“Wake up, wake up, Emma!” said little Caroline Meredith, as she gently
shook her sister very early one winter’s morning; “I have something very
pleasant to tell you.”
“What is it, Carrie?” answered the sleepy little girl, as she rubbed her
eyes, and tried to comply with her sister’s request to “wake up.”
“Do you remember what day it is, Emma? To-morrow will be Christmas; and
this evening will be Christmas Eve.”
“O Carrie, so it will!” exclaimed Emma, now fully awake; “and we shall
hang up our stockings; and, oh, what beautiful things Santa Claus will
bring us!”
“And what fine times we shall have to-morrow!” continued Caroline. “Aunt
Margaret and all our cousins are coming to dine with us.”
“Oh, it will be delightful!” replied Emma. “We can show them our
presents, and perhaps they will bring theirs to show to us; and we shall
play so happily together!”
“And, you know, I have made a needle-book to give Aunt Margaret; and you
have a work-bag for her,” added Caroline. “I am sure she will be
pleased.”
“I know she will,” said Emma; “and father and mother will be pleased
with the little presents we have got for them. I like to give things
away; don’t you, Carrie?”
“Yes, very much,” replied Carrie. “I should like to be Santa Claus.”
“O Carrie! what a funny Santa Claus you would make!” exclaimed Emma; and
both of the little girls laughed heartily at the idea.
“How I would come tumbling down the chimney, with my bag full of toys!”
continued Caroline. “I would fill your stocking just as full as it could
be, Emma.”
Emma laughed again; and then she was silent for a few moments, and
looked very thoughtful.
“Do you think Santa Claus fills the poor children’s stockings, Carrie?”
she asked.