The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1881-01-19
Pets Christmas Gift.

When l was little girl my paps and
mamma lived in a large city had--oh, such
a number Of playthings! and a nursery,
large roOn where all my dollies, and books,
and blocks, and china tea sets were kept.
And here used to play when mamma was
busy or had company.
/ Standing in one corner of the nursery
was high old-fashioned bureau. 1t was an
ugly old thing, so tall and heavy, but then
mamma said it WAS so useful and nice for
dollies' and my clothes, that she could not
think of storing it away among the rubbish;
so there it stood.
| As had no little sister or brother, man.
ma would often play tea party with me.
| Each dollie would be dressed in its very best
dress, and come to the party, and we would
| laugh and play, until it was time for Susie
and Katie to be put to bed; and we did have
/ such nice time that / used to wish that
mamma would never be busy, and that she
could play with me all day long.
/ One cold, snowy day, about week before
/ Christmas, | asked mamma to let me have
a tea party for dollie.
eyes, Pet, as soon as you set the table call
me and will come" said she.
I You NAV be sure that it did not take me
| long to get my table ready; and as soon as
rang the supper-bell mamma came to tea. l
! had lust poured out the tea and was helping
mamma. Susie and Katie TO slice of cake
when Mary, my nurse, came up stairs and
/ told mamma there was lady in the
parlor waiting to see her. AS Mary started
/ out again she handed mamma large paste
board box and said something to her in a
whisper and mamma walked to the bureau
and put The box on top of it.
| 'Now. Pet" said mamma, al have put
that box out of your reach; don't try to get
it. dear, for it is not for my little girl TO
see
30. no. mamma, | won't touch it for any,
thingt' said l. And then she went down 10
the parlor and left me to finish my party
with the dollies.
After dinner was over ] had tucked the
dollies in their beds, all coy and snug, when
[ happened to look up at the bureau, and
there | saw the box Just as mamma had left
it, quite near the edge.
Il wonder what's in that box that L am
not to see," said L to myself. "Ohl do be-
lieve it is something for my Christmas gift;
how 1 wish I knew what it isl l wish l
could give one little peep; 1 am sure mamma
will never know it, and then it's to be mine
after little while; so what's the harm to
look at it2 l want to see it so much" and
forgetting about mamma, or my promise to
her, | got my high chair and put it by the
bureau. ThenI climed up and God on
my tip-toes, and could just reach the lid OF
the box. 1 took off the cover and leaned
over to look into the box; but as did so my
foot slipped, and down fell, with the lid of
the box in my hand, striking my arm on the
sharp foot of the bureau.
Oh. how my arm did hurt | screamed,
and then did't remember anything until |
heard mamma say:
80, Doctor, is the arm broken?" And
when opened nay eyes saw that L was
lying on my own little bed and that mamma
and the Doctor we're standing by me.
Eyes, am afraid it is" said the Doctor,
as began to cry with the pain. "But never
mind" added ne kindly, 1--WE will soon fix II
all right"
He was long time bandaging and fixing
my arm, and it hurt me-oh, so badly But
every time l opened my eyes | saw my dear
: mamma looking so sad and grieyed that
; tried not to cry until after the Doctor was
gone. and then l told her how very, very
! sorry was that had been such naughty
: girl. She was gentle, loving mamma, and
She forgave me: and then she told me that
the box was for my Christmas gift from
papa. and it was Just what it wanted-a cum
ming little tippet and muff OF white fur, with
little squirrels head on the outside of the
muff.
When pepa came home mamma told bin
what had happened; how 1 had tried tC
!. look into the box, and had fallen and
broken my arm; and then she told him how
sorry l was. He kissed me and talked t
me so kindly, until at last / became quie
and went to sleep, resolving that in future
{ | would mind my papa AID mamma
, because they were so good and knew wha
\ was best for me.
: 1t was long time before my arm wa
! well or knit together, as the Doctor called it
and could not have any more tea-partie
because could not wait on dolhes with m,
left hand
I When Christmas came my papa gave M
the tippet and muf, and he said ] had beer
q patient little girl; and he did not thinl
9 that would ever again look at anything
I that l had been told not to. And children
|. 1 don't think ever did; for although tina
accident occurred many years ago, ant