MOPPET. 
435 
tjTeasure ; note her agony as that teasing young rogue of an elder 
brother threatens death and torture to her darhng, and you Avill 
soon discover that, of all her numerous family, shapeless, clumsy 
Moppet has the largest place in that warm little heart of hers. 
Next to these great cloth babies, black Dinahs are the greatest 
pets in the nursery. It is surprising what a fancy children have 
for a black face ; nay, it is more than a fancy, it is a very positive 
affection. Whether it is that the negroes, with the cheerful 
kindliness which usually marks their good-hearted race, have an 
art of their own in winning little hearts or not, one cannot say ; 
but it is well known that a black nurse is almost always a favor- 
ite. These Dinahs of black morocco are, therefore, cherished 
among the doll family as representatives of the dark face children 
love so well ; they are supposed to be taking very good care of 
those white linen babies in the little cradle. 
But it is not only older fingers which are at work ; many little 
slips of womankind are now busily engaged upon some nice piece 
of work for papas and mammas, grandfathers and grandmothers. 
Many are the deep mysteries concerning such matters cleverly 
concealed just now under an innocent expression — mysteries which 
Christmas-eve will unfold. And now, as the day draws on apace, 
all sorts of work, bags, purses, slippers, mittens, what-nots, &c., 
&c., are getting a more finished look every hour. The work-table 
is getting more and more crowded. Things wear a very different 
aspect from the languid, listless, make-believe appearance of sum- 
mer labors of the same kind ; all are in earnest now, great and 
small, old and young ; there is not a moment to spare, Christmas 
is at hand ! And the thought that it is so, 
