Early Christmas morning Peter awoke. He heard a noise in mother's room.
So he knew that he might get up.
He pushed open the door. "Merry Christmas! Merry Christmas!" he shouted.
"Merry Christmas," said mother, hugging him tightly.
"Merry Christmas," said father, tossing him up into the air. "Did you
see Santa Claus last night?"
Just then Polly ran in. "Oh, oh, it is Christmas!" she cried. "Merry
Christmas! Merry Christmas! See what I found in my bed."
It was a box of animal crackers. They were all sheep.
"O father! You did it for a joke. You know I do not like mutton."
Peter ran to look in his room. He thought a joke might be there, too.
"See, see!" he shouted. "I have found a letter box. That is not a joke."
"Look inside," said father.
Peter looked. There he saw a very small pony. It was made of cloth. On
its back it had a cloth monkey.
"A joke, a joke!" cried Polly. "Your pony came in your letter box after
all."
There were to be no more presents until after breakfast. So the children
dressed quickly.
It was hard for them to eat anything.
At last Polly said, "I cannot wait another second. I will eat my
breakfast with my dinner. Here comes grandmother. Now may we open the
door and see the tree?"
"In just a minute," said father. "You say 'Merry Christmas' to
grandmother. I have one last thing for the tree. You may come in when I
call." And out he ran.
"I wonder what it is," said Polly. "I can hear him coming back through
the side door."
Then grandmother came in, and Polly forgot to wonder any more.