WHAT MIKE FOUND
After dinner that night Chuck and Toad spent a little time helping to
trim the big tree that had been put in place in the library during their
absence of the afternoon. Chuck was on the top of a stepladder, tying
shiny colored balls to the upper branches, when Toad, who had been busy
with candy canes and popcorn balls, suddenly stopped and looked at the
clock on the mantel.
"It's seven o'clock, Chuck," he cried, "and the others will be
wondering why we don't come out," and at this he ran into the hall to
get into his coat and cap.
Chuck took but a second to follow Toad out into the yard to meet the
boys.
Mother Brown had sent her bundle and Toad's new sled to the barn by
John, the stableman, who put them into the sleigh with the other things
while the boys were at dinner.
"Hello, boys! Everybody here?" inquired Toad as he joined the group of
boys in front of the barn.
"All but Fat," laughed Reddy, "and he'll be along in a minute. He said I
walked too fast for him."
"Is everything in the sleigh?" asked Herbie, as John was hitching up.
"Everything's in all right," Toad assured him.
When about to start they found that the sleigh was so full of bundles
that some of the boys had to stand on the runners. Just as they reached
the street, Fat was seen coming toward them.
"Hurry up, lazy bones," called Reddy, "or you'll get left," but John
good-naturedly stopped the horse until Fat had climbed aboard.
There was a full moon and the sky was bright with stars. The snow was
hard beneath the horse's feet, which made the going easy, so they
traveled along at a brisk pace.
"Where shall I stop?" asked John as they drew near the O'Reilly's
cottage.
"Just a little this side of the house," directed Toad, "so they won't
hear us."
"All off, now," ordered Reddy, as John pulled up the horse, "and help
unload. Don't let's make any more noise than we can help."
"We can pile everything on the front steps," whispered Herbie, as the
boys, each heavily laden with packages of all sizes and shapes, walked
very quietly up the path toward the house.
Each carefully placed his bundles or boxes where Herbie had suggested
and just as silently they now returned to the sleigh.
"Suppose someone comes along and takes all the things before they get up
in the morning?" argued Fat. "I don't think it's safe to leave them
there all night, do you?"
"Well, maybe we'd better throw some snowballs at the door," proposed
Chuck, "to bring them out now."
This was accepted as a good plan, and "Bang, bang, bang!" went the balls
against the door.
The sleigh, in which the boys took refuge, was well hidden behind a pine
tree, so they could not be seen from the house.
"There's a light!" said Reddy in a low voice. "Someone is opening the
door."
"It's Mike!" answered Herbie, excitedly. "I'll bet he can't believe his
eyes."
It did seem to the others that what Herbie said was true, for, framed in
the doorway of the cottage stood a boy, gazing at a great heap of
bundles and boxes on the steps before him as if dazed. Once he rubbed
his eyes as if to make sure he was awake, then he slowly stretched out
one hand toward the beautiful new sled, hardly daring to believe it was
real. Then suddenly, as the boys watched eagerly, the sled was in his
arms and he was jumping up and down with joy, calling to those of his
family who could, to come out to see the wonderful surprise.
"Time for us to be getting home now," whispered Chuck, and Toad, feeling
very happy, answered:
"I guess you're right."
By nine o'clock Chuck and Toad were sound asleep, and the stockings,
tied to the end of each bed, fell limp and empty.