Chapter I: Front Matter

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THE NEW-YEAR’S BARGAIN.

THE NEW-YEAR’S BARGAIN.

by

SUSAN COOLIDGE.

With Illustrations by Addie Ledyard.

Boston: Roberts Brothers. 1884.

Entered according to Act of Congress, in the year 1871, by Roberts Brothers, In the Office of the Librarian of Congress at Washington.

University Press: John Wilson & Son, Cambridge.

A little golden head close to my knee,
Sweet eyes of tender, gentianella blue
Fixed upon mine, a little coaxing voice,--
Only we two.

“Tell it again!” Insatiate demand!
And like a toiling spider where I sat,
I wove and spun the many-colored webs
Of this and that.

Of Dotty Pringle sweeping out her hall;
Of Greedy Bear; of Santa Claus the good;
And how the little children met the Months
Within the wood.

“Tell it again!” and though the sand-man came,
Dropping his drowsy grains in each blue eye,
“Tell it again! oh, just once more!” was still
The sleepy cry.

My spring-time violet! early snatched away
To fairer gardens all unknown to me,--
Gardens of whose invisible, guarded gates
I have no key,--

I weave my fancies now for other ears,--
Thy sister-blossom’s, who beside me sits,
Rosy, imperative, and quick to mark
My lagging wits.

But still the stories bear thy name, are thine,
Part of the sunshine of thy brief, sweet day,
Though in _her_ little warm and living hands
This book I lay.

CONTENTS.

CHAPTER PAGE

I. THE BARGAIN WITH THE MONTHS 5

II. THE BEAR STORY 19

III. LITTLE TOT 32

IV. “MARIA” 44

V. MAY’S GARDEN 62

VI. THE LITTLE HOUSEKEEPERS 80

VII. THE LAST OF THE FAIRIES 98

VIII. THE STORY OF A LITTLE SPARK 114

IX. THE DESERT ISLAND 129

X. NIPPIE NUTCRACKER 157

XI. “CHUSEY” 178

XII. HOW THE CAT KEPT CHRISTMAS 199

CONCLUSION.--WHAT WAS ON THE TREE 224