The Birds Christmas Carol | Page 9

when the children come home from school, and if
Mama nods her head, 'Yes,' that means 'Carol is very well,' and then
you ought to hear the little Ruggleses yell--I believe they try to see how
much noise they can make; but if Mama shakes her head, 'No,' they
always play at quiet games. Then, one day, 'Cary,' my pet canary, flew
out of her cage, and Peter Ruggles caught her and brought her back,
and I had him up here in my room to thank him." "Is Peter the oldest?"
"No; Sarah Maud is the oldest--she helps do the washing; and Peter is
the next. He is a dressmaker's boy." "And which is the pretty little
red-haired girl?" "That's Kitty." "And the fat youngster?" "Baby Larry."
"And that freckled one?" "Now, don't laugh--that's Peoria!"
"Carol, you are joking." "No, really, Uncle dear. She was born in
Peoria; that's all." "And is the next boy Oshkosh?" "No," laughed Carol,
"the others are Susan, and Clement, and Eily, and Cornelius." "How did
you ever learn all their names?" "Well, I have what I call a

'window-school.' It is too cold now; but in warm weather I am wheeled
out on my little balcony, and the Ruggleses climb up and walk along
our garden fence, and sit down on the roof of our carriage-house. That
brings them quite near, and I read to them and tell them stories; On
Thanksgiving Day they came up for a few minutes, it was quite warm
at eleven o'clock, and we told each other what we had to be thankful for;
but they gave such queer answers that Papa had to run away for fear of
laughing; and I couldn't understand them very well. Susan was thankful
for 'TRUNKS,' of all things in the world; Cornelius, for 'horse cars;'
Kitty, for 'pork steak;' while Clem, who is very quiet, brightened up
when I came to him, and said he was thankful for 'HIS LAME PUPPY.'
Wasn't that pretty?" "It might teach some of us a lesson, mightn't it,
little girl?"
"That's what Mama said. Now I'm going to give this whole Christmas
to the Ruggleses; and, Uncle Jack, I earned part of the money myself."
"You, my bird; how?" "Well, you see, it could not be my own, own
Christmas if Papa gave me all the money, and I thought to really keep
Christ's birthday I ought to do something of my very own; and so I
talked with Mama. Of course she thought of something lovely; she
always does; Mama's head is just brimming over with lovely thoughts,
and all I have to do is ask, and out pops the very one I want. This
thought was, to let her write down, just as I told her, a description of
how a little girl lived in her own room three years, and what she did to
amuse herself; and we sent it to a magazine and got twenty-five dollars
for it. Just think!" "Well, well," cried Uncle Jack, "my little girl a real
author! And what are you going to do with this wonderful 'own' money
of yours?" "I shall give the nine Ruggleses a grand Christmas dinner
here in this very room--that will be Papa's contribution, and afterwards
a beautiful Christmas tree, fairly blooming with presents--that will be
my part; for I have another way of adding to my twenty-five dollars, so
that I can buy everything I like. I should like it very much if you would
sit at the head of the table, Uncle Jack, for nobody could ever be
frightened of you, you dearest, dearest, dearest thing that ever was!
Mama is going to help us, but Papa and the boys are going to eat
together down stairs for fear of making the little Ruggleses shy; and
after we've had a merry time with the tree we can open my window and

all listen together to the music at the evening church-service, if it
comes before the children go. I have written a letter to the organist, and
asked him if I might have the two songs I like best. Will you see if it is
all right?"
"BIRDS NEST, Dec. 21st, 188-. DEAR MR. WILKIE,-- I am the little
sick girl who lives next door to the church, and, as I seldom go out, the
music on practice days and Sundays is one of my greatest pleasures. I
want to know if you can let the boys sing 'Carol, brothers, carol,' on
Christmas night, and if the one who sings 'My ain countree' so
beautifully may please sing that too. I think it is the loveliest song in
the world, but it always makes me cry; doesn't it you? If it isn't too
much trouble, I hope they can sing them both