BERTIE'S PRESENTS.
Christmas Day dawned clear and cold. As soon as it was light enough to see across the chamber Bertie crept from his bed toward the window, where on one of the knobs belonging to the shutters, he could see a huge stocking tied by a string, and stuffed to its utmost capacity.
The little fellow laughed heartily as he felt of the stocking, to ascertain what was within it. Then he jumped on a chair, trying to take the sock down, but with a sudden thought,—
"Winnie would like to see me take the things out," he leaped into bed again, and began in his childish way to guess what presents he had received, and who they were from.
"I wonder whether I shall have a new Bible," he said half aloud, "I had a Bible last year from mamma; but no, I don't think she'll give me another, because she said she hoped that one would last me for a long time."
Presently he heard some little feet pattering along the hall, and then Winnie's bright face peeped into the room.
"Dit up, Bertie," she said, laughing, and showing all her white teeth. "Dit up, and have a merry Tismus."
"Oh, Winnie darling, I hope you'll have many merry Christmases! Now let's go and see papa and mamma, and then when Nancy has dressed you, I'll show you my presents."
"Law!" exclaimed Nancy, raising her hands, "you don't mean to say you haven't taken down your stocking. What would Saint Nick say?"
"I know who Saint Nick is," Bertie answered, with a merry laugh. "It's mamma, I saw her last year come creeping softly into my room in the city, and hang it up. I'd rather have mamma than anybody, because she knows what I would like."
"Well, dear, hurry and dress. Your mamma isn't awake yet; and then you can show us your presents."
"Did you give me anything, nurse?"
"I! what a question!" she exclaimed, in pretended horror.
"But I think you did, because when I went to the nursery of a sudden last night, you threw your apron over something you was working, and you looked ever so queer."
"Why, Bertie, I never thought you watched me so, I must be careful what I do. Well, supposing I did, what should you like best?"
"A ball for Winnie and I to play in the house with. One that would not break the windows, I mean."
Nurse laughed and looked wise, and then left the room. Soon after Bertie finished dressing, and ran to wish mamma and papa a "Merry Christmas."
"Well, my son, has St. Nick crept down your chimney?" asked papa directing an arch glance at his wife.
"My St. Nick has," was the boy's answer, as he kissed his mamma.
"What was in the stocking, then? I think it's very strange no one hung a stocking for me."
"What is that over yonder, Lawrence?" asked the lady, laughing.
"Ah, a stocking for me! that is more than I expected. Well, now I'm satisfied that's a joke; and I shall find nothing in it but paper."
"I'll run and get mine, and then we'll look over our presents together," said Bertie, in great glee.
Winnie now came in bringing a doll almost as large as herself. It was made of kid, with a porcelain face, and had dresses which could be taken off or put on at pleasure. This was given her by Mrs. Dodge and the clothes by Nelly.
With a loud shout Bertie pulled out a small box in which was a gingerbread man riding on a donkey. "I know where that came from very quick," he said. "It smells just like Mrs. Taylor's gingerbread. Oh, isn't it funny?"
"It is a very striking resemblance of you and Whitefoot," remarked papa, trying to look grave, at which everybody laughed heartily.
Next came a small package tied with red cord, which contained—what do you imagine? Why, a nightcap, with cook's compliments.
It was found to be a perfect fit, and mamma told him it would keep his hair from being so snarled in the morning.
A pretty ball, just such as Bertie had caught a glimpse of under Nancy's apron was next brought to view, which so much delighted him that he dropped the stocking and began to toss it at once.
There was a gift from Miss Lerow of a beautiful pair of reins, knit of bright worsted and ornamented with little bells. But what pleased him perhaps more than everything else, was a jack-knife from Edward Torrey with the words, "To the forgiving boy," marked on the inside of the pasteboard box.
Old Mrs. Grant had not forgotten to add her gift, which was a pair of warm mittens, done up with a nice, knit comforter from Mary Jerrold Monsey.
Altogether it was a great success, and everybody felt very happy.
