid, in the

She had never been very strong in body, and it was with a pang of terror her mother and father noticed, soon

after she was five years old, that she began to limp, ever so slightly; to complain too often of weariness, and

to nestle close to her mother, saying she "would rather not go out to play, please." The illness was slight at

first, and hope was always stirring in Mrs. Bird's heart. "Carol would feel stronger in the summertime;" or,

"She would be better when she had spent a year in the country;" or, "She would outgrow it;" or, "They would

try a new physician;" but by and by it came to be all too sure that no physician save One could make Carol

strong again, and that no "summertime" nor "country air," unless it were the everlasting summertime in a

The cheeks and lips that were once as red as hollyberries faded to faint pink; the starlike eyes grew softer,

for they often gleamed through tears; and the gay childlaugh, that had been like a chime of Christmas bells,

gave place to a smile so lovely, so touching, so tender and patient, that it filled every corner of the house with

a gentle radiance that might have come from the face of the Christchild himself.

Love could do nothing; and when we have said that we have said all, for it is stronger than anything else in

the whole wide world. Mr. and Mrs. Bird were talking it over one evening when all the children were asleep.

A famous physician had visited them that day, and told them that sometime, it might be in one year, it might

"Dear heart," said Mr. Bird, pacing up and down the library floor, "it is no use to shut our eyes to it any

longer; Carol will never be well again. It almost seems as if I could not bear it when I think of that loveliest

child doomed to lie there day after day, and, what is still more, to suffer pain that we are helpless to keep

away from her. Merry Christmas, indeed; it gets to be the saddest day in the year to me!" and poor Mr. Bird

sank into a chair by the table, and buried his face in his hands, to keep his wife from seeing the tears that

would come in spite of all his efforts. "But, Donald, dear," said sweet Mrs. Bird, with trembling voice,

"Christmas day may not be so merry with us as it used, but it is very happy, and that is better, and very

blessed, and that is better yet. I suffer chiefly for Carol's sake, but I have almost given up being sorrowful for

my own. I am too happy in the child, and I see too clearly what she has done for us and for our boys."

"That's true, bless her sweet heart," said Mr. Bird; "she has been better than a daily sermon in the house ever

"Yes, Donald and Paul and Hugh were three strong, willful, boisterous boys, but you seldom see such

tenderness, devotion, thought for others and selfdenial in lads of their years. A quarrel or a hot word is

almost unknown in this house. Why? Carol would hear it, and it would distress her, she is so full of love and

Why? Partly, at least, because they like to teach Carol, and amuse her by telling her what they read. When the

seamstress comes, she likes to sew in Miss Carol's room, because there she forgets her own troubles, which,

Heaven knows, are sore enough! And as for me, Donald, I am a better woman every day for Carol's sake; I

have to be her eyes, ears, feet, handsher strength, her hope; and she, my own little child, is my example!"

"I was wrong, dear heart," said Mr. Bird more cheerfully; "we will try not to repine, but to rejoice instead,

"And as for her future," Mrs. Bird went on, "I think we need not be overanxious. I feel as if she did not

belong altogether to us, and when she has done what God sent her for, He will take her back to Himselfand

it may not be very long!" Here it was poor Mrs. Bird's turn to break down, and Mr. Bird's turn to comfort her.

Carol herself knew nothing of motherly tears and fatherly anxieties; she lived on peacefully in the room

But you never would have known that room; for Mr. Bird had a great deal of money, and though he felt

sometimes as if he wanted to throw it all in the ocean, since it could not buy a strong body for his little girl,

yet he was glad to make the place she lived in just as beautiful as it could be made.

The room had been extended by the building of a large addition that hung out over the garden below, and was

so filled with windows that it might have been a conservatory. The ones on the side were thus still nearer the

little Church of our Saviour than they used to be; those in front looked out on the beautiful harbor, and those

in the back commanded a view of nothing in particular but a little alleynevertheless, they were pleasantest

of all to Carol, for the Ruggles family lived in the alley, and the nine little, middlesized and big Ruggles

The shutters could all be opened and Carol could take a real sunbath in this lovely glasshouse, or they

could all be closed when the dear head ached or the dear eyes were tired. The carpet was of soft grey, with

clusters of green bay and holly leaves. The furniture was of white wood, on which an artist had painted snow

scenes and Christmas trees and groups of merry children ringing bells and singing carols.

Donald had made a pretty, polished shelf and screwed it on to the outside of the footboard, and the boys

always kept this full of blooming plants, which they changed from time to time; the headboard, too, had a

Lovebirds and canaries hung in their golden houses in the windows, and they, poor caged things, could hop

as far from their wooden perches as Carol could venture from her little white bed.

On one side of the room was a bookcase filled with hundredsyes, I mean itwith hundreds and hundreds

of books; books with gaycolored pictures, books without; books with black and white outlinesketches,

books with none at all; books with verses, books with stories, books that made children laugh, and some that

made them cry; books with words of one syllable for tiny boys and girls, and books with words of fearful

This was Carol's "Circulating Library." Every Saturday she chose ten books, jotting their names down in a

Then Mrs. Bird stepped into her carriage, and took the ten books to the Childrens' Hospital, and brought

This was a source of great happiness; for some of the Hospital children that were old enough to print or write,

and were strong enough to do it, wrote Carol cunning little letters about the books, and she answered them,

and they grew to be friends. (It is very funny, but you do not always have to see people to love them. Just

There was a high wainscoting of wood about the room, and on top of this, in a narrow gilt framework, ran a

row of illuminated pictures, illustrating fairy tales, all in dull blue and gold and scarlet and silver and other

lovely colors. From the door to the closet there was the story of "The Fair One with Golden Locks;" from

closet to bookcase, ran "Puss in Boots;" from bookcase to fireplace, was "Jack the Giantkiller;" and on the

other side of the room were "Hop o' my Thumb," "The Sleeping Beauty," and "Cinderella."

Then there was a great closet full of beautiful things to wearbut they were all dressinggowns and slippers

and shawls; and there were drawers full of toys and games; but they were such as you could play with on

your lap. There were no ninepins, nor balls, nor bows and arrows, nor bean bags, nor tennis rackets; but, after

all, other children needed these more than Carol Bird, for she was always happy and contented whatever she

had or whatever she lacked; and after the room had been made so lovely for her, on her eighth Christmas, she

On these particular December days she was happier than usual, for Uncle Jack was coming from Europe to

spend the holidays. Dear, funny, jolly, loving, wise Uncle Jack, who came every two or three years, and

brought so much joy with him that the world looked as black as a thundercloud for a week after he went

"LONDON, Nov. 28th, 188. Wish you merry Christmas, you dearest birdlings in America! Preen your

feathers, and stretch the Birds' nest a little, if you please, and let Uncle Jack in for the holidays. I am coming

with such a trunk full of treasures that you'll have to borrow the stockings of Barnum's Giant and Giantess; I

am coming to squeeze a certain little ladybird until she cries for mercy; I am coming to see if I can find a

boy to take care of a little black pony I bought lately. It's the strangest thing I ever knew; I've hunted all over

Europe, and can't find a boy to suit me! I'll tell you why. I've set my heart on finding one with a dimple in his

chin, because this pony particularly likes dimples! ['Hurrah!' cried Hugh; 'bless my dear dimple; I'll never be

ashamed of it again.'] Please drop a note to the clerk of the weather, and have a good, rousing

snowstormsay on the twentysecond. None of your meek, gentle, nonsensical, shillyshallying

snowstorms; not the sort where the flakes float lazily down from the sky as if they didn't care whether they

ever got here or not, and then melt away as soon as they touch the earth, but a regular businesslike

whizzing, whirring, blurring, cutting snowstorm, warranted to freeze and stay on!

I should like rather a LARGE Christmas tree, if it's convenient not one of those 'sprigs,' five or six feet

high, that you used to have three or four years ago, when the birdlings were not fairly feathered out, but a tree

of some size. Set it up in the garret, if necessary, and then we can cut a hole in the roof if the tree chances to

Tell Bridget to begin to fatten a turkey. Tell her by the twentieth of December that turkey must not be able to

stand on its legs for fat, and then on the next three days she must allow it to recline easily on its side, and

stuff it to bursting. (One ounce of stuffing beforehand is worth a pound afterwards.)

The pudding must be unusually huge, and darkly, deeply, lugubriously black in color. It must be stuck so full

of plums that the pudding itself will ooze out into the pan and not be brought on to the table at all. I expect to

be there by the twentieth, to manage these little thingsremembering it is the early Bird that catches the

And Carol must decide on the size of the treeshe knows best, she was a Christmas child; and she must

plead for the snowstormthe 'clerk of the weather' may pay some attention to her; and she must look up the

boy with the dimple for meshe's likelier to find him than I am, this minute. She must advise about the

turkey, and Bridget must bring the pudding to her bedside and let her drop every separate plum into it and stir

it once for luck, or I'll not eat a single slicefor Carol is the dearest part of Christmas to Uncle Jack, and

he'll have none of it without her. She is better than all the turkeys and puddings and apples and spareribs and

wreaths and garlands and mistletoe and stockings and chimneys and sleighbells in Christendom. She is the

very sweetest Christmas Carol that was ever written, said, sung or chanted, and I am coming, as fast as ships

Carol's joy knew no bounds. Mr. and Mrs. Bird laughed like children and kissed each other for sheer delight,

and when the boys heard it they simply whooped like wild Indians, until the Ruggles family, whose back yard

joined their garden, gathered at the door and wondered what was "up" in the big house.

Uncle Jack did really come on the twentieth. He was not detained by business, nor did he get left behind nor

snowed up, as frequently happens in stories, and in real life too, I am afraid. The snowstorm came also; and

the turkey nearly died a natural and premature death from overeating. Donald came, too; Donald, with a line

of down upon his upper lip, and Greek and Latin on his tongue, and stores of knowledge in his handsome

head, and storiesbless me, you couldn't turn over a chip without reminding Donald of something that

One or the other was always at Carol's bedside, for they fancied her paler than she used to be, and they could

not bear her out of sight. It was Uncle lack, though, who sat beside her in the winter twilights. The room was

quiet, and almost dark, save for the snowlight outside, and the flickering flame of the fire, that danced over

the "Sleeping Beauty's" face, and touched the Fair One's golden locks with ruddier glory. Carol's hand (all too

thin and white these latter days) lay close clasped in Uncle Jack's, and they talked together quietly of many,

many things. "I want to tell you all about my plans for Christmas this year, Uncle Jack," said Carol, on the

first evening of his visit, "because it will be the loveliest one I ever had. The boys laugh at me for caring so

much about it; but it isn't altogether because it is Christmas nor because it is my birthday; but long, long ago,

when I first began to be ill, I used to think, the first thing when I waked on Christmas morning, 'Today is

Christ's birthdayAND MINE!' I did not put the words close together, because that made it seem too bold

but I first thought, 'Christ's birthday,' and then, in a minute, softly to myselfAND MINE!' 'Christ's

birthdayAND MINE!' And so I do not quite feel about Christmas as other girls do. Mama says she

supposes that ever so many other children have been born on that day. I often wonder where they are, Uncle

Jack, and whether it is a dear thought to them, too, or whether I am so much in bed, and so often alone, that it

means more to me. Oh, I do hope that none of them are poor, or cold, or hungry; and I wish, I wish they were

all as happy as I, because they are my little brothers and sisters. Now, Uncle Jack, dear, I am going to try and

make somebody happy every single Christmas that I live, and this year it is to be the 'Ruggleses in the rear.'"

"That large and interesting brood of children in the little house at the end of the back garden?"

"Yes; isn't it nice to see so many together? We ought to call them the Ruggles children, of course; but Donald

began talking of them as the 'Ruggleses in the rear,' and Papa and Mama took it up, and now we cannot seem

to help it. The house was built for Mr. Carter's coachman, but Mr. Carter lives in Europe, and the gentleman

who rents his place doesn't care what happens to it, and so this poor Irish family came to live there. When

they first moved in, I used to sit in my window and watch them play in their backyard; they are so strong, and

jolly, and goodnatured; and then, one day, I had a terrible headache, and Donald asked them if they would

please not scream quite so loud, and they explained that they were having a game of circus, but that they

"Yes, we all thought it very funny, and I smiled at them from the window when I was well enough to be up

again. Now, Sarah Maud comes to her door when the children come home from school, and if Mama nods

her head, 'Yes,' that means 'Carol is very well,' and then you ought to hear the little Ruggleses yellI believe

they try to see how much noise they can make; but if Mama shakes her head, 'No,' they always play at quiet

games. Then, one day, 'Cary,' my pet canary, flew out of her cage, and Peter Ruggles caught her and brought

"No; Sarah Maud is the oldestshe helps do the washing; and Peter is the next. He is a dressmaker's boy."

"No," laughed Carol, "the others are Susan, and Clement, and Eily, and Cornelius."

"Well, I have what I call a 'windowschool.' It is too cold now; but in warm weather I am wheeled out on my

little balcony, and the Ruggleses climb up and walk along our garden fence, and sit down on the roof of our

carriagehouse. That brings them quite near, and I read to them and tell them stories; On Thanksgiving Day

they came up for a few minutes, it was quite warm at eleven o'clock, and we told each other what we had to

be thankful for; but they gave such queer answers that Papa had to run away for fear of laughing; and I

couldn't understand them very well. Susan was thankful for 'TRUNKS,' of all things in the world; Cornelius,

for 'horse cars;' Kitty, for 'pork steak;' while Clem, who is very quiet, brightened up when I came to him, and

"That's what Mama said. Now I'm going to give this whole Christmas to the Ruggleses; and, Uncle Jack, I

"Well, you see, it could not be my own, own Christmas if Papa gave me all the money, and I thought to really

keep Christ's birthday I ought to do something of my very own; and so I talked with Mama. Of course she

thought of something lovely; she always does; Mama's head is just brimming over with lovely thoughts, and

all I have to do is ask, and out pops the very one I want. This thought was, to let her write down, just as I told

her, a description of how a little girl lived in her own room three years, and what she did to amuse herself;

"Well, well," cried Uncle Jack, "my little girl a real author! And what are you going to do with this wonderful

"I shall give the nine Ruggleses a grand Christmas dinner here in this very roomthat will be Papa's

contribution, and afterwards a beautiful Christmas tree, fairly blooming with presentsthat will be my part;

for I have another way of adding to my twentyfive dollars, so that I can buy everything I like. I should like it

very much if you would sit at the head of the table, Uncle Jack, for nobody could ever be frightened of you,

you dearest, dearest, dearest thing that ever was! Mama is going to help us, but Papa and the boys are going

to eat together down stairs for fear of making the little Ruggleses shy; and after we've had a merry time with

the tree we can open my window and all listen together to the music at the evening churchservice, if it

comes before the children go. I have written a letter to the organist, and asked him if I might have the two

"BIRDS NEST, Dec. 21st, 188. DEAR MR. WILKIE, I am the little sick girl who lives next door to the

church, and, as I seldom go out, the music on practice days and Sundays is one of my greatest pleasures.

I want to know if you can let the boys sing 'Carol, brothers, carol,' on Christmas night, and if the one who

sings 'My ain countree' so beautifully may please sing that too. I think it is the loveliest song in the world, but

If it isn't too much trouble, I hope they can sing them both quite early, as after ten o'clock I may be asleep.

P.S.The reason I like 'Carol, brothers, carol,' is because the choirboys sang it eleven years ago, the

morning I was born, and put it into Mama's head to call me Carol. She didn't remember then that my other

name would be Bird, because she was half asleep, and couldn't think of but one thing at a time. Donald says if

I had been born on the Fourth of July they would have named me 'Independence,' or if on the twentysecond

of February, 'Georgina,' or even 'Cherry,' like Cherry in Martin Chuzzlewit; but I like my own name and

Uncle Jack thought the letter quite right, and did not even smile at her telling the organist so many family

items. The days flew by, as they always fly in holiday time, and it was Christmas eve before anybody knew

it. The family festival was quiet and very pleasant, but quite swallowed up in the grander preparations for

next day. Carol and Elfrida, her pretty German nurse, had ransacked books, and introduced so many plans,

and plays, and customs and merrymakings from Germany, and Holland, and England anda dozen other

places, that you would scarcely have known how or where you were keeping Christmas. The dog and the cat

had enjoyed their celebration under Carol's direction. Each had a tiny table with a lighted candle in the center,

and a bit of Bologna sausage placed very near it, and everybody laughed till the tears stood in their eyes to

see Villikins and Dinah struggle to nibble the sausages, and at the same time evade the candle flame.

Villikins barked, and sniffed, and howled in impatience, and after many vain attempts succeeded in dragging

off the prize, though he singed his nose in doing it. Dinah, meanwhile, watched him placidly, her delicate

nostrils quivering with expectation, and, after all excitement had subsided, walked with dignity to the table,

her beautiful gray satin tail sweeping behind her, and, calmly putting up one velvet paw, drew the sausage

gently down, and walked out of the room without "turning a hair," so to speak. Elfrida had scattered handfuls

of seeds over the snow in the garden, that the wild birds might have a comfortable breakfast next morning,

and had stuffed bundles of dried grasses in the fireplaces, so that the reindeer of Santa Claus could refresh

themselves after their long gallops across country. This was really only done for fun, but it pleased Carol.

And when, after dinner, the whole family had gone to church to see the Christmas decorations, Carol limped

wearily out on her little crutches, and, with Elfrida's help, placed all the family boots in a row in the upper

hall. That was to keep the dear ones from quarreling all through the year. There were Papa's stout top boots;

Mama's pretty buttoned shoes next; then Uncle Jack's, Donald's, Paul's and Hugh's; and at the end of the line

her own little white worsted slippers. Last, and sweetest of all, like the little children in Austria, she put a

lighted candle in her window to guide the dear Christchild, lest he should stumble in the dark night as he

passed up the deserted street. This done, she dropped into bed, a rather tired, but very happy Christmas fairy.

Before the earliest Ruggles could wake and toot his fivecent tin horn, Mrs. Ruggles was up and stirring

about the house, for it was a gala day in the family. Gala day! I should think so! Were not her nine "childern"

invited to a dinnerparty at the great house, and weren't they going to sit down free and equal with the

mightiest in the land? She had been preparing for this grand occasion ever since the receipt of the invitation,

which, by the way, had been speedily enshrined in an old photograph frame and hung under the

lookingglass in the most prominent place in the kitchen, where it stared the occasional visitor directly in the

DEAR MRS. RUGGLES, I am going to have a dinnerparty on Christmas day, and would like to have all

your children come. I want them every one, please, from Sarah Maud to Baby Larry. Mama says dinner will

be at halfpast five, and the Christmas tree at seven; so you may expect them home at nine o'clock. Wishing

Breakfast was on the table promptly at seven o'clock, and there was very little of it, too; for it was an

excellent day for short rations, though Mrs. Ruggles heaved a sigh as she reflected that even the boys, with

their Indiarubber stomachs, would be just as hungry the day after the dinnerparty as if they had never had

As soon as the scanty meal was over, she announced the plan of the campaign: "Now Susan, you an' Kitty

wash up the dishes; an' Peter, can't you spread up the beds, so't I can git ter cuttin' out Larry's new suit? I ain't

satisfied with his close, an' I thought in the night of a way to make him a dress out of my old plaid

shawlkind o' Scotch style, yer know. You other boys clear out from under foot! Clem, you and Con hop

into bed with Larry while I wash yer underflannins; 'twont take long to dry 'em. Sarah Maud, I think 'twould

be perfeckly han'som if you ripped them brass buttons off yer uncle's policeman's coat an' sewed 'em in a row

up the front o' yer green skirt. Susan, you must iron out yours an' Kitty's apurns; an' there, I came mighty near

forgettin' Peory's stockin's! I counted the whole lot last night when I was washin' of 'em, an' there ain't but

nineteen anyhow yer fix 'em, an' no nine pairs mates nohow; an' I ain't goin' ter have my childern wear odd

stockin's to a dinnercomp'ny, brought up as I was! Eily, can't you run out and ask Mis' Cullen ter lend me a

pair o' stockin's for Peory, an' tell her if she will, Peory'll give Jim half her candy when she gets home. Won't

Peoria was young and greedy, and thought the remedy so much worse than the disease that she set up a

deafening howl at the projected bargaina howl so rebellious and so out of all season that her mother started

in her direction with flashing eye and uplifted hand; but she let it fall suddenly, saying, "No, I won't lick ye

Christmas day, if yer drive me crazy; but speak up smart, now, 'n say whether yer'd ruther give Tim Cullen

half yer candy or go barelegged ter the party?" The matter being put so plainly, Peoria collected her

faculties, dried her tears and chose the lesser evil, Clem having hastened the decision by an affectionate wink,

"That's a lady;" cried her mother. "Now, you young ones that ain't doin' nothin', play all yer want ter before

noontime, for after ye git through eatin' at twelve o'clock me 'n Sarah Maud's goin' ter give yer such a washin'

an' combin' an' dressin' as yer never had before an' never will agin, an' then I'm goin' to set yer down an' give

"Well, that's enough," responded his mother; "there's more 'n one way of eatin', let me tell yer, an' you've got

a heap ter learn about it, Peter Ruggles. Lord sakes, I wish you childern could see the way I was fetched up to

eatnever took a meal o' vittles in the kitchen before I married Ruggles; but yer can't keep up that style with

The big Ruggleses worked so well, and the little Ruggleses kept from "under foot" so successfully, that by

one o'clock nine complete toilets were laid out in solemn grandeur on the beds. I say, "complete;" but I do not

know whether they would be called so in the best society. The law of compensation had been well applied; he

that had necktie had no cuffs; she that had sash had no handkerchief, and vice versa; but they all had boots

and a certain amount of clothing, such as it was, the outside layer being in every case quite above criticism.

"Now, Sarah Maud," said Mrs. Ruggles, her face shining with excitement, "everything is red up an' we can

begin. I've got a boiler 'n a kettle 'n a pot o' hot water. Peter, you go into the back bedroom, an' I'll take Susan,

Kitty, Peory an' Cornelius; an' Sarah Maud, you take Clem, 'n Eily, 'n Larry, one to a time, an' git as fur as

Sarah Maud couldn't have scrubbed with any more decision and force if she had been doing floors, and the

little Ruggleses bore it bravely, not from natural heroism, but for the joy that was set before them. Not being

satisfied, however, with the "tone" of their complexions, she wound up operations by applying a little Bristol

brick from the knifeboard, which served as the proverbial "last straw," from under which the little

Ruggleses issued rather red and raw and out of temper. When the clock struck three they were all clothed, and

most of them in their right minds, ready for those last touches that always take the most time. Kitty's red hair

was curled in thirtyfour ringlets, Sarah Maud's was braided in one pigtail, and Susan's and Eily's in two

braids apiece, while Peoria's resisted all advances in the shape of hair oils and stuck out straight on all sides,

like that of the Circassian girl of the circusso Clem said; and he was sent into the bedroom for it too, from

whence he was dragged out forgivingly by Peoria herself, five minutes later. Thenexciting momentcame

linen collars for some and neckties and bows for others, and Eureka! the Ruggleses were dressed, and

Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed like one of these! A row of seats was formed directly through the

middle of the kitchen. There were not quite chairs enough for ten, since the family had rarely all wanted to sit

down at once, somebody always being out, or in bed, but the wood box and the coalhod finished out the line

nicely. The children took their places according to age, Sarah Maud at the head and Larry on the coalhod,

and Mrs. Ruggles seated herself in front, surveying them proudly as she wiped the sweat of honest toil from

"Well," she exclaimed, "if I do say so as shouldn't, I never see a cleaner, more stylish mess o' childern in my

life! I do wish Ruggles could look at ye for a minute! Now, I've of 'en told ye what kind of a family the

McGrills was. I've got some reason to be proud; your uncle is on the police force o' New York city; you can

take up the newspaper most any day an' see his name printed right outJames McGrill, and I can't have my

childern fetched up common, like some folks. When they go out they've got to have close, and learn ter act

decent! Now, I want ter see how yer goin' to behave when yer git there tonight. Let's start in at the beginnin'

'n act out the whole business. Pile into the bedroom, there, every last one of ye, an' show me how yer goin'

ter go in't the parlor. This'll be the parlor 'n I'll be Mis' Bird." The youngsters hustled into the next room in

high glee, and Mrs. Ruggles drew herself up in her chair with an infinitely haughty and purseproud

expression that much better suited a descendant of the McGrills than modest Mrs. Bird. The bedroom was

small, and there presently ensued such a clatter that you would have thought a herd of wild cattle had broken

loose; the door opened, and they straggled in, all the little ones giggling, with Sarah Maud at the head,

looking as if she had been caught in the act of stealing sheep; while Larry, being last in line, seemed to think

the door a sort of gate of heaven which would be shut in his face if he didn't get there in time; accordingly he

struggled ahead of his elders and disgraced himself by tumbling in head foremost.

Mrs. Ruggles looked severe. "There, I knew yer'd do it in some sech foolway,try it agin 'n if Larry can't

The matter began to assume a graver aspect; the little Ruggleses stopped giggling and backed into the

bedroom, issuing presently with lock step, Indian file, a scared and hunted expression in every countenance.

"No, no, no!" cried Mrs. Ruggles, in despair; "Yer look for all the world like a gang o' pris'ners; there ain't no

style ter that; spread out more, can't yer, an' act kind o' careless likenobody's goin' ter kill ye!" The third

time brought deserved success, and the pupils took their seats in the row. "Now, yer know," said Mrs.

Ruggles, "there ain't enough decent hats to go round, an' if there was I don' know 's I'd let yer wear 'em, for

the boys would never think to take 'em off when they got insidebut, anyhow, there ain't enough good ones.

Now, look me in the eye. You needn't wear no hats, none of yer, en' when yer get int' the parlor 'n they ask

yer ter lay off yer hats, Sarah Maud must speak up an' say it was sech a pleasant evenin' an' sech a short walk

"What have you got ter do with it," demanded their mother; "did I tell YOU to say it! Wasn't I talkin' ter

Sarah Maud?" The little Ruggleses hung their diminished heads. "Yes, marm," they piped, more feebly.

"Ma thoughtit wassech a pleasant hat that we'dwe'd better leave our short walk to home," recited

"Oh, whatever shall I do with ye?" moaned the unhappy mother; "I suppose I've got to learn it to yer!" which

she did, word for word, until Sarah Maud thought she could stand on her head and say it backwards.

"Well, ye ain't goin' to set there like a bump on a log 'thout sayin' a word ter pay for yer vittles, air ye? Ask

Mis' Bird how she's feelin' this evenin', or if Mr. Bird's havin' a busy season, or somethin' like that. Now we'll

make b'lieve we've got ter the dinnerthat won't be so hard, 'cause yer'll have somethin' to doit's awful

bothersome ter stan' round an' act stylish. If they have napkins, Sarah Maud down to Peory may put 'em in

their laps 'n the rest of ye can tuck 'em in yer necks. Don't eat with yer fingersdon't grab no vittles off one

'nother's plates; don't reach out for nothin', but wait till yer asked, 'n if yer never GIT asked don't git up and

grab itdon't spill nothin' on the table cloth, or like's not Mis' Bird 'll send yer away from the table. Now

we'll try a few things ter see how they'll go! Mr. Clement, do you eat cramb'ry sarse?"

"Bet yer life!" cried Clem, who, not having taken in the idea exactly, had mistaken this for an ordinary family

"Clement Ruggles, do you mean to tell me that you'd say that to a dinner party? I'll give ye one more chance.

"I ain't particler as ter coloranything that nobody else wants will suit me," answered Peter with his best air.

"First rate! nobody could speak more genteel than that. Miss Kitty, will you have hard or soft sarse with your

"A little of both if you please, an' I'm much obliged," said Kitty with decided ease and grace, at which all the

other Ruggleses pointed the finger of shame at her and Peter GRUNTED expressively, that their meaning

"You just stop your gruntin', Peter Ruggles; that was all right. I wish I could git it inter your heads that it ain't

so much what yer say, as the way yer say it. Eily, you an' Larry's too little to train, so you just look at the rest,

an' do 's they do, an' the Lord have mercy on ye an' help ye to act decent! Now, is there anything more ye'd

"If yer tell me one more thing I can't set up an' eat," said Peter, gloomily; "I'm so cram full o' manners now

"Well, I'm sorry for yer both," rejoined Mrs. Ruggles, sarcastically; "if the 'mount o' manners yer've got on

hand now, troubles ye, you're dreadful easy hurt! Now, Sarah Maud, after dinner, about once in so often, you

must say, 'I guess we'd better be goin';' an' if they say, 'Oh, no, set a while longer,' yer can stay; but if they

"ABOUT ONCE IN SO OFTEN!" Could any words in the language be fraught with more terrible and

"Well," answered Sarah Maud, mournfully, "seems as if this whole dinner party set right square on top o' me!

Maybe I could manage my own manners, but ter manage nine mannerses is worse 'n staying to home!"

"Oh, don't fret," said her mother, good naturedly, "I guess you'll git along. I wouldn't mind if folks would

only say, 'Oh, childern will be childern;' but they won't. They'll say, 'Land o' Goodness, who fetched them

childern up?' Now it's quarter past five; you can go, an' whatever yer do, don't forget your mother was a

The children went out the back door quietly, and were presently lost to sight, Sarah Maud slipping and

Peter rang the door bell, and presently a servant admitted them, and, whispering something in Sarah's ear,

drew her downstairs into the kitchen. The other Ruggleses stood in horrorstricken groups as the door closed

behind their commanding officer; but there was no time for reflection, for a voice from above was heard,

Accordingly, they walked upstairs, and Elfrida, the nurse, ushered them into a room more splendid than

anything they had ever seen. But, oh woe! where was Sarah Maud! and was it Fate that Mrs. Bird should say,

at once, "Did you lay your hats in the hall?" Peter felt himself elected by circumstance the head of the family,

and, casting one imploring look at tonguetied Susan, standing next him, said huskily, "It was so very

pleasantthatthat" "That we hadn't good hats enough to go round," put in little Susan, bravely, to help

him out, and then froze with horror that the illfated words had slipped off her tongue.

However, Mrs. Bird said, pleasantly, "Of course you wouldn't wear hats such a short distanceI forgot when

I asked. Now, will you come right in to Miss Carol's room, she is so anxious to see you?"

Just then Sarah Maud came up the backstairs, so radiant with joy from her secret interview with the cook,

that Peter could have pinched her with a clear conscience, and Carol gave them a joyful welcome. "But where

is Baby Larry?" she cried, looking over the group with searching eye. "Didn't he come?"

"Larry! Larry!" Good Gracious, where was Larry? They were all sure that he had come in with them, for

Susan remembered scolding him for tripping over the doormat. Uncle Jack went into convulsions of

"I think so, sir," said Peoria, timidly; "but, anyhow, there was Larry;" and she showed signs of weeping.

"Oh, well, cheer up!" cried Uncle Jack. "I guess he's not lostonly mislaid. I'll go and find him before you

"I'll go, too, if you please, sir," said Sarah Maud, "for it was my place to mind him, an' if he's lost I can't

The other Ruggleses stood rooted to the floor. Was this a dinner party, forsooth; and, if so, why were such

Sarah Maud went out through the hall, calling, "Larry! Larry!" and without any interval of suspense a thin

voice piped up from below, "Here I be!" The truth was that Larry, being deserted by his natural guardian,

dropped behind the rest, and wriggled into the hattree to wait for her, having no notion of walking

unprotected into the jaws of a dinnerparty. Finding that she did not come, he tried to crawl from his refuge

and call somebody, whendark and dreadful ending to a tragic dayhe found that he was too much

intertwined with umbrellas and canes to move a single step. He was afraid to yell! When I have said this of

Larry Ruggles I have pictured a state of helpless terror that ought to wring tears from every eye; and the

sound of Sarah Maud's beloved voice, some seconds later, was like a strain of angel music in his ears. Uncle

Jack dried his tears, carried him upstairs, and soon had him in breathless fits of laughter, while Carol so made

the other Ruggleses forget themselves that they were soon talking like accomplished dinersout.

Carol's bed had been moved into the farthest corner of the room, and she was lying on the outside, dressed in

a wonderful soft white wrapper. Her golden hair fell in soft fluffy curls over her white forehead and neck, her

cheeks flushed delicately, her eyes beamed with joy, and the children told their mother, afterwards, that she

looked as beautiful as the pictures of the Blessed Virgin. There was great bustle behind a huge screen in

another part of the room, and at halfpast five this was taken away, and the Christmas dinnertable stood

revealed. What a wonderful sight it was to the poor little Ruggles children, who ate their sometimes scanty

meals on the kitchen table! It blazed with tall colored candles, it gleamed with glass and silver, it blushed

with flowers, it groaned with good things to eat; so it was not strange that the Ruggleses, forgetting that their

mother was a McGrill, shrieked in admiration of the fairy spectacle. But Larry's behavior was the most

disgraceful, for he stood not upon the order of his going, but went at once for a high chair that pointed

unmistakably to him, climbed up like a squirrel, gave a comprehensive look at the turkey, clapped his hands

in ecstacy, rested his fat arms on the table, and cried, with joy, "I beat the hull lot o' yer!" Carol laughed until

she cried, giving orders, meanwhile, "Uncle Jack, please sit at the head, Sarah Maud at the foot, and that will

leave four on each side; Mama is going to help Elfrida, so that the children need not look after each other, but

A sprig of holly lay by each plate, and nothing would do but each little Ruggles must leave his seat and have

it pinned on by Carol, and as each course was served one of them pleaded to take something to her. There

was hurrying to and fro, I can assure you, for it is quite a difficult matter to serve a Christmas dinner on the

third floor of a great city house; but if every dish had had to be carried up a rope ladder the servants would

gladly have done so. There was turkey and chicken, with delicious gravy and stuffing, and there were

halfadozen vegetables, with cranberry jelly, and celery, and pickles; and as for the way these delicacies

Peter nudged Kitty, who sat next him, and said, "Look, will yer, ev'ry feller's got his own partic'lar butter; I

suppose that's to show yer can eat that much 'n no more. No, it ain't neither, for that pig of a Peory's just

gittin' another helpin'!" "Yes," whispered Kitty, "an' the napkins is marked with big red letters.

I wonder if that's so nobody 'll nip 'em; an' oh, Peter, look at the pictures painted right on ter the dishes. Did

"The plums is all took out o' my cramb'ry sarse, an' it's friz to a stiff jell!" shouted Peoria, in wild excitement.

"Hiyah! I got a wishbone!" sung Larry, regardless of Sarah Maud's frown; after which she asked to have

his seat changed, giving as excuse that he gen'ally set beside her, an' would "feel strange;" the true reason

being that she desired to kick him gently, under the table, whenever he passed what might be termed "the

"I declare to goodness," murmured Susan, on the other side, "there's so much to look at I can't scarcely eat

"Bet yer life I can!" said Peter, who had kept one servant busily employed ever since he sat down; for,

luckily, no one was asked by Uncle Jack whether he would have a second helping, but the dishes were quietly

passed under their noses, and not a single Ruggles refused anything that was offered him, even unto the

seventh time. Then, when Carol and Uncle Jack perceived that more turkey was a physical impossibility, the

meats were taken off and the dessert was brought ina dessert that would have frightened a strong man after

such a dinner as had preceded it. Not so the Rugglesesfor a strong man is nothing to a small boyand

they kindled to the dessert as if the turkey had been a dream and the six vegetables an optical delusion. There

was plumpudding, mincepie, and icecream, and there were nuts, and raisins, and oranges. Kitty chose

icecream, explaining that she knew it "by sight," but hadn't never tasted none; but all the rest took the entire

"My dear child," whispered Uncle Jack, as he took Carol an orange, "there is no doubt about the necessity of

this feast, but I do advise you after this to have them twice a year, or quarterly, perhaps, for the way they eat

is positively dangerous; I assure you I tremble for that terrible Peoria. I'm going to run races with her after

"Never mind," laughed Carol, "let them eat for once; it does my heart good to see them, and they shall come

The feast being over, the Ruggleses lay back in their chairs languidly, and the table was cleared in a trice;

then a door was opened into the next room, and there, in a corner facing Carol's bed, which had been wheeled

as close as possible, stood the brilliantly lighted Christmastree, glittering with gilded walnuts and tiny silver

balloons, and wreathed with snowy chains of popcorn. The presents had been bought mostly with Carol's

story money, and were selected after long consultations with Mrs. Bird. Each girl had a blue knitted hood,

and each boy a red crocheted comforter, all made by Mama, Carol and Elfrida ("because if you buy

everything, it doesn't show so much love," said Carol). Then every girl had a pretty plaid dress of a different

color, and every boy a warm coat of the right size. Here the useful presents stopped, and they were quite

enough; but Carol had pleaded to give them something "for fun." "I know they need the clothes," she had

said, when they were talking over the matter just after Thanksgiving, "but they don't care much for them,

after all. Now, Papa, won't you PLEASE let me go without part of my presents this year, and give me the

"You can have both," said Mr. Bird, promptly; "is there any need of my little girl's going without her

"But that isn't the thing," objected Carol, nestling close to her father; "it wouldn't be mine. What is the use?

Haven't I almost everything already, and am I not the happiest girl in the world this year, with Uncle Jack and

Donald at home? Now, Papa, you know very well it is more blessed to give than to receive; then why won't

you let me do it? You never look half as happy when you are getting your presents as when you are giving us

ours. Now, Papa, submit, or I shall have to be very firm and disagreeable with you!"

"A bronze figure of Santa Claus; and in the little round belly, that shakes, when he laughs, like a bowl full of

jelly, is a wonderful clock. Oh, you would never give it up if you could see it."

"Nonsense," laughed Carol; "as I never have to get up to breakfast, nor go to bed, nor catch trains, I think my

"Oh, I hadn't decided. A few more books, and a gold thimble, and a smellingbottle, and a musicbox."

"Poor Carol," laughed the child, merrily, "she can afford to give up these lovely things, for there will still be

left Uncle Jack, and Donald, and Paul, and Hugh, and Uncle Rob, and Aunt Elsie, and a dozen other people."

So Carol had her way, as she generally did, but it was usually a good way, which was fortunate, under the

circumstances; and Sarah Maud had a set of Miss Alcott's books, and Peter a modest silver watch, Cornelius a

toolchest, Clement a doghouse for his "lame puppy," Larry a magnificent Noah's ark, and each of the little

girls a beautiful doll. You can well believe that everybody was very merry and very thankful. All the family,

from Mr. Bird down to the cook, said they had never seen so much happiness in the space of three hours; but

it had to end, as all things do. The candles flickered and went out, the tree was left alone with its gilded

ornaments, and Mrs. Bird sent the children down stairs at halfpast eight, thinking that Carol looked tired.

"Now, my darling, you have done quite enough for one day," said Mrs. Bird, getting Carol into her little

nightdress; "I am afraid you will feel worse tomorrow, and that would be a sad ending to such a good

"Oh, wasn't it a lovely, lovely time," sighed Carol. "From first to last, everything was just right. I shall never

forget Larry's face when he looked at the turkey; nor Peter's, when he saw his watch; nor that sweet, sweet

Kitty's smile when she kissed her dolly; nor the tears in poor, dull Sarah Maud's eyes when she thanked me

"But we mustn't talk any longer about it tonight," said Mrs. Bird, anxiously; "you are too tired, dear."

"I am not so very tired, Mama. I have felt well all day; not a bit of pain anywhere. Perhaps this has done me

"Perhaps; I hope so. There was no noise or confusion; it was just a merry time. Now, may I close the door

and leave you alone? I will steal in softly the first thing in the morning, and see if you are all right; but I think

"Oh, I'm willing to stay alone; but I am not sleepy yet, and I am going to hear the music by and by, you

"Yes, I have opened the window a little, and put the screen in front of it, so that you will not feel the air."

"Can I have the shutters open; and won't you turn my bed a little, please? This morning I woke ever so early,

and one bright beautiful star shone in that eastern window. I never saw it before, and I thought of the Star in

the East, that guided the wise men to the place where Jesus was. Good night, Mama. Such a happy, happy

"Good night, my precious little Christmas Carolmother's blessed Christmas child."

"Bend your head a minute, mother dear," whispered Carol, calling her mother back. "Mama, dear, I do think

that we have kept Christ's birthday this time just as He would like it. Don't you?"

The Ruggleses had finished a last romp in the library with Paul and Hugh, and Uncle Jack had taken them

home, and stayed a while to chat with Mrs. Ruggles, who opened the door for them, her face all aglow with

excitement and delight. When Kitty and Clem showed her the oranges and nuts they had kept for her, she

astonished them by saying that at six o'clock Mrs. Bird had sent her in the finest dinner she had ever seen in

her life; and not only that, but a piece of dressgoods that must havecost a dollar a yard if it cost a cent. As

Uncle Jack went down the little porch he looked back into the window for a last glimpse of the family, as the

children gathered about their mother, showing their beautiful presents again and again, and then upward to a

window in the great house yonder. "A little child shall lead them," he thought; "well, ifif anything ever

"Softly, Uncle Jack," whispered the boys, as he walked into the library a little while later; "We are listening

to the music in the church. They sang 'Carol, brothers, carol,' a while ago, and now we think the organist is

"I hope she hears it," said Mrs. Bird; "but they are very late tonight, and I dare not speak to her lest she

The lamps shone full upon his crown of fair hair, and his pale face, with its serious blue eyes, looked paler

than usual. Perhaps it was something in the tender thrill of the voice, or in the sweet words, but there were

There were tears in many eyes, but not in Carol's. The loving heart had quietly ceased to beat and the "wee

birdie" in the great house had flown to its "home nest." Carol had fallen asleep! But as to the song, I think

So sad an ending to a happy day! Perhapsto those who were leftand yet Carol's mother, even in the

freshness of her grief, was glad that her darling had slipped away on the loveliest day of her life, out of its

She was glad that she had gone, as she had come, on wings of song, when all the world was brimming over

with joy; glad of every grateful smile, of every joyous burst of laughter, of every loving thought and word

Sadness reigned, it is true, in the little house behind the garden; and one day poor Sarah Maud, with a courage

born of despair, threw on her hood and shawl, walked straight to a certain house a mile away, dashed up the

marble steps and into good Dr. Bartol's office, falling at his feet as she cried, "Oh, sir, it was me an' our

childern that went to Miss Carol's last dinner party, an' if we made her worse we can't never be happy again!"

Then the kind old gentleman took her rough hand in his and told her to dry her tears, for neither she nor any

of her flock had hastened Carol's flightindeed, he said that had it not been for the strong hopes and wishes

that filled her tired heart, she could not have stayed long enough to keep that last merry Christmas with her

And so the old years, fraught with memories, die, one after another, and the new years, bright with hopes, are

born to take their places; but Carol lives again in every chime of Christmas bells that peal glad tidings and in