For we have stockings large and small!”
It was December and Christmas was coming.
The Ink-Bottle Babies said, “May we hang up our stockings now? May we hang all our stockings in a row?”
The Ink-Bottle Babies all talked at once. They made such a noise that the postman had to rap five times before he could be heard.
Then Molly said, “Hush! Listen! I hear a knock!”
Polly went dancing to the door and came back with a letter in her hand. The letter was addressed to the Ink-Bottle Mamma.
She opened it and said, “The farmer and his wife want us to go and spend Christmas day with them! They say, ‘Tell the Babies to bring their stockings.’”
The Ink-Bottle Babies were glad, you may be sure.
They clapped their hands and shouted, “May we go, Ma? Say yes, Ma. Please let us go!”