Three Minute Stories — Merry Christmas
MERRY CHRISTMAS
“What is going on to-day, Little Cat?
” asked Little Dog.
“Every one seems so happy and merry.
I had chicken-bones for breakfast, with ever so much meat on them!
” “I had creamed fish,” said Little Cat; “and it was real cream.
Look!
Little Girl tied a red ribbon round my neck, and said I was a beauty.
Am I, Little Dog?
” “Yes, for a cat!
” said Little Dog.
“Am I?
” “Yes, for a dog!
” said Little Cat.
“I have a new collar, you see,” said Little Dog.
“And your girl has on a new blue dress, and my boy a velvet jacket.
And they are not going to say one cross word all day; I heard them tell their mother so.
” “I was in the nursery this morning,” said Little Cat.
“The children’s stockings were full of toys and sugar-plums, and they kissed each other and said, ‘Merry’—something!
What can it all mean?
” [Illustration] “Let us ask Great Old Dog!
” said Little Dog.
“He knows almost everything, and he can surely tell us.
” Great Old Dog was asleep, but he woke up and heard their story patiently.
“It was ‘Merry Christmas!
’ that the children said,” he told them.
“This is Christmas Day.
” “What does it mean?
” asked Little Cat.
“I don’t understand all about it,” said Great Old Dog; “but it is the best day in the whole year, for everybody is happy and kind, and tries to do pleasant things for everybody else.
I think some one was born who brought kindness into the world.
” “Well,” said Little Dog; “if everybody is going to be good we must be good, too.
Little Cat, I will not growl at you once to-day, even if they put our dinner on the same plate!
” “Nor I at you,” said Little Cat, “even if there is only one cushion by the fireside.
” “Nice Little Cat!
” said Little Dog.
“Good Little Dog!
” said Little Cat.
Just then in came Little Girl in her blue dress and Little Boy in his velvet jacket.
“Merry Christmas!
” they cried: “Little Cat and Little Dog, and dear, good Great Old Dog!
” “We wish you Merry Christmas, And a happy New Year;
A pocket full of money, And a heart full of cheer!
” “Merry Christmas!
” said Little Dog (but it sounded like “Yap!
yap!
”).
“Merry Christmas!
” said Little Cat (but it sounded like “Purrrrrrrrrrr!
”).
“Merry Christmas!
” said Great Old Dog, deep down in his great old throat (but it sounded like “Wuff!
_Wuff!
_ WUFF!
”).
CHRISTMAS GIFTS
