The aegis & intelligencer. [volume] (Bel Air, Md.) 1864-1923, 1893-12-22
5Mis1ella 1iepus.
THE MAMMA WHO SLEPT FOR
FIFTEEN YEARS.

FIFTEEN YEARS.
go dear! dear,'' sighed Mamma
Graham, what q dreadful noise.
I'm glad Christmas doesn't come any
oftener."
No wonder the poor mamma said
this, for Harry was standing close by
the bed beating his new drum, and
Charles was just behind him blowing
his new red trumpet, and the baby
sat in bed sucking a stick of candy
and pounding his mamma over the
head with tin rattle. Alice, the
eldest of these little folks, was trying
the cry in her new dolly, and was beg
ging the boys just to stop their noise
a minute and hear what a beautiful cry
it had. Altogether, it was not very
good time to catch comfortable
morning nap, although Mamma Ora
ham was just as tired as she could be.
Bridget had left the day before, leav-
ing her everything to do and the
| Christmas dinner to get. Presently
papa, who had entirely given up try
ing to sleep, finished dressing and said
lie would take the children down
i stairs SO that mamma could have a
good rest.
Il wish l could sleep about fifteen
| years." said she, as she turned over
and tucked the pillow snugly under
her head.
Was ever anything more unlucky
She entirely forgot that it was Christ.
mas morning and that Santa Claus
was abroad and as full of mad pranks
as a Christmas pudding is full OF
plums. Papa and the children were
away down stairs, with the doors al
shut between. Nobody was there tC
hinder, for mamma herself was in d
dOze. So what should Santa Claus dc
| but whisk Mamma Graham away
through the roof after the manner oil
fairies and putting her into his fairy
sleigh drove off with her into the ia.
nous Sleepy Hollow in the White
Cotton Ni2ht-Cap Country.
''If she wants TO sleep fifteen years
let her try it" said he, nodding his long
pointed red flannel cap in wicked
| sort of a way. Those youngsters
will look out for themselves. I'll be
bound, and I'll make it all right with
the father. And she'll have a good
nap" he added, winking and rolling
up his eyes AMI slapping his fat sides.
Bless me, How stiff Mamma Ora,
ham did feel when she awoke at last
in her own bed at home. Santa Claus
had faithfully brought her back at
the right time As ii anybody
wouldn't feel stiff who had slept fifteen
years straight through. But then she
| didn't know, of course, what q trick
that wicked old 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.
| Il wonder how long | have slept.
| 1t must be very late. Poor papa must
be dreadfully tired at taking care OF
the children, and hungry, too, waiting
| for his breakfast"
When she opened the dining-room
door there sat papa reading the morn
ing paper. The children must have
| tired him, for he certainly seemed a
| great deal older as he looked up and
said with a smile: well, mamma,
have you had a good nap?''
80 yes indeed" said mamma, ''only
you oughtn't to have let me sleep SO
! long. I'm afraid you are all dreadful
tired waiting for your breakfast,
though | see you have got the table
set. Where are the children p she
asked, as she walked on to the kitchen
without waiting for him to answer.
! How strange There was the tur
| kew. all stuffed and dressed, on the
| kitchen table, the cranberries picked
and in the kettle ready to be set Oh
| the stove, and the plum-pudding al
made
The coffee for breakfast was on the
stove while before it stood a tall young
lady in a handsome brown merinC
dress and a pretty white apron, broil
ing beefsteak.
Mamma began to feel rather Devil
| dered Was this fine young lady a
new girl whom papa had engaged
while she was asleep? Just then the
"new grip turned around and saw
her. Throwing down the knife and
fork she had in her hand, she ran tC
her and threw her arms around hel
neck.
"Whv, 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 fee
rested -
Crested! To be sure l do" said
mamma, staring at the fine young
| lady, WHO dclel 81 dueeIly. Du'
where are the children p
Here's Harry" said the young
lady as q tall young fellow Of about
20 entered.
''Hello if there isn't mamma" he
exclaimed, going up and giving her
good hug.
"Charlie, here, sayr' he called tt
some one outside. Here's mammf
woke up, and then another grea
handsome fellow, who seemed to bt
about IS years old, came up and kissed
her rather bashfully.
what does all this mean ant
where are the children p asked mann
ma, putting her hand up to her head
and feeling ready to cry "Where''
my baby p
80, he's out snow-balling, said ont
of the boys, carelessly.
my baby He'll catch his deatl
of cold" said the distracted mother
rushing to the door, where she raj
against another great boy about Il
years old.
Can you remember your mamma
J Frank ~ asked the young lady.