Up the Chimney

Yes, says JACK, still writing. Then he stops, straightens up and says, There! It's all done. Shall I read it to you, Mother?

Do, MOTHER answers. And Father puts down his newspaper to listen, and Polly stops writing. Mother goes on knitting, because she can knit and listen at the same time.

So JACK reads: "Dear Santa Claus, I have been very good this year--most of the time; and I wish you would bring me a toy soldier. I am very well and I hope you are. Your loving little friend, Jack." Is that all right, Mother?

It is a very good letter, says MOTHER; only I thought you were going to speak about that pair of warm gloves for Father.

Oh, I forget that, says JACK, looking a little bit ashamed. I'll put it in a postscript. So he goes on writing, and so does Polly. JACK says his words aloud while he writes them: "P.S.--Fa--ather--would--like--a--pair--of--warm--gloves."

MOTHER looks over at Polly, who seems to have finished, and says: Polly, let us hear your letter.

So POLLY reads: "Dear Santa Claus, I am so glad that tomorrow is Christmas. We have all hung up our stockings, and I think I would like best to have a doll in short dresses. I love you very much. Your little friend, Polly. P.S.--I think Mother would like a ball of white knitting cotton." I had to put that in a postscript, Mother, because I forgot, too.

And now FATHER, who has been listening all this time, says: Where will you put the letters?--on the mantel-piece or in the stockings?

Oh, on the mantel-piece, answers JACK. We always put them on the mantel-piece. Don't you remember that, Father?

Yes, I believe I do, now that you speak of it, says FATHER.

Then the children put the two letters on the mantel-piece, standing them against the clock, so that they can be easily seen. While they are doing this, some one passes the window, walking along the street, and there comes a knock at the door.

Come in, says FATHER; and in comes a little woman, rather old, and rather bent, and rather lame.

Why, if it isn't little Nurse Mary, cries FATHER, and they all rise up to greet her. She kisses both the children, and shakes hands with Father and Mother.

Here's a chair for you, Nurse Mary, says JACK.

Let me take your cloak and hood, Nurse Mary, says POLLY.

When they were all seated again, FATHER says, I am afraid I shall have to give you a little scolding, Mary, for coming out on such a cold night. It really don't do, you know.

Now, Doctor John, NURSE MARY answers, What do you expect? Haven't I seen you every Christmas Eve since you were half the size of Master Jack here, and didn't I knit with my own hands the first little stocking you ever hung up for Santa Claus, and don't I remember how frightened you were that time when we heard the reindeers on the roof, and when the handful of walnuts came tumbling down the chimney? And do you expect me to stay away on Christmas Eve, like some lonely old woman, who never was nurse to any children at all, let alone two generations of them? What are you thinking of, Doctor John?

I am thinking, says FATHER smiling, that if you hadn't come, we should have missed you dreadfully. But tell me, Nurse Mary, how are you feeling?

Well, answers NURSE MARY, to speak the truth, Doctor John, I think you must give me some medicine.

Medicine? cries MOTHER.

Are you sick, Nurse Mary? asks POLLY.

Yes, Miss Polly, sick, and very sick, too, NURSE MARY answers.

But how? asks FATHER. What's wrong? Where is the trouble?

First of all, in my back, Doctor John, says NURSE MARY. Today, after sweeping and scrubbing a little, and baking a Christmas cake, I just ironed out a few pieces, my best cap and apron, and the likes of that, and before I had finished, I give you word my back began to ache. Now what do you make of it? And then, my joints--stiff! Yes, Dr. John, stiff! How am I to do my work with stiff joints, I'd like to know?

I see, says FATHER, shaking his head. This is a serious matter. But cheer up, Nurse Mary; I believe I have the very thing that will help you. He opens his medicine case, which stands on the table, and takes out a little bottle. Here it is, he says, and let me tell you how to take it; for with this medicine that is the most important part. You must find some children to give it to you. If you take it from grown-up people, it will do you no good at all, so you must find a child somewhere, or two would be better, one to pour it out and one to hold the spoon--

Oh, let me pour it out, cries JACK.

And let me hold the spoon, cries POLLY.

Why, that will do finely, says FATHER, and hands Jack the bottle. And now I must go out, he continues; for old Mrs. Cavendish is sick and has sent for me. It may be quite late, when I come home. He begins to put on his overcoat.

And I, says MOTHER, have some Christmas bundles to tie up. If Nurse Mary goes before I come back, will you both go quietly to bed like good children?

Yes, Mother, cry POLLY and JACK together.

Well, good night, then, Mary dear, says MOTHER.

Good night, Nurse Mary, says FATHER. Then Mother and Father both go out, the one to her own room and the other to the street.

Come, Nurse Mary, says JACK, you must take your medicine.

Do you suppose it is very bitter? asks NURSE MARY.

I think it is, says JACK, looking into the bottle and smelling it. It looks bitter and it smells bitter.

But you mustn't mind that, Nurse Mary, says POLLY; because it will make you well.

All right, says NURSE MARY. Pour it out.

Then Polly holds the spoon, and Jack carefully pours the medicine into it. Nurse Mary opens her mouth, swallows the dose, and makes a wry face, shuddering.

Was it horrid? asks JACK.

Horrid! answers NURSE MARY.