Before the program starts, we'll
wrap your tree costume around you. Then, when the time comes-I'll
tell you when-you'll step out front and recite your piece."
"My piece?"
"Right! A little recitation all your own! Now don't mention
what you're gonna say to anybody. It'll be a big surprise!"
She leaned closer and whispered a short rhyme to me. "Can you
remember that?"
"I don't know."
"Oh, sure you can. Whisper it back to me."
I said it for her.
"Good! Now, tonight after you say it, I want you to walk
through the church with your papa's hat, and everybody will put
in money. That will be for poor people. Then you come back to me,
and I'll get some of the little presents off the tree and pin
them on you. Then you'll walk up and down the aisle so that folks
can take off their gifts. What do you think of that? Can you do
it?"
"Oh, yes Ma'am! I can do it!"
On our way home I thought I'd absolutely pop wide open with
excitement. But I never did. At supper I gulped down a whole big
glass of buttermilk with corn bread crumbled in it, and not a
drop leaked out of me! Even after we got our stockings hung up
and our Sunday clothes on, I was still in good shape.
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