The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1881-11-18
The Mamma Who Slept Fifteen
Years.

80 dear dear - sighed Mamma
Graham, 'what dreadful noise. I'm
glad Christmas doesn't come any often
err"
No wonder the poor mamma said this,
for Harry was standing close by the bed
beating his new drum, and Charlie was
Just behind him blowing his new red
trumpet, and the baby sat up in bed
sucking stick of candy and pounding
his mamma over the head with tin rat.
tie. Alice, the eldest of these little folks,
was trying the cry in her new dolly, and
was begging the boys just to stop their
noise for minute and hear what beau
tiful cry it had. Altogether, it was not
a very good time to catch a comfortable
morning nap, although Mamma Graham
was just as tired as she could be.
Bridget had left the day before, leaving
her everything to do and the Christmas
dinner to get. Presently papa, who had
entirely given up trying to sleep, fin
ished dressing, and said he would take
the children down stairs, so that mamma
could have a good rest.
81 wish could sleep about fifteen
years." said she, as she turned over and
tucked the pillow snugly under her
head.
Was ever anything more unluckyp
She entirely forgot that it was Christmas
morning, and that Santa Claus was
abroad, and as full of mad pranks as
Christmas pudding Is full of plums.
Papa and the children were away down.
stairs with the doors all shut between.
Nobody was there to hinder, for mamma
herself was already in doze. So what
should Santa Claus do but whisk Nam
ma Graham away through the roof after
the manner OF fairies, and putting her
into his fairy sleigh drove off with her
into the famous Sleepy Hollow i'll the
White Cotton Night-Cap Country.
eff she wants to sleep fifteen years,
let her try it, said he, nodding his long
pointed red flannel cap in wicked sort
of way. "Ihose youngsters will look
out for themselves, I'll be bound, and
I'll make it all right with the father.
And she'll have good nap" he added.
winking and rolling up his eyes and
slapping his fat sides.
Bless me How stiff Mamma Graham
did feel when she woke at last in her
own bed at home, for Santa Claus had
faithfully brought her back at the right
time. As if anybody wouldn't feel stiff
who had slept fifteen years straight
through But then she didn't know, of
course, what a trick that wicked old
Saint Nick had played on her, and that
this wasn't the very same Christmas
morning on which she had gone to
sleep. So she only said, as she got
slowly out of bed, and began to dress as
fast as possible with such stiff hands and
arms
9" wonder how long 1 have slept. 1t
must be very late. Poor papa must be
dreadfully tired of taking care of the
children, and hungry, too, waiting for
his breakfast"
When she opened the dining-room
ing paper. The children must have
tired him, for he certainly seemed a
great deal older as he looked up and
said with smile, "Well, mamma, have
you had good nap?"
"Oh, yes, indeed 4" said mamma,
"only you oughtn't to have let me
sleep so long. I'm afraid you are all
dreadful tired waiting for breakfast,
though see you have got the table set.
Where are the children?" she asked, as
she walked on to the kitchen without
waiting for him to answer.
How strange There was the turkey,
all stuffed and dressed on the kitchen
table, the cranberries picked and in the
kettle ready to be set on the stove, and
the plum pudding all made The coffee
for breakfast was on the stove, while
before it stood tall young lady in a
handsome brown merino dress, and q
pretty white apron, broiling beefsteak.
Mamma began to feel rather bewil-
dered. Was this fine young lady new
girl whom papa had engaged while she
was asleep? Just then the "new girl "
turned around and saw her. Throwing
down the knife and fork she had in her
hand, she ran to her and threw her
arms around her neck.
"Why, mamma, darling, is that you?
Santa Claus said this was the morning
for you to wake up, and I've been get
ting everything ready. Do you feel
rested ?"
"Rested To be sure I do" said
mamma, staring at the fine young lady,
who acted SO queerly. "But where are
the children 2"
Here's Harry" said the young lady,
as tall young fellow of about 20 en-
tered.
UHello II there isn't mamma he