CHAPTER VII.

Susy and Robbie were standing at the window a few days after this, watching some boys who were playing in the snow.

"I wish we could go out and throw snow at each other," said Susy. "Can we, Nursey?"

"No, not to-day," said nurse; "for your hands would freeze for want of mittens. I am hurrying as fast as I can, to get some done but I don't know; time flies in this house."

"Where does it fly to?" asked Robbie.

Before nurse had time to answer, the children were sent for by their mamma. They jumped down from the window, and ran to see what was wanted.

"Grandmamma has sent a basket full of things, and I thought you would like to take them out for me," said their mamma.

"Oh! yes," said Susy, "we'll take turns. Robbie shall take out the first thing and I'll take out the next."

So Robbie put in his hand, and pulled out, with great labor, a jar of currant jelly.

"That's for mamma," said Susy. "Grandma always sends jelly to her." She put in her hand and took out a small bundle that had "Robbie" printed on it in large letters. On opening it, out rolled a pair of nice warm mittens, which were marked: "For the little hands that so often, and so cheerfully, picked up grandma's ball."

Susy blushed and the tears came into her eyes. She knew the reason there were no mittens for her. She had often looked displeased when grandma's ball had rolled under the table when she was busy, reading or playing.

Robbie ran and threw his arms round her neck.

"Naughty drandma!" said he.

"Oh! no, _kind_ grandmamma, to try to make my little Susy good," said their mamma.

"Susy shall have one mitten and I'll teep one," said Robbie.

"No, Susy must wait till nurse gets hers done. But I am sure dear grandmamma has sent something for her. Try again, my darling."

And this time there came out six pairs of warm white stockings; three for Susy and three for Robbie, and on the bundle was written: "Grandmamma has not forgotten how many times those little feet went up and down stairs for her when she made her last visit; and so she has knit these warm stockings for them."

"There's something else in the basket," said Susy. "Why! it's a cart, and it's horses, and it's barrels! O Robbie! Help me get them out!"

Laughing and pulling, and trembling over, they at last got the cart and horses out of the basket, and a very nice toy it was.

"I suppose it's for Robbie," said Susy.

"Aunt Maria sent it to him," said her mamma. "Don't you remember she promised she would?"

"Oh! she promised me a work-basket!" cried Susy, "let me see, yes! here it is! O mamma! There's a thimble and scissors, and needle! Now I can sew with my own things. Look, Robbie."

But Robbie was too busy. One of his barrels had broken open, and a host of sugar-plums had rolled out all over the floor.

"O Robbie! give me some sugar-plums, will you?" cried Susy.

"It is _torn_," said Robbie. "Big men don't load up with sugar-pums."

"It _isn't_ corn," said Susy.

"Yes, it is torn. And little dirls don't eat torn."

"Little chickens eat it, at any rate, and I'm a little chicken, and I'm hungry, too," said Susy.

"Well," said Robbie, "if you are a little chiten, I'll feed you," so he scattered the sugar-plums on the floor and Susy ate them as fast as she could.

"Leave him some," said their mamma. "Don't eat them all, Susy."

Susy jumped up and began to take the rest of the things from the basket. There were stockings for papa and an apron for nurse, and for mamma a little roasted chicken, which grandma had been so kind as to have cooked for her.

"I do believe I could eat a piece of that chicken," said she when Susy held it up on its little white dish. "Grandma's things always taste so good."

"Oh! then you'll get well!" cried Susy joyfully.