The Ink-Bottle Mamma said, “We will go with pleasure.”
The days passed very fast after that, and it was almost Christmas time; and all would have gone well, I am sure, but two days before Christmas Molly was taken sick, and Polly said, “I don’t feel well either.”
Then what do you suppose happened? All the Ink-Bottle Babies came down with the measles.
They cried and they howled, “We can’t go away on Christmas Day! Oh dear! Oh dear!”
“I don’t feel well either”
When they had stopped their noise the Ink-Bottle Mamma said, “Never mind, Santa Claus will not forget you.”
Then the Ink-Bottle Babies dried their eyes. They began to think about Santa Claus.
Toward evening a package was left at the door. It said, “For the measley Babies from the farmer’s wife.”
When the Ink-Bottle Mamma brought the parcel upstairs the Babies cried, “Untie it quickly; please do, and let us all see what is inside!”