The Morris County chronicle. [volume] (Morristown, N.J.) 1877-1915, 1909-12-21

The trouble began the day before
Christmas, early in the morning.
'Lizbeth got out of bed on the wrong
side. She dressed on the wrong side
and ate her breakfast on the wrong
side, SO by ten o'clock the whole
house seemed wrong.
Now the Wrong Side is black lit
tie sin that wakes up with you and
follows round If you let him, trying
to spoil your whole day. A smile
will drive him away, but 'Lizbeth did
not know this, or else she had for
gotten. 1t is very strange that one
cross little girl can make a whole
family unhappy, but she can.
The day before Christmas seems
such busy time for grown-ups; they
go off behind closed doors to talk in
whispers and tie up mysterious pack
ages when they think little girls are
not looking Now sensible, nice chill
dren keep out of the way; they do not
ask questions, nor do they pinch big
bundles and guess.
The Wrong Side was close to Liz
beth all that day before Christmas,
saying, do this naughty thing and do
that naughty thing, and 'Lizbeth lis
tened.
She began by teazing baby brother,
? whom she really loved dearly, and
when she had made him cry and
brought mother all the way down
stairs to comfort him. 'Lizbeth, with
Wrong Side at her heels, wandered
of to the kitchen. SThere was a heap
ing cup of raisins, which had taken
cook long time to seed. Wrong
Side said Put salt on them" SO
'Lizbeth did; then she ran upstairs as
fast as she could.
BY and by mother came upstairs.
'Lizbeth hid in the hall. Mother did
not see 'Lizbeth; she went into Auntie
Mays room and closed the door-al-
most Lizbeth heard tissue paper
rattle. What could it be? 'Lizbeth
crept along the hall to Auntie Mays
door. She raised herself on tip toe,
and leaned over slowly till she could
look through the crack.
oh, my! There stood Auntie May
with the loveliest dolly you ever saw,
'Lizbeth lost her balance-she was
so excited. Bob went her head
against the door and open 1t flew.
'sWhy. 'Lizbeth." said mother in oh
such sorry voice; but 'Lizbeth did
not wait. With burning cheeks she
was flying downstairs, only stopping
long enough TO catch up her coat and
hat--never mind her rubbers-she
could run in the wet snow and say
she forgot them, Whispered Wrong
Side >
So 'Lizbeth came in to lunch with
very wet feet indeed; and mother did
not look Christmasie one bit; she did
not smile once.
Well, Christmas Eve came at last,
and it was time to hang up the stock
ings. There was 'Lizbeth's brown
six-year size, and brother Carts black
nine-year size, and dear baby boys
little white sock which he pinned up
all by himself.
Mother had two ways of looking at
you at bedtime, with her happy eyes
or through her sad ones. 'Lizbeth
tried to forget mothers eyes. as she
went slowly upstairs 'Lizbeth laid
awake long time; she was not one
bit sleepy. Suddenly there was
Wrong Side, wide awake, too, and
talking to her. What was he saying?
Her stocking? Why, yes, it was
SMALL not ne-rly so big as Carl's. He
would get much more than she; lots
more.
Lizbeth slipped out of bed. Like a
little white shadow she crossed the
hall to grandma's room. Grandma
! had gqne to spend Christmas at Uncle
'Lizbeth opened the bot
spf the big bureau. There
Astockings in neat rolled