Big Nightcap Letters

by Aunt Fanny

  THE FIFTH LETTER.

  THE ROSE CROWN.

  _For Clara._

  DEAR, TENDER-HEARTED LITTLE CLARA:--In the olden time, there was abeautiful superstition in Germany, that on Christmas eve our Saviour,just as he was when a little child here below, comes at midnight in atthe door, and fills all those children's shoes with gifts, who havefollowed His example of goodness and obedience. You know that _you_hang up your _stockings_, and Santa Claus comes down the chimney; butthe little German children believe that they are far more blessed. It isa beautiful idea, for it brings Him, who for our sakes became a littlechild on earth, more closely and lovingly to the children's hearts. Theygrow up sure of His love and sympathy, from infancy to old age.

  I have asked Sarah ("the doctor") to write me another story after theGerman fashion, on purpose for you. She has given me this "Rose Crown;"and the story turns upon the sweet and solemn belief of the Germanchildren.

  You will perceive that the little Gottfried in the story thought of thiswith such intensity, and with such perfect faith in its truth, as tocause him to walk in his sleep, like a somnambulist. No doubt your dearmother can tell you many strange and extraordinary stories ofsomnambulists, who do the most wonderful and startling things while inthis kind of trance state, of which they are utterly unconscious whenthey awake.

  I hope this story will please my dear little Clara; it is called

  THE ROSE CROWN.

  "It was Christmas eve, and a cold winter's day. The flakes of snow fellsoftly and thickly, and had already covered the earth with a whitecloak.

  "At one of the windows of the large house that stands on the top of thehill, where the purple violets first peep out in the spring-time, stoodthe little Gottfried and his sister Marie.

  "'Only look, dear Marie,' said Gottfried, 'how fast the snow falls! Whatlarge flakes! They look like little milk-white doves.'

  "'It is the Mother Holle shaking her feather-beds,' cried Marie,laughing; and looking up towards the sky, and beckoning with her hand,she sang--

  "'Mother Holle, Good wife Holle, Fill the meadows fair and full: Stay not, pause not, Shake away, Make the snow fall fast to-day.'

  "'Oh! I can sing a prettier song than thine,' said Gottfried. 'Listen,now. The good wife Katarine taught it to me;' and he sang--

  "'See the snow-flakes, Merry snow-flakes! How they fall from yonder sky, Coming lightly, coming sprightly, Dancing downwards, from on high. Faint or tire, will they never, Wheeling round and round forever. Surely nothing do I know, Half so merry as the snow; Half so merry, merry, merry, As the dancing, glancing snow.

  "'See the snow-flakes, Solemn snow-flakes! How they whiten, melt and die. In what cold and shroud-like masses O'er the buried earth they lie. Lie as though the frozen plain Ne'er would bloom with flowers again. Surely nothing do I know, Half so solemn as the snow, Half so solemn, solemn, solemn, As the falling, melting snow.'

  "'Ah! thy song is sad, brother,' said little Marie: 'it makes me sigh.'

  "As she spoke, a little boy, poorly clad, was seen coming up the avenue;and Gottfried exclaimed--'Here comes Heinrich!' and running out of theroom, he presently returned, leading by the hand Heinrich, the littlefaggot-maker, whose mother, a poor but pious widow, lived in a hut justout of the village.

  "'Why, Heinrich, where hast thou been this cold day?' asked Marie.

  "'Taking my faggots to Herr Kaufferman's,' said the poor boy. 'But oh,Gottfried, they have there the most beautiful Christmas Tree!' and thenHeinrich paused and sighed.

  "'And to-night the dear Christkindchen, or Holy Child, will bring thempresents,' said Gottfried. 'I hope he will fill _thy_ shoes full.'[A]

  "'Alas! the Christ-child never comes to me,' said Heinrich.

  "'What! hast thou never heard how he comes at midnight, bearing alighted taper and a crown of white roses, and gives presents to allthe good children?'

  THE BAD BOY TAUNTING HEINRICH.]

  "'My mother has told me of this,' said Heinrich, 'and I have waited andwatched, but he _never_ comes! He never _will_ come. It was onlyyesterday that I met Hans, the butcher's son, and he mocked me, andsnapped his fingers in my face, and said--"Thou art so poor, that thyshoes will never have any thing in them;" and I was so angry, and wantedto strike him, but my mother said I must never fight or quarrel with anyone, and I went away from him; but it is hard to be poor,' and here hebegan to cry.

  "'Ah! yes, it is sad, dear Heinrich; but do not weep; here, wipe thineeyes with my new pocket-handkerchief. Come, now, be happy; and I willpray to the Christ-child, and beg him to come this very night to thee.'

  "At this the little faggot-maker's face brightened, and soon after hewent away.

  "In the evening, the children had their supper, and soon after theystood by the knee of their kind mother, and sang this hymn:

  "Jesus, our Shepherd! we ask for thy blessing, Through the long hours of this dreary night; Let us not know (thy kind favor possessing) Danger or sorrow, till morning is bright.

  "Jesus, our Saviour! oh! grant thy protection, To thy dear arms we have trustingly come; Oh, Lamb of God! make secure our election, Guard us, and keep us, and call us thine own.

  "Jesus, our Crown! Oh, thou Heavenly Glory! Humbly we kneel, and entreat thee to love, Bless and receive us, as in Bible story, Till we shall come to thy mansion above."

  "When they had finished the hymn, they reverently repeated theirprayers; and then, each bidding the other good night and sweet dreams,went to their white-curtained beds.

  "Later at night, their mother came to see that they were warm. Gottfriedwas still awake; he was troubled about little Heinrich; and he told hismother how the poor boy had grieved because the Christ-child never cameto him. 'I have prayed to Him, dear mother; do you think He will hearme?' said the tender-hearted boy.

  "'Yes, dear child,' said the mother, 'dost thou not remember what thehymn says?

  "'And when, dear Jesus, I kneel down, Morning and night to prayer, Something there is within my heart, Which tells me THOU ART THERE."

  "'He works sometimes through _human_ hands; and now look thou, my littleGottfried,' continued his mother, kissing him, 'I will make this night awreath of white roses for thee, and fasten a purse about the stems, withsome golden guilders within, and thou shalt take it to Heinrichto-morrow morning.'

  "'Ah, thou dearest mother!' cried Gottfried, joyfully, and the lovingkisses were pressed upon her cheek. 'The dear Jesus has heard mealready;' and kneeling in the bed, he poured out his grateful thanks;and then lying down, he soon fell asleep, with a bright flush ofhappiness upon his face.

  * * * * *

  "The snow had ceased to fall, and it was late, but still in the widow'scottage the fitful fire-light (for candles there were none) showed herbending over some work. By her side on the hearth crouched the littleHeinrich.

  "'Go to bed, dear child,' said his mother; 'it is too late for thee.'

  "'Ah, dear mother! let me wait for thee,' answered the boy; 'it is socold and dark in our little room above.' He was silent for a moment,gazing into the fire in a wishful manner; then he said--'Mother, dostthou think the Christ-child will indeed hear Gottfried's prayer, andcome to me and thee?'

  "'I hope he will, my Heinrich,' said the sad mother, smiling faintly.

  "'Ah, but mother, dost thou not _know_ it?'

  "The fire burned low, and the poor woman could no longer see. She put upthe coarse sewing with a sigh, and resting her hand tenderly on herboy's head, sat quite still.

  "Not a sound was heard. The light in the room was dim, and gloom hadsett
led upon the hearts of both mother and child.

  "Hark! what was that?

  "A low tap sounded at the door, and then it slowly opened; and to theastonished gaze of the two sitting by the hearth, there appeared thefigure of a little child. A snow-white robe draped his slender limbs. Inone hand he bore a lighted taper, and in the other a most beautifulwreath of white roses. His dark blue eyes shone with an unearthlylustre, as it appeared to the amazed and bewildered Heinrich, and hisgolden curls floated upon his shoulders.

  "'Oh! mother! mother!' whispered Heinrich, almost breathless, 'it is theChrist-child in very truth come to me at last. His face is likeGottfried's--only far more beautiful;' and mother and son sank on theirknees.

  "Slowly the little form advanced towards them, paused before Heinrich,lightly placed the rose crown upon his head, and then, the sweet lipsparting in a faint, tender smile, it waved its little hand towards him,and disappeared from their sight.

  "When they could speak, the mother and son bowed their heads in thankfulprayer, then lifted their brimming eyes to each other.

  "'Truly thou hast been wondrously rewarded, my Heinrich,' said the poorwidow; 'give the beautiful crown to me, that I may see what the dearChrist-child has brought to thee.'

  "She stirred the fire, and put on some light wood to make a blaze, andthen Heinrich lifted the crown from his head. As he did so--oh! wonder!there fell from it a silken purse, and through the deep crimson networkthey could see the yellow gleam of gold.

  * * * * *

  "With the early blush of morning little Gottfried awoke, and the firstthing he did was to run smilingly to the door to find his shoes. Therethey were, in good truth, crammed to the very top with presents. Marie,too, awoke at the moment, and from each little white bed there arosedelighted exclamations and merry shouts of joy.

  "Now their mother entered, and said--'A merry Christmas to you, mychildren.'

  "With joyful kisses they welcomed her, and breathlessly showed her theirgifts; then Gottfried exclaimed--'Oh! mother! I have had such apleasant dream; I dreamed that the dear Christ-child went to Heinrichwith the wreath, and gave it to him.'

  "'Well, thou shalt take it thyself this morning, dear child, when thouhast eaten thy breakfast.'

  "But what was this? Where could the wreath be? The good mother, faithfulto her promise had made it the evening before, and had laid it on thetable in the parlor, but it was not to be found.

  "This loss put the little Gottfried in such distress, that his motherpromised quickly to make another; and she was just preparing to hastenout to purchase the roses, when Heinrich ran in, his mother following;and, scarcely pausing for breath, the boy told the wonderful thing thathad happened to them in the night.

  "With a sudden understanding of the strange and beautiful story,Gottfried's mother took Heinrich's mother aside, and whispered to herhow the rose crown had mysteriously disappeared from the house in thenight.

  "The two mothers gazed into each other's faces, and then looked withlove and wonder at the little unconscious Gottfried. Tender tears andsmiles struggled in their faces, for they knew in a moment that it washe who had risen in his sleep, had taken the rose crown to Heinrich, andhad laid his head upon his pillow again without waking.

  "When they gently and tenderly told the strange tale to the wonderingchildren, Heinrich, bursting into tears, threw his arms passionatelyround Gottfried's neck, and sobbed out--'Oh! Gottfried! how thou musthave loved me to have done this thing, even while sleeping;' and thegrateful boy never forgot it. He kept his crown of roses as his dearesttreasure, though they soon became withered and brown; and Gottfried andHeinrich were always friends, though one was rich and the other poor;and each mother loved and blessed the child of the other even as herown."

  [NOTE.--This story was suggested by reading about Christmas in Germany, in Bayard Taylor's "Views Afoot."]

  * * * * *

  "A--h!" sighed the children, when the story was finished; "this is thebest of all! How those two German boys must have loved each other everafter."

  "Gottfried must have been almost as good as Charley," said Clara, with aglance full of love towards her brother. The little girl, with hersweet, sensitive nature, and gentle, caressing ways, seemed closer toCharley than the rest, though he loved all his brothers and sisters withhis whole heart; but Clara was softer and tenderer, and murmured out herlove in such a dove-like way, that, next to his mother, the sick boyliked to have her smooth his hair, and hold his hand, and kneel by hisside in prayer; and the rest of the children knew this, and lovinglygave Clara "her place." Not a shade of envy, that black and wickedpassion, ever entered their hearts; for, as I have many times written,this was the home of LOVE.

  FOOTNOTE:

  [A] In Germany, they fill the children's shoes instead of theirstockings.

  THE SIXTH LETTER.

  THE HUNT FOR A STEAMBOAT.

  _To Johnny._

  DEAR LITTLE JOHNNY:--I have heard such a cunning little story about twolittle children that live in New York, that I have written it out foryou; I shall begin it, "Once upon a time"--the way you like best. Hereit is:

  THE HUNT FOR A STEAMBOAT.

  "Once upon a time little Harry was playing in the parlor, and his kindmother was reading. Presently the door opened, and a lady entered,holding by the hand the dearest little bit of a girl you ever saw, aboutthree years old, with such sweet blue eyes and soft curling hair, thatshe looked almost like a fairy.

  "Harry's mother was very glad to see the lady; she kissed her and littleNannie, and made them sit on the very best sofa, and Harry kissedNannie, and everybody seemed very much pleased.

  "After saying what a very fine day it was, just as all the grown peopledo when they begin to talk, Nannie's mamma began to tell Harry's mammasomething very wonderful, when, all at once, they saw Harry's eyesopened about as big round as a pair of saucers, and a dozen ears seemedto have sprouted out all over his head; and he was listening to thewonderful story with every one of them.

  "Harry's mamma thought that would never do, and she said--'My son,Nannie's mamma and I want to talk secrets, and it is not right for sucha little boy as you to hear them; so take the dear little girl out ofthe room, and show her every thing she wants to see. Mind, dear! _showher every thing_.'

  "So Harry took Nannie's hand, and led her out of the room. He felt quitebashful at first, and when he got into the hall and had shut the door,he dropped her hand; and then the two children stood and looked at eachother like two pussy cats on a fence; only they looked a great dealprettier, because, you know, neither of them had any fierce whiskers orlong claws. Not they, indeed! I suppose Harry will have whiskers one ofthese days, if he lives to be a man; but Nannie will never have any,because if she Jives a thousand years she will never be a great, roughman, but a beautiful little woman, which is a great comfort to think of.

  "At last Harry said--'Say, Nannie, what do you want to see?'

  "'I want to tee a 'teamboat.'

  "'A steamboat!' exclaimed Harry.

  "'Ess, a 'teamboat--big one!' said little Nannie.

  "Harry looked puzzled; but he took her hand again, and led her verycarefully up the long flight of stairs, and into every room on thesecond floor. They looked under the beds and into the band-boxes, openedall the bureau drawers and wardrobe doors, peered down into thebath-tub, and almost tumbled in, and couldn't find a steamboat. Thenthey went up stairs again, and all over the rooms in the third story--nosteamboat there.

  "Then they went up stairs again, and all over the rooms in the top ofthe house, opened all the cook's bundles, the waiter's boxes, thechambermaid's trunk, and the laundress's umbrella; but not a singlesteamboat was to be seen.

  "What was poor Harry to do?

  "He _must_ mind his mamma; and Nannie kept saying--'I want to tee a'teamboat.'

  "All of a sudden Harry spied a globe of the world in one corner of theattic, and he cried out--'Here, Nannie, let
's look on this world and seeif we can find one.'

  "So down they nestled close together, and turned the world round andround, but, strange to tell, there was not a single steamboat sailing onit. It was really too bad.

  "They came down stairs again, and then a bright thought struckHarry--'Oh, yes!' he exclaimed, 'I know where a steamboat is. Dear me!certainly! Come, Nannie, hurry.'

  "Down they went to the hall, and Harry put on his cap, and opened thefront door, and the children went out. Hand in hand they trotted merrilyalong, both delighted to think that at last they were on the track of asteamboat.

  "After walking a long way, they came to a rough board fence, and Harrypeeped through a knot-hole to see what was inside. He looked so long,that Nannie cried impatiently--'Let me see the 'teamboat.'

  "'No, it isn't,' said Harry; 'it's some boys playing ball. Come andlook.'

  "Nannie went close to the fence, and stood on the very tips of herlittle toes, but the knot-hole was too high; so Harry lifted her withall his strength, and she had a fine time seeing the boys playing ball.

  "As he let her come down rather suddenly, she caught her frock in asplinter of wood in the fence, and it was torn from top to bottom. 'Oh,my!' said Nannie, looking at her dress, 'what a _gate_ hole; oh, my!'

  "'Oh, never mind it,' cried Harry, 'that's nothing;' and he laughed somerrily, that Nannie thought to tear dresses was great fun, and laughedtoo.

  "On they went, hand in hand, and every fence they came to where therewere no houses, they peeped through and searched for the steamboat; andthey scrambled and fell against so many rough boards, that Nannie'spretty little new hat that her kind grandmamma had just given her, wasall bent and torn and twisted, till from a nice little round hat, itcame to be a queer-looking, five-cornered one, with one end of ribbonover her nose, and another sticking out behind; and the beautiful lacecap inside was only fit for the rag-bag. Did you ever hear any thinglike it?

  "Well, the dear little things wandered on, Harry knowing that he wasminding his mamma, like a good boy. He was very happy; because, youknow, children that are obedient and good are never any thing else. Ofcourse not.

  "And little Nannie's lovely blue eyes were very busy looking all overthe world for the steamboat.

  "At last they came to an open space--I believe, in Seventy-secondstreet, where the Central Park is; and a very amiable-looking policeman,who fortunately at that time was wide awake, happened to look that way.

  "He was very much astonished when he saw such little creatures allalone; and Nannie, looking as if she had been in the wars; but, in spiteof her torn dress, looking like just what she was--the tender little petof a household, watched over, and loved, and cared for night and day;and Harry, too, it was plain to see, with his bright eyes and manlybearing, was of gentle birth and breeding.

  "So the policeman walked up to them, and said--'I suppose this is TomThumb and his wife out for a walk.'

  "'No, it isn't,' said Harry; 'my name is Harry.'

  "'And what is yours, little lady?'

  "'My name 'ittle Nannie.'

  "'Where did you come from?'

  "'Home,' said Harry.

  "'Where is home?'

  "'Why, in Thirty-second street, to be sure; don't you know?'

  "'Did you run away?' said the policeman.

  "'No,' said Harry, and his eyes blazed with indignation, 'I'm mindingmamma; she told me to show Nannie every thing, and Nannie wanted to seea steamboat, and I'm finding one for her now!'

  "At this the policeman laughed, and then he looked so kindly at thechildren, that I suspect he had a dozen children of his own at hishouse, and that made him love every other little child. Why, bless yourdear little heart, I love all the little children in the whole world,because I love you so dearly.

  THE STEAMBOAT HARRY AND EMMA WERE LOOKING FOR.]

  "Then the policeman said--'Well, Harry, you are a long way from home;and I think you had better put off the steamboat-hunting business tillsome other day. Your mother may think you and Nannie are a little tooyoung to travel about the world by yourselves. Come; I will go backwith you.'

  "It was very fortunate he did, for though Harry knew very well whatstreet he lived in, he did not know how to get to it; and it would havebeen a sad thing for the dear little creatures if they had been lost.But now the good policeman took Nannie in his arms, because she wasgetting very tired, and Harry by the hand, and they all got into arailroad car, and before long were at the house.

  "But oh! what a distracted house! For when Nannie's mother had finishedthe wonderful secret, and wanted to leave, the children were not to befound. They searched the house; they examined the bath-tubs andwash-tubs; they went out into the garden and down into the cellar, butthey were not to be found; and then the weeping, terrified mothers wentout into the street, and asked everybody they met, if they had seen thechildren.

  "The waiter, who was just setting the table for dinner, rushed round thecorner, brandishing the carving-knife like a pistol, and frightened afashionable young gentleman out of all his five wits, for he thought itwas a crazy man, trying to kill him; and when he turned round he wasscared again, for there was the laundress, who had started out with awet shirt in her hands, which she was just starching; there _she_ was,waving it about in the wind, like a flag of distress, and crying as hardas she could.

  "Then the waiter dropped the carving-knife, and flew up the street,while the fat cook, who had left a pudding half-made in the kitchen, ranafter him, dropping her pudding-stick, and wheezing dreadfully; andaway in the distance, they saw the chambermaid, with the broomstick inher hand, and her hair all about her ears. She looked so like a witch,from grief and fright, that as she disappeared, the people looking afterher were sure she had mounted the broomstick the very next moment, andhad flown over the tops of the houses.

  "Dear me! what a terrible time it was! But you see they all loved Harryso much, that they were almost crazy, and that made them cut up allthese didoes.

  "All came back lamenting, for no children had been found; and thedistressed mothers were just writing a note to send to thepolice-office, to order the whole city to be searched, when--a quickring at the bell--Could it be? Out they all rushed, mothers, cook,waiter, chambermaid, laundress, the cat, and the dog. The door wasopened, and, oh, joyful sight! there stood the children and thepoliceman, all laughing together.

  "No wonder they all screamed and cried, and laughed and talked, all in abunch. Nobody cared a pin for Nannie's torn dress and five-corneredbonnet, when the darling child was safe, and hugged tight to hermother's breast; and Harry and his mother had a grand kissing time too.Why, dear me! they almost wanted to kiss the good policeman, they wereso glad; not quite, though; but they gave him what he thought was quiteastonishing--something that came out of a purse, and shone like gold;and between you and me, it _was_ gold.

  "And Harry's mother was not the least angry with him, when she heardthat he was such a good boy, and was only minding his mamma when he wentall over the world with Nannie to find a steamboat: no, indeed! Shekissed him again. But let me tell you as a great secret, that she wasvery careful after that to tell Harry to look for steamboats, or anything else little girls or he might want to see, _inside_ of the house;and although it is many months since this happened, I know that Harryand Nannie have not been steamboat-hunting since; but they are bothgood, lovely children, and both mind their mammas."

  "Oh, dear!" exclaimed Johnny, "_my_ story is tip-top! I wish you wouldread it right over again, mamma."

  "Yes, mamma, do!" cried all the rest. "It is _so_ interesting. Dearlittle Nannie, she's a darling!"

  "I wonder if her grandmother gave her a new hat," said Minnie. "_I_would, if _I_ was her grandmother."

  The children laughed at the idea of Minnie's being a grandmother, andHarry said--"Come, sit on my lap, grandmother, and let me see if youknow your letters yet." Minnie did not like this much, but as Harrycalled her his "dear little pet" the next moment, she forgave himimmediately.

  "But
Aunt Fanny has written something else in this letter," said themother. "Shall I read it, or repeat the story?"

  "Oh! read all the letter _this time_," cried the children, "and thestory again to-morrow night."

  The little mother read on.

  "And now, my dear children, I have sent you six stories; and if any onewill count the boots and shoes in the first Nightcap book, they willfind that there are the surprising number of thirteen of you!--a baker'sdozen.

  "Let me see how many are left.

  "Minnie and Willie, and Bennie and Lillie, and dear little Fanny, my_namesake, and Katie and Pet_. I think I will write to this dear littleband collectively, and the stories shall make the 'Little NightcapLetters;' and the little darlings shall have them all to themselves."

  "Oh, yes! yes! yes! that will be a grand plan!" cried the children. "Didyou ever hear of such a sensible Aunt Fanny? She makes it just as welike it."

  "If you like this plan," Aunt Fanny goes on to say, "then the 'BigNightcap Letters' are finished with this story sent to Johnny; and thatyou will all grow wiser, and better, and fatter over them, is the lovingwish of your

  "AUNT FANNY."

  And so the Big Nightcap Letters were ended; and the children went off tobed good, thankful, and content, and rose the next day good, thankful,and content.

  Pray Heaven, dear little reader, you may always do the same.

  THE END.

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  Transcriber's Notes:

  Obvious punctuation errors repaired.

  Page 7, Table of Contents, the first letter actually begins on page 9.The original read 8.

  Page 7, Table of Contents, "ILLTEMPER" changed to "ILL TEMPER" (GEORGE.ILL TEMPER)

  Page 7, Table of Contents, "106" changed to "108" for the Fourth Letter

  Page 103, the text changes a character's name from "Dinah" to "Binah."This was retained as in another of this series, the character's name isindeed Binah there.

  Page 127, "embarrased" changed to "embarrassed" (still more embarrassed)

  Page 146, "Christ-kindcherr" changed to "Christkindchen" (the dearChristkindchen)