isa-normaladvance-1915-00065

Description:	—. 411 uuina \|STATE NORMAC-v Library. ^THE NORMAL ADVANCE65Cfje Cfjrfetma* poxBy MARTHA MOOREAUNT Marys box had not arrived and itwas the day before Christmas.Well, I dont see why the box doesnt come,mother, I would say. You know she alwayssends it about a week before Christmas.It will come before long, dear, she wouldreply, and anyway I think it would be muchnicer to wait until Christmas to open it.That was enough to arouse my curiosity. Illjust bet that old box has come and mother hasput it in the attic, I thought to myself. I thinkI shall sneak up into the attic and take a lookwas my next conclusion.O, yes, I said aloud, I know it would benice to wait until Christmas to open the box, butIm just crazy to see what she will send me thisyear.Mother was busy doing the dishes so I wandered on into the other part of the house.Betty, my younger sister, had gone back toschool, and father was reading. I had twentyminutes before school time, so why not use thistime to investigate. I ran up the front stairsand then slowly crept up into the attic. I listened, not a sound could I hear, and then veryquietly, I opened the attic door. As I did so,my eyes fell upon a large fancy box, tied withred and green ribbons.Its come, I knew it, I cried, as I dancedup and down.Open it, a voice from within seemed tocommand me. Why dont you see what shesent you, it urged.Did I dare to do such a thing. Still surelya peep wouldnt do any harm, and besidesnever a soul would know. Slowly, I lifted myhands to the box, and with trembling fingersremoved the ribbons. All that was left nowfor me to do was to lift the lid.Go on, it will only take a second, the samevoice again whispered.So off it came and I looked straight at a largebeautiful doll with golden curls and all dressedin pink.O, isnt she a beauty, I cried, as I tookher in my arms. I just love pink dresses, andits silk, too, I said as I fell to examining her.But what was that tied around her neck, acard with Bettys name on it.O, I gasped, as I laid the doll down andran back to the box, to see what she had sentme.There I found a small box with a card attached to it, on which was written, For Marion.Quickly I opened the box and a braceletrolled out.O, I hate bracelets, and I wont have it! Iexclaimed. I dont care if Betty is youngerthan I, I just love dolls, and this one shall bemine, I cried, as I once more took the bundleof fluffy pink in my arms.I know I shall change the cards and giveBetty the bracelet, I said, as I rapidly tore thecards from the two gifts.After I had hurriedly made the change I putthe gifts back into the box.Marion, called mother, hurry or you aregoing to be late for school.Yes, mother, Im coming, I said as I closedthe attic door and ran down the stairs.That evening Betty asked mother about thebox, saying that she thought it strange, that itdid not come. I, too, joined in the conversation, for mother would have thought it strangeif I had not done so.I could not sleep after I had gone to bed, forthinking of what I had done. Suddenly, Iheard mother close the attic door and I knew
Source:	http://indstate.contentdm.oclc.org/cdm/ref/collection/isuarchive/id/34879
Collection:	Indiana State University Archives

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