Life and Adventures of Santa Claus & Other Christmas Novels. Люси Мод Монтгомери
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hansom-cab
Every one was very kind, especially the officers
I've seen the imperial family several times
Trying to sketch the gray-stone lion's head on the wall
She leaned her head upon her hands
Now, this is filling at the price
Up with the Bonnets of Bonnie Dundee
I amused myself by dropping gingerbread nuts over the seat
Thou shalt haf thy Bhaer
He waved his hand, sock and all
Dis is mine effalunt
I sat down upon the floor and read and looked and ate
Tail-piece
In the presence of three gentlemen
A select symposium
He doesn't prink at his glass before coming
Jo stuffed the whole bundle into the stove
He put the sisters into the carriage
He laid his head down on the mossy post
O Jo, can't you?
Tail-piece
With her head in Jo's lap, while the wind blew healthfully over her
Tail-piece
He hurried forward to meet her
Here are your flowers
Demi and Daisy
Mornin' now
My dear man, it's a bonnet
Tail-piece
Sat piping on a stone while his goats skipped
Laurie threw himself down on the turf
A rough sketch of Laurie taming a horse
The Valley of the Shadow
Tail-piece
Sat staring up at the busts
Turning the ring thoughtfully upon his finger
O Laurie, Laurie, I knew you'd come
How well we pull together
Jo and her father
Jo laid her head on a comfortable rag-bag and cried
A substantial lifelike ghost leaning over her
The tall uncle proceeded to toss and tousle the small nephew
Mr. Bhaer sang heartily
Mrs. Laurence sitting in her mother's lap
They began to pace up and down
Tail-piece
Me loves evvybody
What makes my legs go, dranpa?
Dranpa, it's a We
Tail-piece
Mr. Bhaer and Jo were enjoying promenades
Looking up she saw Mr. Bhaer
Does this suit you, Mr. Bhaer?
Under the umbrella
Tail-piece
Harvest time
Teddy bore a charmed life
Leaving Mrs. March and her daughters under the festival tree
Tail-piece
"Go then, my little Book, and show to all
That entertain and bid thee welcome shall,
What thou dost keep close shut up in thy breast;
And wish what thou dost show them may be blest
To them for good, may make them choose to be
Pilgrims better, by far, than thee or me.
Tell them of Mercy; she is one
Who early hath her pilgrimage begun.
Yea, let young damsels learn of her to prize
The world which is to come, and so be wise;
For little tripping maids may follow God
Along the ways which saintly feet have trod."
Adapted from John Bunyan.
Part First.
CHAPTER I.
PLAYING PILGRIMS.
Christmas won't be Christmas without any presents," grumbled Jo, lying on the rug.
"It's so dreadful to be poor!" sighed Meg, looking down at her old dress.
"I don't think it's fair for some girls to have plenty of pretty things, and other girls nothing at all," added little Amy, with an injured sniff.
"We've got father and mother and each other," said Beth contentedly, from her corner.
The four young faces on which the firelight shone brightened at the cheerful words, but darkened again as Jo said sadly,—
"We haven't got father, and shall not have him for a long time." She didn't say "perhaps never," but each silently added it, thinking of father far away, where the fighting was.
Nobody spoke for a minute; then Meg said in an altered tone,—
"You know the reason mother proposed not having any presents this Christmas was because it is going to be a hard winter for every one; and she thinks we ought not to spend money for pleasure, when our men are suffering so in the army. We can't do much, but we can make our little sacrifices, and ought to do it gladly. But I am afraid I don't;" and Meg shook her head, as she thought regretfully of all the pretty things she wanted.
"But I don't think the little we should spend would do any good. We've each got a dollar, and the army wouldn't be much helped by our giving that. I agree not to expect anything from mother or you, but I do want to buy Undine and Sintram for myself; I've wanted itso long," said Jo, who was a bookworm.
"I planned to spend mine in new music," said Beth, with a little sigh, which no one heard but the hearth-brush and kettle-holder.
"I shall get a nice box of Faber's drawing-pencils; I really need them," said Amy decidedly.
"Mother didn't say anything about our money, and she won't wish us to give up everything. Let's each buy what we want, and have a little fun; I'm sure we work hard enough to earn it," cried Jo, examining the heels of her shoes in a gentlemanly manner.
"I know I do,—teaching those tiresome children nearly