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_"WE'LL ASK HER FOR A DRINK," RESPONDED SAMMY, NEVER AT ALOSS_]
Little Friend Lydia
BY
ETHEL CALVERT PHILLIPS
_With Illustrations by_
EDITH F. BUTLER
_Boston and New York_
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY
_The Riverside Press Cambridge_ 1920
COPYRIGHT, 1920, BY ETHEL CALVERT PHILLIPS ALL RIGHTS RESERVED
Table of Contents
CHAPTER I--Christmas Eve CHAPTER II--The Real Christmas Present CHAPTER III--The New Home CHAPTER IV--A Picture and a Party CHAPTER V--The Story of Little Gwen CHAPTER VI--Daffodils and Daisies CHAPTER VII--Dr. Wolfe CHAPTER VIII--Maggie Medicine CHAPTER IX--Cobbler, Cobbler, Mend My Shoe CHAPTER X--Robin Hill CHAPTER XI--Who Stole the Brown Betty? CHAPTER XII--Roger Comes Home
Illustrations
"We'll ask her for a drink," responded Sammy, never at a loss "This is your bedroom, Lydia" "It's spring, Lucy Locket," chattered Lydia. "That's why you have a new hat and a new dress" Such a cobbler's shop had never been seen before
Little Friend Lydia
CHAPTER I--Christmas Eve
It was Christmas Eve, and twenty little boys and girls were watching forSanta Claus. Ten little boys in blue-striped blouses and dark-blueneckties, ten little girls in blue-checked aprons and dark-bluehair-ribbons fixed their eyes on the big folding doors and thought thetime for them to open would never come.
All day long excitement had reigned supreme in the Children's Home, aroomy comfortable house set on the very edge of the big city, and wherewere gathered the motherless and fatherless children who found love andcare under its hospitable roof. Each ring of the doorbell broughtchattering groups to hang over the banisters, each sound of wheels onthe driveway was the signal for excited faces to be pressed against thewindow-pane and for round eyes to try in vain to bore through the paperwrappings of mysterious bundles whisked out of sight all too soon. Peeksthrough the parlor keyhole were forbidden, but passing the door on theway to luncheon several children were seen to stop and sniff the air asthough they might actually smell out the secret.
"Nurse Norrie called it an 'entertainment,'" said big Mary Ellen to agroup gathered round her in the playroom. "I do wonder what 't will be.It will be to-night anyway; she said so."
"It's cowboys and Indians, that's what it is," declared Sammy, an agileyouth who all morning had somehow managed to look out of the window andover the banisters at the same time when occasion demanded. "It's goingto be a Wild West show to-night, I think." And Sammy galloped up anddown the playroom in imitation of the dashing broncos he hoped to seethat night.
"Do you think Miss Martin would have horses in the parlor?" asked MaryEllen scornfully. "I hope it will be tableaux." And Mary Ellenimmediately pictured herself the most beautiful tableau of them all,attired as a Red Cross nurse draped in the American flag, with a nobleexpression on her face, and perhaps supporting a wounded soldier or two.
Little Tom took his finger out of his mouth long enough to say, "I hopeit's candy"; and at this pleasing thought Luley and Lena, the fat littletwins, clapped their hands in agreement. Polly, always a littlebehindhand, hadn't made up her mind yet what the surprise was to be. SoMary Ellen turned to Lydia, a quiet little girl whose brown eyes lookedout shyly upon the world from under a thatch of yellow curls. Now Lydiaremembered clearly her Christmas a year ago, so although she felt alittle shy about speaking out before them all, she was sure she hadguessed the secret.
"I think it's Santa Claus," said Lydia timidly, "and maybe a ChristmasTree too."
Miss Martin, who took good care of these little children and loved themevery one, stood in the doorway listening and laughing.
"I'll give you just one hint," said she, "if you promise not to ask meanother question. Lydia is the warmest. Sammy is freezing cold, so isMary Ellen. Tom is warm, too, but Lydia is hot, red-hot I should say."And then Miss Martin closed the door and fled. In the hall she met fatNurse Norrie carrying a pile of clean blouses.
"Hark ye to the noise in there," said Nurse Norrie with a chuckle. "I'mthinking if we live through this day we'll live through anything."
But at last evening came and they were all gathered in the back roomwith only a few moments more to wait. Patient Miss Martin took pity onthem and answered the same questions over and over as she moved aboutthe room straightening twisted neckties and perking up fallenhair-ribbons.
"Yes, I'm sure Santa Claus is coming," said Miss Martin for the tenthtime to Luley and Lena, who hand in hand trotted up with the questionevery few minutes as if asking something new each time. "Why am I sure,Polly? Because he comes every year to the Children's Home. He has neverforgotten us yet."
"Maybe he's stuck in the snow," said Sammy gloomily; "it's deep, deep.Maybe he's having a fight with the Indians."
At this thought Sammy brightened, but Luley and Lena put out their underlips in such pitiful fashion that Miss Martin was glad to hear MaryEllen say sturdily:
"I don't believe there ever was a snowdrift or an Indian either thatcould keep Santa Claus away."
"Good, Mary Ellen," said Miss Martin with an approving smile; "I'm sureyou are right. Take your finger out of your mouth, Tom. Yes, Lydia, whatis it?"
Lydia stood on tiptoe and spoke softly. She didn't want any one else tohear her question.
"Miss Martin," whispered she, "will Santa Claus bring you whatever youask for--even if it won't go into your stocking?"
"Of course he will," answered Miss Martin with an arm about Lydia."Think of our big swing he brought last year. That wouldn't go in agiant's stocking. Think of the big--What's that sound, children?"
Every one listened. Nearer and nearer and nearer came the jingle ofsleigh-bells, little by little the folding doors slid open, and therebefore their very eyes Santa Claus himself came into the room. Sammysaid afterward he knew he saw him come down the chimney and step out ofthe fireplace, and this in spite of Mary Ellen who declared she saw himcome walking through the door. But however he came, there he was,covered with snow and with a big pack on his back fairly bursting withtoys. Dolls and drums and horns, jack-in-the-boxes, toy lambs, furrydogs, soft white rabbits stuck out in every direction. Luley and Lenafixed their round eyes upon two white cats peeping slyly side by sideover the edge of the pack, and oh, how they hoped that Santa Claus wouldknow that they wanted those pussies more than anything in the world.
Santa Claus stationed himself beside the big glittering Christmas Treegay with its colored horns, shining balls, red and white cranberry andpopcorn chains.
"Here I am, children, at last," said he, with an engaging smile allround. "A little late, but it's not my fault. You must blame my reindeerfor that. Dancer and Prancer were in such a hurry to get here that on aroof near by they didn't look where they were going, and Prancer stubbedhis toe quite badly against the chimney. But here we are now, with abagful of toys--something for every one."
Santa Claus looked for a moment into the blue eyes, the black eyes, thegray and the brown eyes all earnestly fixed on him.
"First of all," began Santa Claus with a merry nod, "here are twinpussycats who are looking for two little girls just like these." And hestepped straight over to Luley and Lena and put the pussies into theiroutstretched arms. How did he know that that was what they wanted?Perhaps because they had be
en looking so longingly at them ever since hecame into the room. But then how did he know that Mary Ellen wanted apaint-box and a Red Cross doll, and Sammy a Noah's Ark and a drum and ahorn? It was really wonderful how Santa Claus could tell exactly whateach one wanted. There was little Tom who longed to play with dolls, butwho couldn't bear it when the big boys laughed and called him "a girl."And what should Santa Claus give to him but a soldier boy in khakiuniform, carrying a shining bayonet. Surely no boy would be ashamed toplay with that, and yet at night, with the bayonet under Tom's pillow,General Pershing, Jr., would cuddle as well as any baby doll.
Before long every one's arms were full. Even the grown-up visitors,enjoying the scene from a distant corner, were not forgotten, but heldboxes of candy shaped like little doll houses. Polly carried a whiterabbit and a big picture-book off into her special corner. Sammy,skillfully performing on horn and drum simultaneously, woke echoes inthe attic. Toy trains ran merrily round and round. Fire engines dashedbravely in every direction. It seemed as if Santa Claus's pack must beempty. But no, there he stood holding a baby doll in long white dressand little white cap, a baby doll who stretched out her arms as ifasking some one to come and hold her, please.
"Here's a baby looking for a mother," called out Santa Claus. "Perhapsshe will tell me her mother's name." And Santa Claus held the baby up tohis ear.
"She says she wants Lydia," announced Santa Claus. "Where's Lydia?"
"Yes, where is Lydia?" asked Miss Martin, looking about. "I haven't seenher for a long time."
At this one of the visitors came forward, a visitor all the childrenknew, for she came often to see them. It was Mrs. Morris, a little oldQuaker lady, who always wore a gray silk dress, a snow-white kerchief,and sometimes a little white cap. The children called her "FriendMorris" after a fashion she loved, and well might they call her so, forshe gave generously of time and thought and money for their happinessand welfare. Friend Morris stepped to an open door and peeped behind it.
"Here is little Friend Lydia," said she. "Come out, Lydia. Surely theeis not afraid of the good Santa Claus." And she took Lydia gently by thehand and drew her out of her corner.
Lydia shook her head.
"No, Friend Morris," said she, "I'm not afraid of Santa Claus. But Iwant him to give away all his toys, and then I will ask him for mypresent."
"But see what Santa Claus has for thee, Friend Lydia," said Mrs. Morris,leading her to where Santa Claus stood watching them with a smile on hislips. "A beautiful baby doll. Surely that is the present thee wants."
"No, I want to whisper it in his ear," persisted Lydia.
She raised her brown eyes to Santa Claus, who looked down at her amoment in silence and then lifted her in his arms.
"What is it, Lydia?" he said softly. "Tell me."
"I want," whispered Lydia with her arm about Santa Claus's neck, "I wanta father and a mother, a real father and mother of my own. Miss Martinsaid you could give a present that wouldn't go in a stocking. And I willgive you back the baby doll."
Santa Claus thought for a moment, and then he tightened his hold uponthe little girl looking so anxiously into his face.
"Now, Lydia," said he, "I'll tell you just how it is. I don't carry thatkind of a present around in my bag with me, but I'll try to get it foryou if you are willing to wait a little while for it. You keep the babydoll. Take good care of her, and I'll go to work and see what I can dofor you. How will that be?"
Santa Claus had merry blue eyes, and now he looked straight at Lydia asif he meant what he said.
"You won't forget?" asked Lydia.
"I won't forget," said Santa Claus. "I promise."
He put Lydia on the ground with a parting pat on her head.
"And now I must be off," said he. "My reindeer won't stand much longer.I believe they're out on the lawn here now. Merry Christmas, children!'Merry Christmas to all and to all a good-night!'"
And Santa Claus was out of the window, across the porch, and out ofsight before you could turn around. The jingle of the sleigh-bells diedaway, the Christmas party was over, and it was time to go to bed.
Lydia slowly climbed the stairs with the new dolly in her arms. MaryEllen was beside her, admiring her own Red Cross nurse as she went.
"What shall you name your doll?" asked Mary Ellen. "Mine is FlorenceClara Barton Nightingale. See the little ring your doll has. And a goldlocket round her neck."
"Her name is Lucy Locket," answered Lydia in a flash. "I've thought ofit just this minute."
Upstairs ten little boys popped into bed before you could say JackRobinson. They had no long hair to be brushed and braided. But MissMartin and good-natured Nurse Norrie worked quickly, and before long tenlittle girls were tucked snugly into their beds too. Miss Martin lightedthe night light and turned to go.
"'Merry Christmas to all and to all a good-night,'" said Miss Martinsoftly, just like Santa Claus.
Lydia was the only little girl wide awake enough to answer.
"Merry Christmas," said Lydia sleepily. "Lucy Locket, you heard SantaClaus promise, didn't you?"
And then little Friend Lydia fell fast asleep too.