A CHRISTMAS STORY

Dominion, Volume 23, Issue 75, 21 December 1929, Page 30

A CHRISTMAS STORY

Mrs. Tabitha Twitehet sat by the hearth, knitting busily, but at the same time explaining to Nibby and Ribby the wonders of Christmas Eve. “Does he really bring nice things to people?" asked Nibby. “And for nothing?” added Ribby. “Yes, but it’s bedtime now, so off you go.” When the kittens were in bed, Nibby suddenly called out:' “Ribby, what about writing to this Christmas man to-morrow?” “AH right, but go'to sleep now.” Next morning the kittens sat down to write the letter, and after half an hour’s lien-chewing, scratching and blotting, they managed it. “Deer Santa Clors,” those kittens wrote, “we kno that toys are nice, but if you pleese we’ll have this time a great big box of mice." On Christmas Eve excitement reigned in the home of the Twitchets. Nibby and Ribby could scarcely keep still, so at seven o’clock Mrs. Tabitha packed them off to bed. and, after placing a large box on.the mantelpiece, they soon fell asleep. Twelve o’clock —a scrapy noise was heard in the kittens’ bedroom—footsteps —then silence. At six o’clock the kittens awoke, hop-

ped out of bed, and rushed to the bo:

Oh! The lid came off with a jerk, revealing—oh joy!—not the dirty mice for which they asked, but sweet sugary mice with tails of string. Muffled squeaks of glee came from the box wherein the kittens had burled noses and paws. “Merry Christinas,” called Mrs. Tabitha at the door. “Merry Christmas,” mumbled the kittens- with their mouths full.— "Happy-go-Lucky” Wanganui . (aged 12 years).