Laura Lee Hope - The Bobbsey Twins

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"And I like layer cake, with currant jelly in between," said Nan. "But I
didn't dare to open any jelly without asking mamma."

"Let us surprise her with the cake," said Bert.

"Want cake now," protested Freddie. "Don't want to wait 't all!"

But he was persuaded to wait, and the cake was hidden away in the
dining-room closet until the hour for the evening meal.

When Dinah came home she noticed the mussed-up kitchen, but Nan begged
of her to keep quiet.

"All right, honey," said the colored cook. "But I know youse been
a-bakin'--I kin spell it in de air."

When they sat down to the evening meal all of the children produced the
cake in great triumph.

"Oh, Nan, a real cake!" cried Mrs. Bobbsey. "How nice it looks!"

"We've got some real housekeepers around here," said Mr. Bobbsey. "I'll
have to try that sure."

When the cake was cut all ate liberally of it. They declared it just
right and said it could not be better. Even Dinah was tickled.

"Couldn't do no better maself," she declared. "Bymeby Dinah will be cut
out of a job--wid Miss Nan a-doin' ob de bakin'."

"No, Dinah, you shall stay even if I do do the baking," answered Nan;
and went to bed feeling very happy.

CHAPTER XIV

CHRISTMAS

As the time for Christmas drew shorter all of the Bobbsey children
wondered what Santa Claus would bring them and what they would receive
from their relatives at a distance.

Freddie and Flossie had made out long lists of the things they hoped to
get. Freddie wished a fireman's suit with a real trumpet, a railroad
track with a locomotive that could go, and some building blocks and
picture books. Flossie craved more dolls and dolls' dresses, a real
trunk with a lock, fancy slippers, a pair of rubber boots, and some big
card games.

"All I want is a set of furs," said Nan, not once but many times. "A
beautiful brown set, just like mamma's."

"And all I want is some good story books, some games, a new
pocket-knife, a big wagon, and some money," said Bert.

"Mercy, you don't want much, Bert," cried Nan. "How much money--a
thousand dollars?"

"I want money, too," piped in Freddie. "Want to start a bank account
just like papa's."

By dint of hard saving Bert and Nan had accumulated two dollars and ten
cents between them, while Freddie and Flossie had each thirty-five
cents. There was a wonderful lot of planning between the twins, and all
put their money together, to buy papa and mamma and Dinah and Sam some
Christmas presents. Freddie and Flossie had not yet purchased the
cologne and handkerchief before mentioned, and now it was decided to get
Mr. Bobbsey a new cravat, Mrs. Bobbsey a flower in a pot, Dinah a fancy
apron, and Sam a pair of gloves. Nan and Bert made the purchases which,
after being duly inspected by all, were hidden away in the garret
storeroom.

As the time for Christmas came on Flossie and Freddie grew very anxious,
wanting to know if Santa Claus would be sure to come. Flossie inspected
the chimney several times.

"It's a dreadfully small place and very dirty," said she. "I am afraid
Santa Claus won't be able to get down with a very big load. And some of
his things will get all mussed up."

"Santa Claus can spirit himself wherever he wants to, dear," said Mrs.
Bobbsey, with a quiet smile.

"What do you mean by _spirit_ himself, mamma?"

"Never mind now, Flossie; you'll understand that when you grow older."

"Does mamma mean a ghost?" asked Flossie, later on, of Nan.

"No, Flossie; she means the part of a person that lives but can't be
seen."

"Oh, I know," cried the child, brightening. "It's just like when a
person is good. Then they say it's the _spirit_ of goodness within him.
I guess it's the good spirit of Santa Claus that can't be seen. But we
can feel it, can't we? and that's what's best."

On the day before Christmas the sitting-room door was closed and locked,
so that none of the children might enter the room. Freddie was very
anxious to look through the keyhole, but Bert told him that wouldn't be
fair, so he stayed away.

"We are to hang up our stockings to-night," said Nan. "And mamma says we
must go to bed early, too."

"That's to give Santa Claus a chance to get around," said Freddie. "Papa
said so. He said Santa Claus had his hands more than full, with so many
boys and girls all over the world to take care of."

"Santa Claus must be a twin, just like you and me," said Flossie. "Maybe
he's a twin a hundred times over."

At this Freddie roared. "What a funny twin that would be--with each one
having the same name!"

The stockings were hung up with great care, and Freddie and Flossie made
up their minds to stay awake and watch Santa Claus at his work.

"Won't say a word when he comes," said the little boy. "Just peek out at
him from under the covers." But alas! long before Santa Claus paid his
visit that Christmas Eve both Freddie and Flossie were in dreamland,
and so were Bert and Nan.

It was Flossie who was the first awake in the morning. For the moment
after she opened her eyes and sat up she could not remember why she had
awakened thus early. But it was for some reason, she was sure of that.

"Merry Christmas!" she burst out, all at once, and the cry awoke
Freddie. "Merry Christmas!" he repeated. "Merry Christmas, ev'rybody!"
he roared out, at the top of his lungs.

The last call awoke Nan and Bert, and before long all were scrambling
out to see what the stockings might contain.

"Oh, I've got a doll!" shrieked Flossie, and brought forth a wonderful
affair of paper.

"I have a jumping-jack!" came from Freddie, and he began to work the toy
up and down in a most comical fashion.

There was some small gift for everybody and several apples and oranges
besides, and quantities of nuts in the stockings.

"We must get the presents for the others," whispered Nan to Bert and the
smaller twins, and soon all were dressed and bringing the things down
from the storeroom.

It was a happy party that gathered in the dining room. "Merry
Christmas!" said everybody to everybody else, and then Mr. Bobbsey, who
was in the sitting room, blew a horn and opened the folding doors.

There, on a large side stand, rested a beautiful Christmas tree, loaded
down with pretty ornaments and apples and candies, and with many
prettily colored candles. Around the bottom of the tree were four heaps
of presents, one for each of the children.

"Oh, look at the big doll!" screamed Flossie, and caught the present up
in her arms and kissed it.

"And look at my fireman's suit!" roared Freddie, and then, seeing a
trumpet, he took it up and bellowed: "Bring up the engine! Play away
lively there!" just like a real fireman.

Bert had his books and other things, and under them was hidden a real
bank book, showing that there had been deposited to his credit ten
dollars in the Lakeport Savings Bank. Nan had a similar bank book, and
of these the twins were very, very proud. Bert felt as if he was truly
getting to be quite a business man.

"Oh! oh!" cried Nan, as she opened a big box that was at the bottom of
her pile of presents, and then the tears of joy stood in her eyes as she
brought forth the hoped-for set of furs. They were beautiful, and so
soft she could not resist brushing them against her cheek over and over
again.

"Oh, mamma, I think they are too lovely for anything!" she said, rushing
up and kissing her parent. "I am sure no girl ever had such a nice set
of furs before!"

"You must try to keep them nice, Nan," answered the mother.

"I shall take the very best of care of them," said Nan, and my readers
may be sure that she did.

"And now we have something for you, too," said Bert, and brought out the
various articles. Flossie gave their mamma her present, and Freddie gave
papa what was coming to him. Then Nan gave Dinah the fancy apron and
Bert took Sam the new gloves.

"Well this is truly a surprise!" cried Mr. Bobbsey, as he inspected the
cravat. "It is just what I need."

"And this flower is beautiful," said Mrs. Bobbsey as she smelt of the
potted plant. "It will bloom a long while, I am sure."

Dinah was tickled over the apron and Sam with his gloves.

"Yo' chillun am the sweetest in de world," said the cook.

"Dem globes am de werry t'ing I needed to keep ma hands warm," came from
Sam.

It was fully an hour before the children felt like sitting down to
breakfast. Before they began the repast Mr. Bobbsey brought forth the
family Bible and read the wonderful story of Christ's birth to them, and
asked the blessing. All were almost too excited to eat.

After breakfast all must go out and show their presents to their friends
and see what the friends had received. It was truly a happy time. Then
all went coasting until lunch.

"The expressman is coming!" cried Bert a little later, and sure enough
he drove up to the Bobbsey house with two boxes. One was from their
Uncle Daniel Bobbsey, who lived at Meadow Brook, and the other from
their Uncle William Minturn, who lived at Ocean Cliff.

"More presents!" cried Nan, and she was right. Uncles and aunts had sent
each something; and the twins were made happier than ever.

"Oh, but Christmas is just the best day in the whole year," said Bert
that evening, after the eventful day was over.

"Wish Christmas would come ev'ry week," said Freddie. "Wouldn't it be
_beau_tiful?"

"If it did I'm afraid the presents wouldn't reach," said Mrs. Bobbsey,
and then took him and Flossie off to bed.

CHAPTER XV

THE CHILDREN'S PARTY

The little black kitten that Freddie had brought home from the
department store was a great friend to everybody in the Bobbsey house
and all loved the little creature very much.

At first Freddie started to call the kitten Blackie, but Flossie said
that wasn't a very "'ristocratic" name at all.

"I'll tell you what," said Bert jokingly, "Let's call him Snoop," and in
spite of all efforts to make the name something else Snoop the cat
remained from that time to the day of his death.

He grew very fat and just a trifle lazy, nevertheless he learned to do
several tricks. He could sit up in a corner on his hind legs, and shake
hands, and when told to do so would jump through one's arms, even if the
arms were quite high up from the floor.

Snoop had one comical trick that always made both Flossie and Freddie
laugh. There was running water in the kitchen, and Snoop loved to sit on
the edge of the sink and play with the drops as they fell from the
bottom of the faucet. He would watch until a drop was just falling, then
reach out with his paw and give it a claw just as if he was reaching for
a mouse.

Another trick he had, but this Mrs. Bobbsey did not think so nice, was
to curl himself on the pillow of one of the beds and go sound asleep.
Whenever he heard Mrs. Bobbsey coming up one pair of stairs, he would
fly off the bed and sneak down the other pair, so that she caught him
but rarely.

Snoop was a very clean cat and was continually washing his face and his
ears. Around his neck Flossie placed a blue ribbon, and it was amusing
to see Snoop try to wash it off. But after a while, having spoilt
several ribbons, he found they would not wash off, and so he let them
alone, and in the end appeared very proud of them.

One day, when Snoop had been in the house but a few months, he could
not be found anywhere.

"Snoop! Snoop!" called Freddie, upstairs and down, but the kitten did
not answer, nor did he show himself. Then Flossie called him and made a
search, but was equally unsuccessful.

"Perhaps somebody has stolen him," said Freddie soberly.

"Nobody been heah to steal dat kitten," answered Dinah. "He's jess
sneaked off, dat's all."

All of the children had been invited to a party that afternoon and Nan
was going to wear her new set of furs. After having her hair brushed,
and putting on a white dress, Nan went to the closet in which her furs
were kept in the big box.

"Well, I never!" she ejaculated. "Oh, Snoop! however could you do it!"

For there, curled up on the set of furs, was the kitten, purring as
contentedly as could be. Never before had he found a bed so soft or so
to his liking. But Nan made him rouse up in a hurry, and after that when
she closed the closet she made quite sure that Snoop was not inside.

The party to be held that afternoon was at the home of Grace Lavine, the
little girl who had fainted from so much rope jumping. Grace was over
that attack, and was now quite certain that when her mamma told her to
do a thing or to leave it alone, it was always for her own good.

"Mamma knows best," she said to Nan. "I didn't think so then, but I do
now."

The party was a grand affair and over thirty young people were present,
all dressed in their best. They played all sorts of games such as many
of my readers must already know, and then some new games which the big
boys and girls introduced.

One game was called Hunt the Beans. A handful of dried beans was hidden
all over the rooms, in out-of-the-way corners, behind the piano, in
vases, and like that, and at the signal to start every girl and boy
started to pick up as many as could be found. The search lasted just
five minutes, and at the end of that time the one having the most beans
won the game.

"Now let us play Three-word Letters," said Nan. And then she explained
the game. "I will call out a letter and you must try to think of a
sentence of three words, each word starting with that letter. Now then,
are you ready?"

"Yes! yes!" the girls and boys cried.

"B," said Nan.

There was a second of silence.

"Boston Baked Beans!" shouted Charley Mason.

"That is right, Charley. Now it is your turn to give a letter."

"F," said Charley.

"Five Fat Fairies!" cried Nellie Parks.

"Four Fresh Fish," put in another of the girls.

"Nellie has it," said Charley. "But I never heard of fat fairies, did
you?" and this question made everybody laugh.

"My letter is M," said Nellie, after a pause.

"More Minced Mushrooms," said Bert.

"More Mean Men," said another boy.

"Mind My Mule," said one of the girls.

[Illustration: AT SEVEN O'CLOCK A SUPPER WAS SERVED.--P. 129.]

"Oh, Helen, I didn't know you had a mule," cried Flossie, and this
caused a wild shriek of laughter.

"Bert must love mushrooms," said Nellie.

"I do," said Bert, "if they are in a sauce." And then the game went on,
until somebody suggested something else.

At seven o'clock a supper was served. The tables were two in number,
with the little girls and boys at one and the big girls and boys at the
other. Each was decked out with flowers and with colored streamers,
which ran down from the chandelier to each corner of both tables.

There was a host of good things to eat and drink--chicken sandwiches and
cake, with cups of sweet chocolate, or lemonade, and then more cake and
ice-cream, and fruit, nuts, and candy. The ice-cream was done up into
various fancy forms, and Freddie got a fireman, with a trumpet under his
arm, and Nan a Japanese lady with a real paper parasol over her head.
Bert was served with an automobile, and Flossie cried with delight when
she received a brown-and-white cow that looked as natural as life. All
of the forms were so pleasing that the children did not care to eat
them until the heat in the lighted dining room made them begin to melt
away.

"I'm going to tell Dinah about the ice-cream cow," said Flossie.
"Perhaps she can make them." But when appealed to, the cook said they
were beyond her, and must be purchased from the professional ice-cream
maker, who had the necessary forms.

There were dishes full of bonbons on the tables, and soon the bonbons
were snapping at a lively rate among the big girls and boys, although
the younger folks were rather afraid of them. Each bonbon had a motto
paper in it and some sort of fancy article made of paper. Bert got an
apron, which he promptly pinned on, much to the amusement of the girls.
Nan drew a workman's cap and put it on, and this caused another laugh.
There were all sorts of caps, hats, and aprons, and one big bonbon,
which went to Flossie, had a complete dress in it, of pink and white
paper. Another had some artificial flowers, and still another a tiny
bottle of cologne.

While the supper was going on, Mr. Lavine had darkened the parlor and
stretched a sheet over the folding doors, and as soon as the young
people were through eating they were treated to a magic-lantern
exhibition by the gentleman of the house and one of the big boys, who
assisted him. There were all sorts of scenes, including some which were
very funny and made the boys and girls shriek with laughter. One was a
boy on a donkey, and another two fat men trying to climb over a fence.
Then came a number of pictures made from photograph negatives, showing
scenes in and around Lakeport. There were the lake steamer, and the main
street, and one picture of the girls and boys rushing out of school at
dinner time. The last was voted the best of all, and many present tried
to pick themselves out of this picture and did so.

After the exhibition was over one of the largest of the girls sat down
to the piano and played. By this time some of the older folks drifted
in, and they called for some singing, and all joined in half a dozen
songs that were familiar to them. Then the young folks ran off for their
coats and caps and wraps, and bid their host and hostess and each other
good-night.

"Wasn't it splendid?" said Nan, on the way home. "I never had such a
good time before."

"Didn't last half long enough," said Freddie. "Want it to last longer
next time."

"I wanted my cow to last longer," said Flossie. "Oh, if only I could
have kept it from melting!"

CHAPTER XVI

A GRAND SLEIGH RIDE

For a long while all of the Bobbsey children had been begging their
parents for a sleigh ride into the country.

"The winter will be gone soon, papa," said Nan. "Won't you take us
before the snow is all gone?"

"You may as well take them, Richard," said Mrs. Bobbsey.

"Well, if I do, Mary, you must go along," answered Mr. Bobbsey, and so
it was arranged that they should take the ride on the following
Saturday, weather permitting.

You may well suppose that all of the twins were very anxious about the
weather after that, for Mr. Bobbsey said he would not go if it rained or
if it snowed very hard.

"What does it say in the newspapers?" asked Freddie. "They always know
what the weather is going to be."

"Not so far ahead as that," answered his brother.

But Friday evening the paper said cold and clear, and sure enough, on
Saturday morning it was as nice as one would wish. From behind masses of
thin clouds the sun peeped shyly, lighting up the snow until it shone
like huge beds of diamonds.

They were to drive to Dalton, twelve miles away. Mr. Bobbsey had learned
that the road to Dalton was in good condition, and the family had
friends there who would be pleased to see them and have them remain to
dinner.

By half-past nine the big family sleigh was at the door, with Sam on the
front seat, driving. Into the sleigh piled the four children, and Mr.
and Mrs. Bobbsey followed.

"Want to sit by Sam and help drive," said Freddie, and he was lifted
over to the desired position. Then off they went, with a crack of the
whip and jingling of sleigh-bells that could be heard a long distance.

"Oh, but isn't this just too splendid for anything!" exclaimed Nan, who
sat at one side of the seat, with her mamma on the other and Flossie
between them. "I do love sleigh riding so much!"

"See me drive!" cried Freddie, who held the very end of the reins, the
part dangling from Sam's hands.

"Well, Freddie, don't let the team run away," said Mr. Bobbsey, with a
laugh.

"I shan't," answered the little fellow soberly. "If they try to run
away, I'll whip them good."

"You'll never stop them that way," said Bert. "You want to talk gently
to them."

On and on they went, over the smooth snow. The horses were fresh and
full of spirit, and mile after mile was passed with a speed that pleased
all of the twins very much. They passed several other sleighing parties,
and every time this was done the children set up a merry shout which was
sure to call forth an equally merry answer.

A large part of the ride was through the country, and often the country
folks would come to the doors to see them pass. Once they met a boy on
the road and he asked for a ride to his home, half a mile away.

"Yes, jump in," said Mr. Bobbsey, and the boy got in and was taken to
his house almost before he knew it.

"Much obliged," he said on leaving them. "You're fine people, you are,"
and he took off his hat at parting.

"It was nice to give him a ride," said Nan. "It didn't cost us anything
and he liked it a great deal, I am sure."

"We must never forget to do a kindness when we can, Nan," said her
mamma.

Before noon Dalton was reached and they drove up to the home of Mr.
Ramdell, as their friend was named. Immediately Bob Ramdell, a youth of
sixteen, rushed eagerly out to greet Bert.

"I'm glad you've come," he cried. "I've been watching for you for an
hour."

"It isn't noon yet," answered Bert.

All were soon into the house and Sam drove the sleigh around to the
barn. Bob Ramdell had a sister Susie, who was almost Nan's age, and a
baby brother called Tootsie, although his real name was Alexander. Susie
was glad to see Nan and Flossie, and all were soon playing with the
baby, who was just old enough to be amusing.

"I've got a plan on hand," whispered Bob to Bert, just before dinner was
served. "I've been wondering if your father will let us carry it out."

"What is it?" questioned Bert.

"You are not to drive home until late this afternoon. I wonder if your
father won't let you go down to Long Lake with me after dinner, to see
the hockey match."

"Is it far from here?"

"About two miles. We can drive down in our cutter. Father will let me
have the cutter and old Rusher, I'm sure."

"I'll see about it," said Bert. "I'd like to see the hockey match very
much."

As soon as he got the chance Bert questioned his parent about going.

"I don't know about this," said Mr. Bobbsey slowly. "Do you think you
two boys can be trusted alone with the horse?"

"Oh, yes, papa. Bob has driven old Rusher many times."

"You must remember, Rusher used to be a race horse. He may run away
with Bob and you."

"Oh, but that was years ago, papa. He is too old to run away now. Please
say yes."

Bert continued to plead, and in the end Mr. Bobbsey gave him permission
to go to the hockey match.

"But you must be back before five o'clock," said he. "We are going to
start for home at that time."

The dinner was a fine one and tasted especially good to the children
after their long ride. But Bert and Bob were impatient to be off, and
left the moment they had disposed of their pieces of pie.

Old Rusher was a black steed which, in years gone by, had won many a
race on the track. He had belonged to a brother to Mr. Ramdell, who had
died rather suddenly two years before. He was, as Bert had said, rather
old, but there was still a good deal of fire left in him, as the boys
were soon to discover to their cost.

The road to Long Lake was a winding one, up one hill and down another,
and around a sharp turn where in years gone by there had been a sand
pit.

In the best of spirits the two boys started off, Bob handling the reins
like a veteran driver. Bob loved horses, and his one ambition in life
was to handle a "spanking team," as he called it.

"Old Rusher can go yet," said Bert, who enjoyed the manner in which the
black steed stepped out. "He must have been a famous race horse in his
day."

"He was," answered Bob. "He won ever so many prizes."

The distance to Long Lake was covered almost before Bert knew it. As the
hockey game was not yet begun they spent half an hour in driving over
the road that led around the lake.

Quite a crowd had gathered, some in sleighs and some on foot, and the
surface of the lake was covered with skaters. When the hockey game
started the crowd watched every move with interest.

It was a "hot" game, according to Bert, and when a clever play was made
he applauded as loudly as the rest. When the game was at an end he was
sorry to discover that it was after four o'clock.

"We must get home," said he to Bob. "I promised to be back by five."

"Oh, we'll get back in no time," said Bob. "Remember, Rusher has had a
good rest."

They were soon on the road again, Rusher kicking up his heels livelier
than before, for the run down to the lake had merely enabled him to get
the stiffness out of his limbs.

Sleighs were on all sides and, as the two boys drove along, two
different sleighing parties passed them.

"Hullo, Ramdell!" shouted a young man in a cutter. "Got out old Rusher,
I see. Want a race?"

"I think I can beat you!" shouted back Bob, and in a moment more the two
cutters were side by side, and each horse and driver doing his best to
win.

"Oh, Bob, can you hold him?" cried Bert.

"To be sure I can!" answered Bob. "Just you let me alone and see."

"Come on!" yelled the stranger. "Come on, or I'll leave you behind in no
time!"

"You'll not leave me behind so quickly," answered Bob. "Go it, Rusher,
go it!" he added to his horse, and the steed flew over the smooth road
at a rate of speed that filled Bert with astonishment.

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