Becky's Christmas

Becky

s

Christmas

Also hy Taska Tudor BECKY

S

BIRTHDAY

Becfe)/5

Christmas

WRITTEN AND ILLUSTRATED BY

Taska Tudor Tke Viking ^Prtss NEW YORK

Stillwater

School Library Junior High

Copyright

© 1961 by Tasha Tudor

All rights reserved First published in 1961

by The Viking

625 Madison Avenue,

New

York

Press, Inc.

22,

N. Y.

Published simultaneously in Canada by

The Macmillan Company

of

Canada Limited

Library of Congress catalog card number: 61-11667

Third printing February 1966

Fie

1.

2.

LITHOGRAPHED IN THE

Christmas Family

U.S.A.

stories

BY KELLOGG & BUI

kl

I

IV

vJetting ready pening

mas

for

Christmas seemed to Becky one delightful hap-

after another,

itself.

The

first

ending with the most wonderful of

all,

Christ-

hint of Christmas started with two things, the

smell of Christmas cakes baking and the tains. •

6

•

first

snow on the

far

moun-

Baking cakes was an afternoon's and evening's undertaking

which every member

as

soon as they came

and

of the family took part.

began with Mother having Becky and

It

filled

the

wood

so as to get settled in a bowl.

home from

in

only

Ned

shell the

almonds

school and had fed the chickens

box, both of which jobs were done with alacrity

on the bench by the

Then came

be indulged

in

if

a

fire

with a heap of almonds

the fun of playing philopena, which could

double almond turned

up— you would

share

the almond, and then the object was to get your opponent to say

"yes" to any question.

It is

quite hard not to say "yes"

older brother suddenly asks you

your teeth,

at least

Becky found

After almond-shelling cial

charms

came almond-skinning, which had

its

spe-

Father was helping. This took

if

it

because she could be excused

dishes.

The almonds were became

so.

it

place after supper. Becky enjoyed

skins

you've fed the cat or brushed

if

as well, particularly

from drying the

when an

soft

covered with boiling water until their brown

and you could pop the nut

out. Father

was a

splendid almond-popper and could pop one clear across the kitchen into Ned's

open mouth. In

fact

it

was surprising the number of

almonds that popped away from the bowl by "mistake on purpose."

Mother now got the

largest yellow

bowl from the pantry, and two

whole pounds of butter and sugar were creamed together; then everyone took

a turn beating in the sixteen eggs.

beaten for three minutes,

As each egg had

to

be

took a good deal of beating.

it

Ned's and Dan's favorite part was measuring out the currants,

and

raisins,

Mother kept

of them.

being extremely popular with both

cherries, these last

watchful eye and rarely was taken in by

a

Father's tricks at trying to get her to look the other way. Father was

fond of candied cherries Kitty

and Becky cut

too.

scalloped the edges most beautifully to

By now the mixture was

make

in the process of

the cakes look pretty.

being vigorously

by Father, "to keep him out of mischief," Mother

He wore

flour,

"to

he complained, winking

Dan saw maple

logs.

and

his hair

show I'm old and gray and henpecked,"

at

Mother.

that "Maria," the

Mother was

stirred

said.

one of Mother's aprons and had dusted

mustache with

They

linings of white paper for the pans.

wood

stove,

was well supplied with

fussy about this; only

maple wood baked

Christmas cakes properly. Father held the big bowl sideways, and Mother divided tents

among

Now

While just

con-

the six pans, three for home, three for "giveaway."

came the fun

in designs.

its

of putting cherries

Becky liked

this part best; so

the cakes baked,

one candle. Then they

and almonds on the cakes

did Kitty.

Mother blew out the lamp and sat in the quiet kitchen •

8

•

lighted

and Father

told

wonderful

stories of

magic and witches and enchanted

of dark forests inhabited by demons.

ran

up and down your

He

told

them

back, but that was the fun

— to

castles

and

so well shivers

be "shivered"

— as Ned said. Every so often the cakes were inspected by Mother and, when done, they were put carefully to cool in the pantry.

So

after a long,

to her ten years,

and always-to-be-remembered evening, Becky

fell

to

be added

asleep with the delicious smell of the

beginnings of Christmas in the cold •

9

*

air of

her bedroom.

Then one morning Becky came out "It

is

high time

we

and Mother

a few stocking things, at

all

said at breakfast,

making things!"

got to work

made

were white with snow when

hills

to feed her chickens,

Becky's family

and not made

the faraway

their

own Christmas

presents, except for

which were of course supplied by Santa Claus

home.

This year seemed extra special to Becky; she could knit

now

out running to Mother or Kitty for help, and her grandmother, lived close by,

Mother and

up

was helping her make a most wonderful surprise

things like knitting and arithmetic

later

"Maybe

who for

Father.

Somehow to sit

with-

and do grown-up

it is

just

things,

had

all

and being allowed

come

easier this year.

because I'm ten," said Becky.

So now spare minutes and nearly every evening were spent

in

mak-

ing presents.

The house was

private place

where absolutely no other members of the family could

full of surprises,

and each person had

a

come. Father had something "awfully secret" in the workshop, he told Becky. So that was forbidden it

was that everyone

/

—

else

territory,

was

in

on

0\U»-

,

though the hard thing about

it.

"And

I

have

a surprise at

Grannie's," Becky said, "and you and Mother just can't go into

Grannie's back room.

Now

remember." Father promised solemnly.

Becky's surprise for Mother and Father was this

had taught her how self,

was weaving

a

to

weave

last

:

her grandmother

summer, so now Becky,

all

by

her-

rug for their room, a fine red one. Grandmother 11

had shown her how

to

wind the warp threads on the warping frame.

She had taught her how and Grannie had spent Becky liked forth,

to thread the heddles

a fall afternoon cutting

sitting in the big

back and

forth.

The

the rags in place, and the

bump, and

and the

reed.

Becky

and dyeing the

rags.

loom, throwing the shuttle back and

beater

made

wooden

a satisfying

treadles

sound

as

it

went down with

beat

a nice

the rug grew inch by inch. Becky couldn't go every day

to Grannie's, so

it

was taking a long time.

For the boys Becky was knitting mittens, a red pair blue pair for Dan. She had bought the wool out of her

for

own

Ned,

a

savings.

For Kitty she was making a pincushion with a cross-stitched bird in red

and green, and

for

Grannie

checked flannel with Grannie's

What

a hot-water-bottle cover of

initials cross-stitched

on the

blue

front.

could Father and the boys be making that was so secret in

the workshop? Becky wondered and wondered. Kitty helping too.

What

could

it

be?

And Mother and

Present-making was under way, and for the

made Advent Wreaths and

become

now

a family

Dan, Ned,

Woods,

a

Kitty

a very dear

and Becky went

Kitty,

this

It

had

was kept

Christmas

They gathered spruce

was another smell,

clear, cold spruce,

very close to Becky.

the wreath in the it

after school to the

walk from home.

made Christmas seem

and there

Calendars. So Grannie taught

custom.

half-hour's

They made

of

to get greens

and Becky made the Advent Wreath.

branches and ground pine;

cold,

was time

Denmark, and she had taught Grannie how the Danish

Mother, and

that

it

Advent Wreath. Becky's grandmother had had

friend from

people

now

woodshed

until

if

December

the weather wasn't too the sixth, the birthday

good Saint Nicholas. This wasn't the Danish way of doing

Grannie

said.

"But

I

guess

it's

our way!'' *3

'

it,

Usually an Advent Wreath

and one of

its

four candles

the fourth, which

is

is

put up the

lighted,

and

first

so

Sunday

on each Sunday

sixth,

fine ones,

until

along with Advent

Calendars from years back, made by Grannie or Mother.

made

Advent,

almost Christmas. But in Becky's family the

is

wreath was hung up on December the

also

in

with birds and animals doing

Now

all sorts

of

Kitty

amus-

ing things.

The calendars were

tacked on the wall at the end of the old kitchen,

and the wreath hung from four red ribbons above the long Becky was allowed creche was

made

to set

in the brick

up the creche

herself this year.

oven beside the big old-fashioned

place where people used to cook long, long time ago,

table.

when

14

*

fire-

Becky's house was new, a

when America was new •

The

too.

The oven and hay

arch

made a

back

for the

board she found

perfect stable. Becky put in a spruce branch

part,

in the

then

made

woodshed.

a stable wall

It

from

weathered

a

took her a long time to find

just the right bit of board.

Grannie had made the Madonna,

was hard

to set

up

just as

ingly over the small

Becky wanted

a

for

them

it

put a

it

of the Christmas

addition this year. She set in

little

but

of gold paper.

at last

The

figure

she bent lov-

at the

china babv.

There were

a

donkey,

white one, and a most adorable cock and hen.

Becky especially loved them;

them come out

her,

wooden manger and looked

Becky made new halos

two black lambs and

also a long time ago.

up

woolen owl.

was

like seeing old friends to in a

new

like a small tree

and

box once more. Becky put

a spruce

branch

have

"I'm sure owls

as well as

doves came to see baby Jesus," said Becky.

This owl certainly looked very fine

in his small spruce tree beside the

creche.

When to

keep

it

it

was

is

and

tomorrow, December

Becky was impatient to show to

open the thought

Becky's

last

making

in the

When

to Becky's liking, she replaced the

a surprise until

How lovely! creche,

all

she

first

how

Tomorrow!

she had arranged the

as she fell asleep

was

:

wonder what Father

I

workshop?

woke up the sun was shining through the

very cold; soon the

And

sixth.

door of the new Advent Calendar.

on her window panes. She could hear Mother

surprise!

wooden door

frost pictures

in the kitchen. It

snow would come, and Christmas, and

goodness,

it

was December

Advent Calendar! She jumped out George Pussy, who was

of bed,

so startled he

foolish. •

16

sixth;

•

Father's

she could open the

much

jumped

was

too,

to the surprise of

and then looked

Beck\ ran the

new

down

in her

nightgown

calendar; this year

Becky found the

little

was an animal post

it

door marked with a

"Mother, Kitty come! I'm going

Mother and

Kitty

pulled back the

first

in spite of the cold.

came through

to

There was

office in a tree.

6.

open the calendar!"

the pantry to see. Becky carefully

door. Inside was a very small rabbit cooking a

very large Christmas pudding! "Kitty, you're so clever," said

Becky

as

Mother hurried her

upstairs

to get her clothes on.

So the day until at last

started;

then breakfast, school, lunch, more school,

Becky was walking home up the •

17

•

hill

with

Ned and

Sally

Gray and Lucy Whitcomb, who had been invited tea

and

to see the

When Kitty

they got

said they

They

Nicholas

wreath and creche and the calendars.

home Mother had

had made the

Mother

for Saint

an extra treat in

store.

She and

and

after tea

large gingerbreads for the tree,

would

decorate them.

all

hurried to take off their coats and mittens and help get the

tea ready. Father

had lighted

was boiling, and the

first

a fire in the big fireplace.

Christmas cake, with

white almonds, was put on the

ahead of the others

to light the

"You mustn't look, "Oh, how

lovely,

was such

Kitty

Kitty,

its

silver tray. Kitty

The

kettle

shiny cherries and

and Becky went

in

wreath and the creche.

till I

get

it

lighted," said Becky. "There!"

Becky!"

a satisfactory sister; she always

admired things

properly.

Now

all

was ready and everyone

else

came

in,

Dan

last,

carrying

the largest tea tray set out with the best blue china and the silver tea urn.

Becky

This was almost

felt

warm with

real

Christmas! Everyone loved the creche.

pleasure.

They had

Father ate three pieces of cake and blamed

tea it

and sang

on Ned.

carols,

and

Afterward the gingerbreads were Kitty

had to

a

made paper cornucopias chance

to outline

be careful not

frosting

came out

more fun

to

on ginger

fishes.

make

laid

out on the long table, and

to hold the white frosting so everyone

and decorate whatever he pleased. You had

to squeeze the cornucopia too hard, or else the at the top.

Of

course

frosting feathers

•

19

it

could be eaten, but

on ginger owls, or

•

it

was

frosting scales

Father went quite wild with his decorating ideas and turned ponies into zebras

and made

wrong sums on

the

a

gingerbread

slate.

the job was finished and everyone was good and sticky,

By the time it

all

was dark, so Father took the lantern, and he and Becky saw Lucy

and

Sally

home.

Walking back alone with Father was peaceful ments of the day. Becky nearly finished,

and

and the pincushion

felt

very happy. She thought of her rug,

of the boys' mittens, too.

"Look, Becky!" said Father.

By

all

made but one

of Ned's,

But her mind always wandered back

wonderful thing Father was making

out of her thoughts. So

after the excite-

it

what

workshop.

snowing!" Becky jumped right

"It's

was — the

the time they reached

in the

to

first

snow.

home, thousands of

tiny flakes

were

falling in the rays of the lantern light.

By bedtime

it

was snowing hard, and the wind came

in

from the

northeast and rattled Becky's windows. George Pussy was comforting and warm, curled

up

against her back.

Becky thought of Mother and Father downstairs working

to-

gether on things for Christmas. She thought of the creche and the little

the

woolen owl looking

fire. It

It

was

a

at

Mary and

was a lovely thought, and with

it

Becky went

to sleep.

changed and wintry world that Becky woke up

meant double work

morning.

It

to shovel

and water buckets

calves in the drifts

"Maybe

her baby in the dying light of

they'll

for

everyone in the barn, with snow

to carry.

when they were

let

The cows

20

•

frisked

about

like

out for their morning drink.

milk ice cream," Father suggested. •

to the next

What

a fine

they flew for Becky! Each morning she ran

door

in the calendar; there

marked with

big one

down and opened

were excitingly few doors now

at

just

until the

Grannie's the next week, put the

on the hot-water-bottle case the week following.

was only

new

a

24.

She finished her rag rug stitches

how

snow, and only three weeks to Christmas, and

one of Ned's mittens

to do,

and

all

Now

last

there

her presents would

be made.

Every afternoon,

box went

would be cooky-making,

for a

and family, and that meant

a lot

just about, there

to each of their friends •

21

and baked and sent away. Becky loved making

of cookies to be cut cookies.

There was

enchanting cutters — an eagle, a

a basket full of

many

duck, a rooster, two rabbits,

fancy hearts and squares and

Dan from

rounds and oblongs, and even a pony cut by

You had

to thin

him

a bit

or you could raise a foot spirited.

eat them; yet

by pinching here and there before baking,

and push up

The ducks were

a bit of tin.

his

head

to

make him

look more

Becky's favorites, only she couldn't bear to

Ned snapped

off their

ginger heads with the greatest

of ease.

A

few days before Christmas the mailman brought the box from

their cousins in Pennsylvania.

a part of the

This was an event that was very

Christmas celebration.

It

was always a wooden box,

the address neatly lettered. Father would carry

be opened carefully and wait until evening, that

privately. It

seemed

when Father would

was always there along with the

much

it

to

to the

workshop

to

Becky a very long

bring out the one package

others,

but the only one that

could be opened ahead of time. In the package were the Clear Toys, sugar.

They came

in red, green,

little

figures

and pale yellow;

liked the best. 22

•

made

of barley

this last color

Becky

Mother put the box on the tray;

then she and

table. Kitty

brought the large

Dan and Ned and Becky unpacked

them.

silver It

was

fun to see what you unwrapped. There were several kinds of birds; there were trumpets, boats, pitchers, reindeer,

and funny men. There were elephants

manes of barley Ribbons had tree.

to

sugar,

be

This job took

and cannon and

tied to all of all

too,

them

evening, but

it

and goats and monkeys

and ponies with flowing

a pipe for Father

so they could be

and Dan.

hung on

was fun, and any broken

the toys

could be eaten on the spot.

"Only two more days as

until Christmas."

Becky wanted

to shout

it

she climbed upstairs to bed that night. George Pussy ran up ahead •

23

'

and waited

for her at the top.

When

Becky stroked him he gave

off

sparks. "I'll

make you

would you

George," she

a present too,

like that?"

George purred and

said.

said,

"A

catnip mouse,

"Meow." He seemed

really pleased at the suggestion.

Becky

lost

no time

in getting into bed, for the

She had

just

jumped

in

when Mother came

room was

to kiss her

icy cold.

good night,

bringing a hot water bottle for her toes. Mother was so comforting.

Becky

lay in bed, thinking

and

listening to the cold stillness; she

could hear the faraway sounds of the family downstairs and the "tap, •

24

•

tap" of Father's

What

prise.

The

can

hammer from it

next morning was

in the

"Working on my

sur-

possibly be?"

busy day. The largest and

and

the workshop.

December twenty- fourth. last

It

would be

a

door on the calendar could be opened,

afternoon they would go to the Christmas

Woods

to get

the tree!

Becky didn't mind the cold

went

to the calendar

first

office

as she dressed

and opened the big door. Inside was

a post

with cubbyholes and important notices, and a postman crow

was holding a card

in his

beak that

said,

and underneath someone had added you think Father's making you All

and hurried down. She

for

"Merry Christmas

in tiny, tiny letters,

to

Becky,"

"What do

Christmas?"

morning Becky helped clean house and

finish

last-minute

cooky-baking. She also remembered what she had told George Pussy

and went hanging from

there.

Then

a scrap of calico

Then end

to the attic

and got some catnip from among the herbs she stitched up a sort of mouse-shaped bag

and added

a black

wool

tail

and eyes and

she had the idea of running carpet thread through the nose

for whiskers.

The mouse

looked splendid and smelled very

"nippy" indeed. She showed George the package when up,

ears.

and he took

and wanting

a great interest in

to get into the

it,

it

was done

even to following Becky upstairs

drawer of presents with

it.

In the afternoon Father hitched

and they was

all

up Brown Dobbin

Woods

drove over to the Christmas

a beautifully bright afternoon; the

to get the tree. It

shadows on the snow were

and the Christmas

as blue as the far hills,

to the sledge,

Woods

looked

chanted forest with the snow-covered spruce trees shining

There were patterns their tracks.

in the

snow where

Becky noticed where

a little

an en-

like

in the sun.

and birds had

rabbits

mouse had run

in

and

left

out,

"looking for fir-cone seeds for his Christmas dinner," Kitty said. It

was always hard to decide which

Dan found

another too slim, but

and Father cut

it

down and put

tree to take;

a perfect

it

on the

one was too

one by the

sledge.

The

wall,

tall,

and he

others brought

along the leftover branches for decorations, and they returned to the house,

Mother and

Kitty

on the sledge, Becky

astride

Brown Dobbin,

and Father and the boys walking alongside.

The

tree

was such

a full-branched

in the side door. Kitty

path as the boys pulled

and the

and Becky hurried it

cold, clear scent of

his claws

"That's Puss, after

it

chairs

had

Christmas tree

in

its

to

be brought

and rugs out of

into the room, shedding

George Pussy thought the ened

one that

its

snow and needles

wake.

was especially

for

him.

He

sharp-

on the trunk and climbed among the branches.

all

very fine," said Mother, "but

it's

decorated!"

~*

no tree-climbing, Mr.

Becky spread out old sheets beneath the

and Father and the boys braced

drips,

it

in a

tree to catch the

wax

tub with sand and with

strands of wire from the corners of the room.

Then Becky braved

the prickly needles and poured water in the tub to keep the tree fresh.

How

splendid

how good

it

looked, even without

it

Mother and Father looked

tease.

balls

and candles, and

smelled! Becky just stood and looked at

of pure joy tickling the back of her neck.

pretty,

its

and the boys

And George

it

Oh, Christmas was

so especially dear to her,

really weren't too

bad

after

Pussy was such a special

such a special house that Becky

felt

27

cat,

all,

lovely!

and Kitty

even

if

so

they did

and the house was

she just couldn't contain herself

for happiness. .

with shivers

•

It

was nearly dark now, so everyone hurried through with barn

work, being sure to give treats to the animals for Christmas Eve.

Becky hung spruce boughs over the horse put up a branch with apples tied to to

watch Father and Dan milking,

on beautifully brushed

tails.

And

it

all

stalls,

for the hens.

three cows

and she and Ned

When

they

came

had red ribbon bows

Father had tied hemlock and a tiny

piece of mistletoe on Mrs. Cow's horns. She

seemed ever

so pleased

and enjoyed being kissed and admired. For supper Mother and Kitty had baked Father's favorite cornbread. There were sausages from the

with red apple

bits,

mas Eve chocolate

and

Ohio

cousins,

and hot soup, and

pickles

pie! •

28

•

and cole slaw

for dessert Christ-

Grannie had come over while they were out brought

a basket full of exciting-looking

spend that night with them so

and

all

up "to

She had

packages too. She would

be there

for stocking-opening

of Christmas Day. After supper Father

and the boys washed

give the

They had doors.

in the barn.

women

a treat."

barely finished

Becky ran

to the

when

window

Grays and Whitcombs,

as to

there was a sound of caroling out-

to see

of them.

who

it

was, and there were the

They had

a lantern,

and

its

soft

rays lighted the singing faces unforgettably in Becky's mind.

Of

course they

all

came

in,

all

and there was much stamping of boots and

shedding of heavy coats and mittens put on more coffee and Becky run upstairs to straighten her brother, Josh, always

in the kitchen while

filled plates

hair.

Mother

with cookies. Kitty had

Becky had noticed that

made hair-straightening very important

Sally's

to Kitty.

Everyone gathered

in the old kitchen

and admired the wreath and

calendars and Becky's creche. Becky and Sally and coffee

and cookies

singing, this time

to the

grownups.

Then

Lucy passed the

there was

more

carol-

around the old organ, which was very tempera-

mental, refusing to play certain notes, but this didn't matter; the

missing notes were

filled

by the happy

wonderful time. •

30

•

voices,

and everyone had

a

It

was well past ten on the kitchen clock by the time the

last

"good-bys" had been said and promises made to come coasting and sleigh-riding after Christmas.

Becky was surprised that she should

feel so sleepy as

she helped

straighten up. "It said

would never do

Mother.

Hanging

"We

have Santa Claus see the room

can't

stockings!

to feel sleepy

to

in this state/'

hang stockings without tidying up."

Becky had almost forgotten. She didn't seem

any more.

Father hung up

his stocking

first,

then Mother, and so on,

down

to Becky's.

Then Grannie

read

which Becky went

mas Day with as

she

fell

its

"The Night

off to

surprise.

asleep with

bed

before Christmas" out loud, after

in expectation of the

"What

could

it

coming

be?" was her

last

Christ-

thought

George Pussy purring comfortably beside

her.

"Merry Christmas,

sleepy! Aren't

you going

voice startled Becky awake. Goodness,

Becky jumped out of bed. she had overslept!

and the

Ned

Ned stood

rabbit, so all really

It

it

there, grinning. "I've fed your chickens to

do

is

to hurry

light that the stockings

had

lost

and come down."

no time

in getting

"Merry Christmas"

to

the fireplace, and Becky could see by

its

and ran downstairs,

A big fire was burning in

daylight!

was Christmas Day, Christmas, and

you need

Father and Mother and the

up?" Ned's

seemed hardly

was so nice sometimes. Becky

into her clothes

to get

calling

rest.

certainly gained weight overnight.

They

were lumpy with interesting bumps, and a striped candy cane stuck

from the top of each one. Everyone was ready, Grannie the settle with her white hair smooth, and Father and her.

Dan handed

sitting

on

Mother beside

out the stockings, and there followed delightful

paper rustlings and pleased "Just see what laughter over the things

Mother

got,"

just couldn't see

found them." •

I

V-

'

and

giggles

and

"where Santa had

—a

In hers, Becky found an orange

some

hair ribbons,

wrapped ings;

and

in tinfoil, the

cake of

and some chocolates which,

real

it

if

mittens,

new dime,

delicious-smelling soap in

she wanted

was Christmas; and

Christmas stockto,

she could eat

a delightful little doll

yellow hair and blue glass eyes. Becky thought she looked

extra clothes for her too,

The

clear,

Lucy Whitcomb and decided

just like

treat— a shiny

kind of soap found only

before breakfast because

with

a

real

all

knitted with

and

to call her Lucy.

There were

a tiny red sweater, cap, leggings,

"mouse

and

stitches," said Grannie.

boys found some very funny jokes

in theirs,

cided that Santa Claus must resemble Father in

and Becky de-

many

ways.

Then

they had breakfast, after which there were lots of prepara-

tions for the

Christmas dinner to be seen

to.

Grannie had stuffed the turkey the night before, and brought from the cold front

hall,

where

it

it

was now

had been placed

for

safekeeping, and put in the tin kitchen. Becky's family always cooked their turkey before the

oven.

It

open

tasted wonderful.

It

fire in

the tin kitchen instead of in an

was Becky's privilege

to turn the spit

even* twentv minutes and to do the basting. George Pussv and the

dogs took a great interest

in the turkey-roasting

hearth in hopes of spilled drippings.

and

sat

about the

1

i

1

3

$% I

2

The

presents were

had been

tied to the gingerbread animals

hanging on the

The on

wrapped and waiting

and waiting.

Its

A

by Kitty and Father.

end of the room so the finished

The

Ribbons

and the Clear Toys

for

tree.

tree stood green

after dinner

in the library.

tree

decorations would be put

curtain was

would be

hung

across that

a surprise.

long white cloth was spread on the table, and Grannie and

Beck\- set out the silver

and best china and

glasses.

Grannie had

brought salted nuts and peppermints, and Kitty had made piece, a lovely wreath of large

and

candle in the middle. •

35

*

little

a center-

pine cones with a red

Mother had

warm

there,

rolls rising in

and had

just

the

woodbox because

it

was nice and

turned out a beautiful mold of cranberry

sauce in the shape of an ear of corn. Turning out the mold was always a tense moment, and

onto the blue Canton

Mother gave

a sigh of relief as

it

slid

platter, perfect in every respect.

Kitty set out the green glass finger bowls,

Mother's room and snipped

off pieces

to float in them. •

36

•

and Becky went

to

from the scented geraniums

In between times she ran to take peeks at her

new

doll

and

its

adorable clothes. Goodness, there just was nothing quite like Christ-

mas! Father told her that right after dinner she would have to stay upstairs while they

brought

in the surprise

and put

it

near the

tree,

behind the curtain.

At one o'clock everyone straightened up and put on best for

Christmas. George Pussy even had a red bow.

I

clothes

The

turkey was roasted to a golden brown, the

rolls

were baked,

and everything and everyone was ready. Father carved the turkey, and

Ned and Dan

Christmas dinner was a long and pleasant

passed the plates.

affair,

which seemed

almost too long to Becky. She welcomed the putting on of the finger bowls. These finger bowls were a part of every holiday. of thick green glass, fingers

and

after dinner

everyone wet the

They were tips of his

and ran them round and round the edges of the bowls, mak-

ing thereby wonderful singing vibrations without which Becky would

have considered a Christmas or Thanksgiving dinner incomplete. •

38

•

At

last

and Dan

carried in the

curtain was strung up,

two old trunks

These Christmas

balls

liked to think of

Grannie

trees of

The

dinner was over.

had belonged

to

full

of Christmas ornaments.

Grannie's mother, and Becky

as a little girl seeing

long ago, and of Mother too, and

Becky's Christmas. Becky wondered seen and asked Grannie about

it,

and Father

now

them on Christmas here they were for

how many Christmases

and Grannie guessed

it

they had

must be

"nigh on seventy and more."

"Now, Becky, vou'vegot

to disappear until called for,"

announced

Father with a most mysterious wink. So, quite gladly, Becky took •

39

*

-M^t&r

mam

George Pussy and went bed

as

To

it

was so

cold.

upstairs

She took the new Lucy

think that in about two

wonderful surprise was! of her rug, bottle case,

and got under the covers of her

and the boys

company

too.

more hours she would know what

that

doll for

And what would Mother and their mittens,

Father think

and Grannie the hot-water-

and Kitty the pincushion? Goodness, the time seemed

long.

Becky

laid

out Lucy Doll and

all

her clothes and tried on the

knitted things; they fitted beautifully. After that Becky fallen asleep

because the next thing she knew there was Mother

leaning over her and asking her

mas

tree,

and

it

if

she would like to see the Christ-

was dark outside.

Becky's heart beat excitingly fast as they went stairs,

George Pussy running

"He seems we

must have

to

down

the back

in front.

be expecting something too," said Mother. "Here

are!" she called through the closed door. •

40

•

"Wait

a

minute,"

Dan

said,

and Becky heard mysterious move-

ments and whisperings. That wait almost the longest

to play; that

was the Christmas

Mother opened the door and stepped out

watch Becky see her

"Now

seemed

yet.

The music box began signal.

at the foot of the stairs

surprise.

you may come," called Father. •

41

•

first

"all

ready"

in order to

1

Becky's hand was trembling with excitement as she lifted the

door latch and stepped stood the beautiful beside

it

tree, a

the last step. She turned around. There

shine of balls and candles, but beside

stood a doll's house!

The most wonderful by

down

dolls'

it,

1

house imaginable, and

tiny candles!! •

42

•

it

too was lighted

Becky was speechless with happiness. There to say; she could only run

just

wasn't anything

and hug Mother and Father, "and Grannie

too," said Mother.

"And

Kitty

and the boys,"

Then Becky

knelt

said Grannie, straightening her glasses.

down and looked and looked and

Everything was complete, even to a black stove kitchen,

and

a dolls'

Christmas

looked.

in the well-stocked

tree in the best parlor, with the doll

family sitting about, waiting to open tiny presents.

b rr

'

>

5'Cfl

Ned and Dan began handing tree,

and the next hour was

out the presents from beneath the

filled

with delighted exclamations of

shimmer

pleasure and a rustle of paper and a

Mother and Father agreed and Grannie most, and

that Becky's rug

said a hot-water-bottle cover

how had Becky

Kitty said the pincushion

of candlelight.

was the

finest ever,

was what she needed

guessed?

was almost too pretty •

44

*

to stick pins into,

and the boys

said,

"Thank you,"

in the

way

brothers do.

It

was

all

very satisfactory.

George Pussy Cat opened Grannie and Mother

his

own

package, not carefully, as

did, saving the ribbon

and paper, but with

a great deal of feline enthusiasm, including clawing

Upon

getting the mouse, he lost

all

his dignity

and

and

biting.

rolled about

like a kitten.

What

was

left

of this exciting day Becky spent playing with her

dolls'

house. She couldn't believe her eyes

open

their tin)- gifts to find that there

were

when

she had the dolls

father doll received the minutest pair of socks, the

blocks,

and the

little girl doll

The

real presents inside.

a tiny, tiny rag doll.

boy

doll

Mother

some

doll

was

given a delicate crocheted shawl.

Becky could hardly bear

when

to leave

time comes even on such wonderful days •

45

'

it

was bedtime, but bed-

as

Christmas.

Good

nights

and many thanks and hugs were exchanged

all

round, and soon the entire family had gone to bed.

Becky

lay

and listened

shining in on

Christmas

tree.

would look

and

my

Then

mother taking the it

dolls'

her

in

house

too, she thought,

mind she saw

Then

they would go to see the calendars,

by way of the stack of firewood behind

Christmas

manger Becky

first

doll

mother would be

started

when

in a place far, far

fell

how tremendous

they would climb up over the small

and the

asleep.

and on the

the doll father and

doll children to see the big tree;

in dolls' eyes.

last of all

creche,

and watched the moon-

through the frosty window panes.

light shining It's

to the stillness

it,

settle,

probably

and they would

see the

telling the doll children that

a real little

baby boy was put

away, called Bethlehem

.

.

.

and with

in

a

this

St'llwater

Junior High School Library

Tu

Tudor Becky's Christmas

Date Due

C>1U

Vf

y

v

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