Betsy and Billy Read Online Free Page A

slowly around the post.
    "And there is Old Mother Hubbard and Tom, Tom the Piper's Son," said Betsy, pointing to another post. Betsy walked around, looking at all of the posts. All of the nursery rhyme people were there, going round and round.
    Betsy and Mother looked at all kinds of toys, at games and dollhouses, trains and tricycles, sleds and doll coaches. Betsy saw many toys that she told Mother she would love to have for Christmas. Each time Mother said, "Well, we'll see.
    At last they came to the big glass case that was filled with beautiful dolls. There were big dolls and little dolls, baby dolls and lady dolls. There were little boys and little girls. There were dolls with light yellow curls and dolls with soft brown hair. Betsy thought that all of the dolls in the world must be here. She wandered around and around the glass case. After a while Betsy said, "Mother, I don't want a make-believe baby for Christmas. Do you know what I want, Mother?"
    Mother made no reply. Betsy looked up. Mother wasn't there. Betsy looked all around her. Mother was nowhere to be seen. There were a great many people but not one of them was Mother. Betsy stood very still. At first she felt terribly frightened, but then she remembered that Mother had told her that if she ever became separated from her, she should stand very still and wait. No matter how long it seemed, she must not take a step because Mother would always come back for her.
    Betsy leaned her little back against the nearest post and waited. She felt surrounded with trouser legs and skirts. They were all walking this way and that way. Ladies' pocketbooks knocked against her head as they pushed past her. Men carrying packages bumped against her hat.
    After a while a pair of bright red legs with high black boots came along. Betsy looked up and there, looking down at her, was another Santa Claus. "Well, little girl," he said, "are you lost?"
    "No, I'm not lost," replied Betsy, "but I'm afraid my mother is."
    "Well," said Santa Claus, "suppose I lift you up and perhaps you will see her. We can't have any lost mothers in Toy-Land."
    Santa Claus lifted Betsy up in his big strong arms. Now she could see over everyone's head. There was Mother coming towards her! When Mother reached her, Betsy said, "I stood still, Mother; I stood still and I wasn't scared." Mother patted Betsy's hand.
    "And now," said Santa Claus, as he put Betsy down, "tell me what you want for Christmas."
    "Well," said Betsy, "I want something very special."
    "Very special?" said Santa Claus.
    "Yes," said Betsy, "I want a baby."
    "You mean a doll-baby that says 'Mamma' and opens and shuts its eyes?" asked Santa Claus.
    "No," said Betsy; "a real one that I can have for a baby sister."
    "Gracious me!" said Santa Claus. "That's a rather large order, but we'll see about it."
    "I would like to have a bicycle too," said Betsy. "But if I can't have both, I want the baby sister."
    "I'll make a note of that," said Santa Claus.
    Betsy took hold of Mother's hand. As they walked towards the elevator, she said, "Do you think I will get a baby sister for Christmas, Mother?"
    "Well, we'll see," said Mother. "Would a baby brother do just as well?"
    "Not quite as well," said Betsy; "but it would be better than none."
    After Betsy had bought a flashlight for Father and a hair ribbon for Ellen and some handkerchiefs for her granddaddy, Mother said, "I think you had better buy some handkerchiefs for Mrs. Beckett. She is coming to spend Christmas with us.
    Mrs. Beckett had been Betsy's nurse when she was a baby and Betsy loved Mrs. Beckett

    very much indeed. Betsy picked out two pretty handkerchiefs for Mrs. Beckett. One was pink and the other one was blue.
    "Father is going with me to buy your present, Mother," said Betsy. "It's a secret. I'll tell you this much, though. It's something to wear on your hands."
    "Oh, my!" said Mother. "Is it a ring?"
    "No," replied Betsy. "It's something that covers your hands all up, but I'm not going to