What do you think I did with all my beautiful Christmas cards?
I had saved ever and ever so many, and Easter and New Year's, and
Birthday cards, and a lot of Valentines. I knew I would get more this
Christmas, so I thought I would give these away.
Then I thought I would paste them in a scrapbook, or tack them up on
the wall instead. Then, I thought I would just keep them in a box
forever, and show them to my grandchildren; but, when aunt Nora told
me about the sick children at the hospital, then I thought I'd give my
cards to them. I just made up my mind I would, and so I did.
Aunt Nora took me to the hospital, and I wore my new red cloak and
hat. I think I looked sweet, too. The hospital is pretty big, and we
had to go down a long hall and a long pair of stairs. I began to be
frightened, 'cause suppose one of the doctors made a mistake and
thought I was sick!
So I held aunt Nora's hand tight until we came to a big room where
there were lots of beds and poor little sick boys and girls in them.
Some more children were playing around, and they were sick too. One of
them, a wee little mite, was eating bread and molasses, and her face
was all sticky. She wanted to kiss me.
A pretty nurse in a white cap came up and spoke to us, and aunt Nora
told her about my cards. She said I might give them round myself.
So I went up to the first cot, and, oh dear! there was such a sick
little girl in it. I asked her if she would like a card, and she
seemed so delighted that I gave her a beauty, with red and white
fringe. Then all the children said, "Gi'me one too, lady! Oh, lady!
gi'me one!"
[Illustration: "I THINK I LOOKED SO SWEET."]
Nobody ever called me "lady" before, but then I am most grown up now.
One child there was just as old as I am; only he was a boy, and he had
a big iron thing on his leg. When I gave him a card, he said, "Thank
you marm, and merry Christmas!"
Then they all waved their cards and cried "Merry Christmas! merry
Christmas!" as I went out of the door.
I hope I'll get ever so many cards this Christmas, so I can give them
to the hospital children. It's such fun!