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THEBIRDS'CHRISTMASCAROL1THEBIRDS'CHRISTMASCAROLBYKATEDOUGLASWIGGINToTheThreeDearestChildrenintheWorld,BERTHA,LUCY,ANDHORATIO.Olittleones,yecannotknowThepowerwithwhichyeplead,Norwhy,asonthroughlifewego,Thelittlechilddothlead.THEBIRDS'CHRISTMASCAROL2I.ALITTLESNOWBIRD.ItwasveryearlyChristmasmorning,andinthestillnessofthedawn,withthesoftsnowfallingonthehousetops,alittlechildwasbornintheBirdhousehold.TheyhadintendedtonamethebabyLucy,ifitwereagirl;buttheyhadn'texpectedheronChristmasmorning,andarealChristmasbabywasnottobelightlynamed--thewholefamilyagreedinthat.Theywereconsultingaboutitinthenursery.Mr.Birdsaidthathehadassistedinnamingthethreeboys,andthatheshouldleavethismatterentirelytoMrs.Bird;DonaldwantedthechildcalledMaud,afteraprettylittlecurly-hairedgirlwhosatnexthiminschool;PaulchoseLuella,forLuellawasthenursewhohadbeenwithhimduringhiswholebabyhood,uptothetimeofhisfirsttrousers,andthenamesuggestedallsortsofcomfortablethings.UncleJacksaidthatthefirstgirlshouldalwaysbenamedforhermother,nomatterhowhideousthenamehappenedtobe.Grandmasaidthatshewouldprefernottotakeanypartinthediscussion,andeverybodysuddenlyrememberedthatMrs.BirdhadthoughtofnamingthebabyLucy,forGrandmaherself;and,whileitwouldbeindelicateforhertofavorthatname,itwouldbeagainsthumannatureforhertosuggestanyother,underthecircumstances.Hugh,thehithertobaby,ifthatisapossibleterm,satinonecornerandsaidnothing,butfelt,insomemysteriousway,thathisnosewasoutofjoint;fortherewasanewerbabynow,apossibilityhehadnevertakenintoconsideration;andthefirstgirl,too,astillhigherdevelopmentoftreason,whichmadehimactuallygreenwithjealousy.Butitwastooprofoundasubjecttobesettledthenandthere,onthespot;besides,Mamahadnotbeenasked,andeverybodyfeltitratherabsurd,afterall,toforestalladecreethatwascertaintobeabsolutelywise,justandperfect.ThereasonthatthesubjecthadbeenbroughtupatallsoearlyinthedaylayinthefactthatMrs.Birdneverallowedherbabiestogoovernightunnamed.Shewasapersonofsogreatdecisionofcharacterthatshewouldhaveblushedatsuchathing;shesaidthattoletblessedbabiesgodanglinganddawdlingaboutwithoutnames,formonthsandmonths,wasenoughtoruinthemforlife.ShealsoTHEBIRDS'CHRISTMASCAROL3saidthatifonecouldnotmakeupone'smindintwenty-fourhoursitwasasignthat--butIwillnotrepeattherest,asitmightprejudiceyouagainstthemostcharmingwomanintheworld.SoDonaldtookhisnewvelocipedeandwentouttorideupanddownthestonepavementandnotchtheshinsofinnocentpeopleastheypassedby,whilePaulspunhismusicaltoponthefrontsteps.ButHughrefusedtoleavethesceneofaction.Heseatedhimselfonthetopstairinthehall,bangedhisheadagainsttherailingafewtimes,justbywayofuncorkingthevialsofhiswrath,andthensubsidedintogloomysilence,waitingtodeclarewarifmorefirstgirlbabieswerethrustuponafamilyalreadysurfeitedwiththatunnecessaryarticle.MeanwhiledearMrs.Birdlayinherroom,weak,butsafeandhappywithhersweetgirlbabybyhersideandtheheavenofmotherhoodopeningbeforeher.Nursewasmakinggruelinthekitchen,andtheroomwasdimandquiet.Therewasacheerfulopenfireinthegrate,butthoughtheshutterswereclosed,thesidewindowsthatlookedoutontheChurchofourSaviour,nextdoor,werewideopen.Suddenlyasoundofmusicpouredoutintothebrightairanddriftedintothechamber.Itwastheboy-choirsingingChristmasanthems.Higherandhigherrosetheclear,freshvoices,fullofhopeandcheer,aschildren'svoicesalwaysare.Fullerandfullergrewtheburstofmelodyasonegladstrainfelluponanotherinjoyfulharmony:Carol,brothers,carol,Caroljoyfully,Carolthegoodtidings,Carolmerrily!AndprayagladsomeChristmasForallyourfellow-men;Carol,brothers,carol,ChristmasDayagain.Oneversefollowedanotheralwayswiththesamegladrefrain:AndprayagladsomeChristmasForallyourfellow-men:Carol,brothers,carol,ChristmasDayagain.Mrs.Birdthought,asthemusicfloatedinuponhergentlesleep,thatshehadslippedintoheavenwithhernewbaby,andthattheangelswerebiddingthemwelcome.Butthetinybundlebyhersidestirredalittle,andthoughitwasscarcelymorethantherufflingofafeather,sheawoke;forthemother-earissoclosetotheheartthatitcanhearthefaintestwhisperofachild.Sheopenedhereyesanddrewthebabycloser.Itlookedlikearosedippedinmilk,shethought,thispinkandwhiteblossomofgirlhood,THEBIRDS'CHRISTMASCAROL4orlikeapinkcherub,withitshaloofpaleyellowhair,finerthanflosssilk.Carol,brothers,carol,Caroljoyfully,Carolthegoodtidings,Carolmerrily!Thevoiceswerebrimmingoverwithjoy.Why,mybaby,whisperedMrs.Birdinsoftsurprise,Ihadforgottenwhatdayitwas.YouarealittleChristmaschild,andwewillnameyou'Carol'--mother'slittleChristmasCarol!What!saidMr.Bird,cominginsoftlyandclosingthedoorbehindhim.Why,Donald,don'tyouthink'Carol'isasweetnameforaChristmasbaby?ItcametomejustamomentagointhesingingasIwaslyingherehalfasleepandhalfawake.Ithinkitisacharmingname,dearheart,andthatitsoundsjustlikeyou,andIhopethat,beingagirl,thisbabyhassomechanceofbeingaslovelyashermother,atwhichspeechfromthebaby'spapa,Mrs.Bird,thoughshewasasweakandtiredasshecouldbe,blushedwithhappiness.AndsoCarolcamebyhername.Ofcourse,itwasthoughtfoolishbymanypeople,thoughUncleJackdeclaredlaughinglythatitwasverystrangeifawholefamilyofBirdscouldnotbeindulgedinasingleCarol;andGr