No one had seen her, and sadly the procession took up the line of march for home.
How they told their mamma they never knew, but when the tale was done she gave one great gasp, and tore out of the house like a wild woman, with no hat on her head, and nothing but a small shawl about her.
“I must go too,” said Susie, and she flew after the poor distracted mother, while the seven other children sat down on the floor and cried.
“O! how wicked we have been,” said Lizzie, “to say that to-morrow wouldn’t be a merry Christmas, when we had such a darling, beautiful baby!”
“And dear papa coming home in a few days!” sobbed Nellie.
“And mamma so good and sweet!” said Sallie.
“And all of us such very nice chilluns!” said Maud.
Willie and Robbie said nothing, but buried their faces in their hands, and wept softly.
“I SEE DIS YERE BABY A-SETTIN’ ON A SLED.”