THE DOLL AND THE SLED

It was night.

Santa had gone up the chimney.

A new sled was by Tom’s stocking.

It was a bright red sled.

“Are you awake, doll?” called the sled.

“I am,” answered the doll.

“Where are you?” asked the sled.

“Here, in this stocking,” said the doll.

The sled looked up.

There was a dear little doll peeping out of Baby’s stocking.

“Well, here we are in our new home,” said the doll.

“How do you like it?”

“It is a good home,” said the sled.

“I think we should be happy here.

Santa brought me to the little boy who lives in this house.

I think I will like him.

I know he will like me.

I am so bright and new.”

“He ought to like you,” said the doll.

“You are a nice sled.

You are so bright and new.

I am for a dear little girl.

Santa calls her Baby.

He says she will be kind to me.

He says she will love me.

Do you think she will?

I know I will love her.

Santa brought her a new hood.

It is such a warm little hood!”

“Hush!” said the sled.

“Quick! Get back into the stocking!

I hear some one coming!”

“Who can it be?” asked the doll.

“I think it is mother,” said the sled.

“Oh, dear,” said the doll.

“It may be Tom or Baby.”

“No,” answered the sled.

“They will not come till morning.

They are in their beds.

They are asleep now.

Hush! Be quiet.

Some one is coming near.”

The doll crept back into the stocking.

The sled lay down, too.

How quiet they were!

Mother came in.

She made a light.

Then she looked around.

She saw the new sled.

It lay close to Tom’s stocking.

She looked into Baby’s stocking.

She saw the new doll.

She saw the new hood.

She saw many other things.

But not a sound did she hear.

“Santa has been here,” she said.

Then she went away quietly.

All was quiet till Christmas morning.

offsmiles
(d oll)(fee t)(k ind)
f oll owsfee lm ind
(th ey)(up)(fl ies)
o b eyc upcr ies