Ho! Ho! Ho! Santa Claus' Reading List

by A. A. Milne

  “Are we boys to be shut out of all this?” asked Max. “I don’t see why we shouldn’t take hold of such work as well as the girls. I’m conceited enough to think I could wield a pair of shears and cut out garments, by a pattern or under instruction; and I know I can run a sewing machine, for I’ve tried it.”

  “And certainly we could all help with the financial part,” said Chester Dinsmore.

  “Let’s take them in,” said Sydney. “We want all the money we can get.”

  “Of course we do,” said Lora; “the more money we have the more good we may hope to do.”

  The others seemed to see the force of the argument and voted unanimously for the admission of the lads.

  “What about home and foreign missionary societies?” asked Evelyn. “I thought we had decided to have one of each just among ourselves. Was it the girls only? or will the boys take part in them too?”

  “Of course we will, if you’ll let us,” replied Max; “and you can’t have too much money for them, seeing there are millions upon millions of heathen to be taught and furnished with Bibles.”

  “Yes,” said the captain, “boys should be as much interested in mission work as girls, and I see no reason why you young relatives and friends should not work together.

  “But with your studies and other duties to attend to, you have hardly time for such a multiplication of societies, and as the work is one, the field the world, I propose that you form only one more society, which shall be for both home and foreign missions.”

  “A very good plan, I think,” commented Grandpa Dinsmore.

  “And I propose that we proceed at once to organize such a society,” said Zoe.

  “And shouldn’t we have gentlemen officers?” asked Lulu. “I think Uncle Harold would make a good president.”

  “Thank you,” said he, smiling pleasantly on her, “but I could not serve; because I must be off to college directly.”

  “And the same objection applies to all of us except Max and little Walter,” added Chester Dinsmore. “We older lads can only pay our dues and perhaps meet with you occasionally when at home on a vacation.”

  “Working for the good cause in the meantime, in whatever place we are,” added Harold.

  “Shall we proceed to organize?” asked Zoe.

  “Yes, if Grandma Elsie will help us as she did with the Dorcas,” said Lulu.

  The others joined in the request, and Grandma Elsie kindly complied.

  Eva was chosen president, Rosie treasurer, and they would have made Lulu secretary but that she strenuously declined, insisting that she was not ready enough with her pen to find time for that in addition to all the sewing and other things she was undertaking.

  “Then I nominate Max,” said Rosie, giving him a bright look and smile.

  “And I second the motion,” said Evelyn.

  Max made no objection and seemed gratified when he was pronounced unanimously elected.

  They then settled the amount of their yearly subscription to each cause and the time of meeting, deciding that it should be on the same day and hour as the meeting of the other society, but on the alternate week.

  “And what will we do at our meetings?” asked Sydney.

  “What other people do at missionary meetings, I presume,” answered Zoe; “read the Bible, sing hymns, pray for the missionaries and the heathen at home and abroad.”

  “Pay in our dues too,” said Max; “and I suppose each one will try to find some interesting article to take to the meeting to be read aloud to the others.”

  “Yes; of course we must all do that if we want to have very enjoyable meetings,” said Zoe.

  “And we older people must see to it that you are well supplied with literature bearing on the subject,” said the captain.

  He was rejoiced to perceive that the interest of these new enterprises was taking his children’s thoughts from the unpleasant occurrences of the previous night. Almost all their talk with him that evening when the guests had gone and the babies were being put to bed, was of the work they hoped to do in connection with their missionary and Dorcas societies.

  To Lulu had been assigned the duty of visiting the family of Ajax, for the purpose of learning what were their most pressing needs in the line of clothing.

  Speaking of it, she asked, “Ought I not to go to-morrow, papa? and will you go with me?”

  “I say yes to both questions,” he replied. “You may be ready for your call directly we are done with school duties; that will give us time to go and return in good season for dinner.”

  “Yes, sir; I’ll be ready. Thank you very much for promising to take me.”

  “Liza must feel lonesome to-night, thinking about Ajax in jail,” remarked Grace thoughtfully; “but I’m glad he’s there so that he can’t be trying to break into anybody’s house. Papa, could he get out and come here again?”

  “It is hardly possible,” answered her father, looking tenderly down into her face, and smoothing her curls with caressing hand; “and he would not want to hurt you if he could come into the house. I don’t see how any one could wish to harm my gentle, kindhearted little Grace.”

  “Papa, shall I sleep in her bed with her to-night?” asked Lulu.

  “Certainly, if she would like it.”

  “Oh I should!” Grace exclaimed. “I know our heavenly Father will take care of me, but it’s good to feel Lu’s arms round me too.”

  “Then you shall,” said Lulu, giving her an affectionate pat, “your big sister likes to take care of you.”

  Chapter 18

  “O Lu, tell me all about it!” exclaimed Grace when Lulu came home the next day, from her visit to Eliza. “Are they very, very poor and needy?”

  “’Liza and her children? Well, not so very; because papa has been seeing to them for quite a while. They had a good fire (’Liza was ironing for somebody) and pretty good clothes; but the children are growing too big for some of their things and have torn or worn holes in others. So papa says he thinks we should make them some new ones. I’m going to ask Grandma Elsie to buy some flannel with some of my money, and let me make a skirt for the baby.”

  “I’d like to make an apron for one of the little girls,” said Grace.

  “Well I suppose you can. There are two girls and a boy besides the baby. Just think what a lot of trouble it must be to keep them all clothed and fed!”

  “And poor ’Liza will have to do it all herself while Ajax is in jail.”

  “I don’t believe he was much help anyhow,” said Lulu, with a scornful little toss of her head; “she says he didn’t work half the time and was always getting drunk and beating her and the children. I should think she’d want him kept in jail as long as he lives.”

  “But maybe he’ll grow good, and be kind and helpful to her when he gets out.”

  “Papa will do all he can to make him good,” said Lulu; “he’s gone now to the jail to talk to him. Just think of his taking so much trouble for such an ungrateful wretch.”

  “It’s very good in him,” responded Grace; “and it’s being like the dear Lord Jesus to take trouble to do good to ungrateful wretches.”

  “Yes; so it is, and nobody can be acquainted with papa without seeing that he tries always to be like Jesus.”

  The captain’s motive for visiting the jail that day was certainly most kind and Christian; a desire to reason with the two prisoners on the sin and folly of their evil courses, and persuade them to repentance and reformation.

  He did not approach them in a self-righteous spirit, for the thought in his heart was, “It is only the grace of God that maketh us to differ; and with the same heredity, and like surroundings and influences I might have been even a greater criminal than they;” but he found them sullen and defiant and by no means grateful for his kindly interest in their welfare.

  Still he continued his efforts, visiting them frequently while they lay in the county jail awaiting trial.

  Lulu looked forward to the trial with some apprehension, d
reading to be placed on the witness-stand before the judges, jurymen, lawyers, and the crowd of spectators likely to be present on the occasion.

  “It’ll be a great, great deal worse than that time in the magistrate’s office,” she said to herself again and again. But by her father’s advice she tried to put away the thought of it and give her mind to other things.

  She was interested in her studies, amusements, in the books and periodicals furnished for the profit and entertainment of herself and brother and sister, and in the young people’s societies just started in the connection.

  These prospered and grew by the addition of new members from among the young folks who, though of the neighborhood, were yet outside of the connection.

  Under Grandma Elsie’s wise and kindly instruction several of the older members soon became quite expert in preparing work for themselves and the others; also in gathering up information on the subject of missions, and in regard to the needy of their own vicinity.

  Thus their meetings were made interesting, were well attended and looked forward to with pleasure, while quite an amount of good was accomplished through their means.

  The Woodburn children were never willing to miss a meeting, and took pride and pleasure in doing their full share of the sewing undertaken by the Dorcas society.

  That was a more congenial task to Grace than to Lulu, but the latter— partly from pride, partly from a real desire to be useful— insisted each time on carrying home at least as much work as Gracie did.

  And for some weeks she was very faithful with her self-imposed task; but after that her interest in that particular work began to flag and she delayed doing it, giving her time and thoughts to other matters, till at last Gracie reminded her that there was but a day left in which to do it, if the garment were to be ready for handing in at the next meeting of the society.

  “Oh dear!” cried Lulu, “I forgot the time was so short, and how I’m ever to finish it so soon I don’t see! I’ll have to take all my play time for it.”

  “I wish I could help you,” Gracie said, with a very sympathizing look, “but you know papa said I mustn’t do any more than my own.”

  “Of course not,” returned Lulu emphatically; “your own is too much for such a feeble little thing as you; and don’t you worry about me, I’ll manage it somehow.”

  “But how can you? You have that composition to write, and two lessons to learn to recite to papa in the morning. I should think they would take all your afternoon except what has to be given to exercise; and it’s dinner time now.”

  “I’ll study hard and try to get the lessons and composition all done before dark, and then I’ll sew as fast as I can all the evening while papa is reading or talking to mamma Vi and us.”

  “I’m afraid it’s more than you can do,” returned Grace, with a doubtful shake of the head; “and perhaps somebody may come in to interrupt us too.”

  “If they do I’ll just go on with the sewing, not stopping even if there are games to be played, and I’m asked to take part.”

  “It’s very nice in you to be so determined,” commented Grace, giving her sister an admiring affectionate look.

  “It’s about time I was determined to do that sewing,” said Lulu, laughing a little, “for I’ve put it off over and over again because I wanted to indulge myself in playing games or reading a story.”

  The ringing of the dinner bell put a stop to their talk.

  At the table the captain said to his wife that business called him to the city, he must start directly the meal was over, and would not be able to get home till late, long after the usual bedtime; but he did not want any one to sit up for him, as he could let himself in with his latch key.

  “O papa,” cried Lulu, “I’d like to sit up for you, if I may!”

  “No, my child,” he said with his pleasant smile, “I quite appreciate the kind feeling that prompts that offer, but I want you to go to your bed at the usual hour.”

  “Papa,” observed Max insinuatingly, and with an arch look, “it wouldn’t hurt a boy to sit up and wait for his father.”

  “I’m not so sure of that,” laughed the captain; “boys need sleep as well as girls, and should not be deprived of their regular allowance, when there is no necessity.”

  “How about wives?” asked Violet with a twinkle of fun in her eye.

  “Wives are of course not under orders,” he returned gallantly, “but are free to do as they please; but I should be loath to have mine miss her beauty sleep.”

  “Then I suppose she should try to take it for your sake,” laughed Violet.

  “Papa, I wish you didn’t ever have to go away,” sighed Grace; “we shall miss so much the fun with the babies, and the nice talk with you while they are being put to bed, and then the reading afterwards.”

  “I have not said anything about taking the babies with me, and really have no thought of doing so; as they would not be likely to prove of assistance in transacting my business,” returned her father gravely.

  At that everybody laughed and Violet said to Gracie, “So you see, dearie, you need not despair of some fun with the babies.”

  “Maybe not, mamma, but it won’t be just the same as when papa is with us, and while you are away putting them to bed we’ll miss papa ever so much.”

  “I hope so,” he said, smiling on her; “it is pleasant to feel that one’s absence is regretted. But, my dear little daughter, we can’t expect to have all our enjoyments every day.”

  “No, sir;” said Lulu; “and we’ll miss you when Mamma Vi comes back and you are not there to read to us.”

  “Of course we will,” said Violet, “but though your papa is unquestionably the finest reader among us, the rest of us can read intelligibly, and some of us can read aloud to the others; perhaps we may take turns.”

  “A very good plan,” said the captain. “But, my dear, I can not endorse that statement of yours in regard to our relative ability as readers. I consider my wife as fine a reader as I ever listened to.”

  “Mamma Vi does read beautifully,” remarked Max, with an affectionate, admiring glance at her.

  “I think so too,” assented Lulu, adding “and if she will read to us it will be a great favor, and I am sure will make the time pass quickly and very pleasantly.”

  “No doubt,” said the captain, “and I am glad you are ready to appreciate such an effort on your mamma’s part; but she may have other plans for the evening.”

  Violet had intended to spend it in writing to her absent brothers, but instantly decided to sacrifice her own wishes to those of the children.

  “I am sure I shall enjoy reading to so appreciative an audience,” she said laughingly, “and feel myself highly honored in filling my husband’s place.”

  “Max and Lulu,” said the captain, “don’t forget the tasks set for this afternoon; you can easily accomplish them before tea and have an hour or more for exercise beside.”

  Both replied with a promise not to forget or neglect his requirements, and immediately upon bidding her father good-bye and seeing him out of sight, Lulu went to her room and applied herself to the study of her lessons first, then to the writing of her composition.

  She did her work hurriedly, however, with the thought of the sewing for which she now had so little time, ever present with her; consequently the lessons took small hold upon her memory and the remaining task was very indifferently performed.

  She was in the act of wiping her pen when Max called to her and Grace that the ponies were at the door and they three and Mamma Vi were to have a ride together.

  “Oh how nice!” cried both little girls, and hastened to don riding hats and habits.

  They had grown exceedingly fond of their young step-mother; and as she did not very often find it convenient to share their rides, to have her do so was considered quite a treat.

  On their return Lulu, hardly waiting to remove her out door garments and make herself presentable for the evening, went at the sewing with all the activity
and determination of her very energetic nature.

  “It’s got to be done if I have to work like a steam engine!” she exclaimed to Grace, thrusting in and drawing out her needle with a rapidity that surprised her little sister.

  “I never saw you sew so fast, Lu,” she said. “I couldn’t do it; I’d have to take more time to be sure my stitches were nice and even.”

  “Oh it’s for poor folks and so it’s strong, it won’t make much difference about the looks,” returned Lulu, working away at the same headlong pace.

  “But Grandma Elsie is particular about the stitches,” said Grace; “don’t you remember she told us she was, for our own sakes more than the poor folks’; because it would be a sad thing for us to fall into slovenly habits of working?”

  “Yes, I do remember now you speak of it; and I’ll try to make the work neat as well as to do it fast.”

  Lulu worked on not allowing herself a moment’s rest or relaxation, till the tea bell rang.

  Violet invited them all to spend the evening in her boudoir.

  Lulu carried her sewing there directly after leaving the table, and Violet more than once spoke admiringly of the diligence and energy she displayed in working steadily on till it was time for them to separate for the night.

  “It isn’t done yet; dear me how many stitches it does take to make a garment!” sighed Lulu to Grace when they had retired to the room of the latter.

  “So it does,” said Grace, “but papa says having to take so many of them, one right after another, is a good lesson in patience and perseverance.”

  “Kind of lessons I’m not fond of,” laughed Lulu.

  “And you’ve worked so hard all the evening! you must be very tired.”

  “Yes, I’m tired; but I’d sit up and work an hour or two longer if it wouldn’t be disobedience to papa.

  “Well I’ll see how much I can do before breakfast to-morrow morning. Perhaps I can finish; I hope I can.”

  She carried out her resolution, and when their father came in for the customary bit of chat with his little daughters before breakfast, he found her sewing diligently.