The Birds' Christmas Carol, Illustrated Edition (Yesterday's Classics) by Wiggin Kate Douglas

Author:Wiggin, Kate Douglas [Wiggin, Kate Douglas]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: Juvenile Fiction
ISBN: 9781599152394
Publisher: Yesterday's Classics
Published: 2010-11-13T20:22:23.359000+00:00

Peoria was young and greedy, and thought the remedy so out of all proportion to the disease that she set up a deafening howl at the projected bargain—a howl so rebellious and so out of season that her mother started in her direction with flashing eye and uplifted hand; but she let it fall suddenly, saying, "No, I vow I won't lick ye Christmas Day, if yer drive me crazy; but speak up smart, now, 'n' say whether yer 'd ruther give Jim Cullen half yer candy or go bare-legged ter the party?" The matter being put so plainly, Peoria collected her faculties, dried her tears, and chose the lesser evil, Clem having hastened the decision by an affectionate wink, that meant he 'd go halves with her on his candy.

"That 's a lady!" cried her mother. "Now, you young ones that ain't doin' nothin', play all yer want ter before noontime, for after ye git through eatin' at twelve o'clock me 'n' Sarah Maud 's goin' ter give yer such a washin' 'n' combin' 'n' dressin' as yer never had before 'n' never will agin likely, 'n' then I 'm goin' to set yer down 'n' give yer two solid hours trainin' in manners; 'n' 't won't be no foolin' neither."

"All we 've got ter do 's go eat!" grumbled Peter.

"Well, that 's enough," responded his mother; "there 's more 'n one way of eatin', let me tell yer, 'n' you 've got a heap ter learn about it, Peter Ruggles. Land sakes, I wish you childern could see the way I was fetched up to eat. I never took a meal o' vittles in the kitchen before I married Ruggles; but yer can't keep up that style with nine young ones 'n' yer Pa always off ter sea."

The big Ruggleses worked so well, and the little Ruggleses kept from "under foot" so successfully, that by one o'clock nine complete toilets were laid out in solemn grandeur on the beds. I say, "complete;" but I do not know whether they would be called so in the best society. The law of compensation had been well applied: he that had necktie had no cuffs; she that had sash had no handkerchief, and vice versa; but they all had shoes and a certain amount of clothing, such as it was, the outside layer being in every case quite above criticism.

"Now, Sarah Maud," said Mrs. Ruggles, her face shining with excitement, "everything 's red up an' we can begin. I 've got a boiler 'n' a kettle 'n' a pot o' hot water. Peter, you go into the back bedroom, 'n' I 'll take Susan, Kitty, Peory 'n' Cornelius; 'n' Sarah Maud, you take Clem, 'n' Eily, 'n' Larry, one to a time. Scrub 'em 'n' rinse 'em, or 't any rate git 's fur 's you can with 'em, and then I 'll finish 'em off while you do yerself."

Download

Copyright Disclaimer:
This site does not store any files on its server. We only index and link to content provided by other sites. Please contact the content providers to delete copyright contents if any and email us, we'll remove relevant links or contents immediately.