66

Christmas Presents;

OR, DISOBEDIENCE PUNISHED.

FI might have what I liked, I should prefer a magic lantern," said little John Wilmot, like the one we saw in London last Christmas, when we were at Uncle Tom's;" " and I should like a wax doll," said his sister Emma, 'the same as those pretty ones, mamma, you told us were in the Lowther Arcade Bazaar."

Very well, my dears, only be good children, and we shall see what can be done."

This little conversation took place between Mrs. Wilmot and her two children, John and Emma Wilmot; John, the eldest, was a fine rosy-cheeked boy of five years old; and his sister Emma was about a year younger: the remarks referred to a promise made by their papa, that if they continued good children he would bring each of them a present from Liverpool for Christmas, and this being the day before that joyful festival, many were the guesses the children had made as to what papa would bring home with him.

Mr. Wilmot was a merchant in Liverpool, but resided at a little village on the other side of the river Mersey, at

a very pretty cottage situated on the slope of a hill overlooking that fine river. This cottage had a beautiful garden, and in summer time the children used to spend much time there. Mrs. Wilmot had given to each of them a little bit of ground to cultivate, as well as flowers to plant, -on condition that they remembered their names whenever she asked them. Now, our little friend John Wilmot, was at times very disobedient and hasty-tempered, and would often do things he was very sorry for directly after. He frequently, for instance, when his mamma gave him seeds to plant in his garden, and told him not, on any account, to touch them after they were put in the ground, used to go the next day and dig them up, to see how they were getting on; and the consequence was, his little garden was nearly always in confusion, through not minding what was said to him.

On the day we are now describing, Mrs. Wilmot and the children were sitting in the parlour looking on to the garden, and John called out for his mamma to see what a fine day it was, and asked her to take them out for a walk this afternoon, to meet papa at the ferry.

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as you

have

"Very well, my dears." said Mrs. Wilmot, learned your lessons, I will do so; go and ask Ann to put on your things; but you must promise me, John, before we go, that you will keep by our side, and not get into mischief."

'Oh, yes, mamma, I will do what you wish," replied John.

Ann was not long dressing them, so when they were ready they started for their walk.

Now, at the ferry was a steamboat, that took persons from different parts of the Cheshire shore to Liverpool, and back again; and the nearest ferry from Mr. Wilmot's house was at the pretty village of Tranmere. There being a fine frosty air, and the ground quite crisp, they trudged away as merry as larks. They had to cross two fields, and then get over a stile into the lane; where there were Mttle frozen puddles, and it was with great difficulty that little John could be kept by his mamma's side. He wished to imitate the boys he had seen slide.

However, when they arrived at the pier, the ferryboat had not yet come in: but there was plenty to engage their attention: for the noble river was crowded with fine steam. boats and different other vessels; and on the other side of the water was Liverpool, with its domes, spires, and docks; and while their mamma was pointing out to them the prin cipal buildings, the ferry steamer came alongside.

Mrs. Wilmot was the first to point out to the children their papa as he was landing; and he noticed that he had a curiously-shaped parcel under his arm.

After a little surprise at meeting his little folks, the party turned homeward. John took Emma's hand, and walked first; and Mr. and Mrs. Wilmot followed. John was very quiet at first, but at last he said to his sister, Emma, do you think papa has brought our presents in that parcel he has under his arm?"

And as he asked her, he gave a side-glance at his рара, as if puzzled at the shape of the parcel, for he did not think it large enough for the presents he expected. "You ask papa, Emma, what he has in the parcel, will you?"

Emma, who was a kind little thing, and never refused anything that John wished her to do, went up to her papa and asked him directly. Mr. Wilmot had noticed this little scene and was rather vexed that John had asked his little sister to do what he was rather ashamed to do himself. So he replied that he could not tell her what it contained; but they should know to-morrow: and if they were good children, he had something for them, which they should then have. John appeared to be satisfied with his papa's reply ; but whispered to his sister, that he would try and peep at what the parcel contained before to-morrow.

They had now arrived at home, and Mr. Wilmot placed the parcel on a chest of drawers up in the children's nursery, out of their reach: and told them that their aunts Anne and Harriet, and uncle William, and cousin Willie, were coming to see them to-morrow.

After tea, Mr. Wilmot retired to his study to arrange some little business, and Mrs. Wilmot was busy superintending all the many little matters connected with their visitors on the following day, while the children were left to amuse themselves in the nursery.

They had not been there very long before John observed the end of the parcel, which he was so anxious about and which had been placed on the chest of drawers; "Oh, Emma," said John, "see, there is papa's parcel; now, I WILL try and see what is in it; there is nobody to see us.' Oh, but remember," said Emma,

tell us what it contained to-morrow;

"

papa said he would and it is wrong to

wish to do what he tells us not." This reply quieted John for a little while; but, as we have before said, he was a very

self-willed boy; not satisfied unless he had the thing he wished at the very moment; and was at times like the naughty boy who cried for the moon. So John would at

times cry very loud when he was told he could not possibly have the things he wished for. After a little while he said to Emma, "You will not tell papa, if I try and reach down the parcel, will you?" and so he coaxed Emma at last to assist him.

Now the chest of drawers was rather a high old-fashioned one, but the packet was placed very near the edge. So John placed a chair at the front of the drawers, and fetched one of his papa's sticks; he then got upon the chair, and with the stick he was able to bring the parcel down; and just as he was about to catch it, and in high spirits at having succeeded, it dropped down on the ground with great violence, and a crash as if glass was broken; the covers of the parcel came asunder, and disclosed a small magic-lantern, with the glass-slides all broken into pieces, and a beautiful little wax-doll with the face, hands, and feet broken, and altogether much injured, if not spoiled.

Oh, John, oh, John," said little Emma, "what have you done? look at the beautiful doll all broken," and she put her pinafore to her eyes, and cried loudly. John directly he got down from the chair, and saw the extent of the accident, was at first so choked that he did not speak a word. At last, seeing the broken magic-lantern, and the extent of his loss, he began to stamp his feet and get into a passion; at this instant, Mrs. Wilmot entered the room; having heard a terrible noise overhead, she had come up to see the cause.