Page:Danish fairy and folk tales.djvu/93

 Ada and the puppy. We are going to make you a Christmas present of them, Aunt Lizzie!"

"God forbid!" exclaimed Aunt Lizzie, "I will never keep them in my house. What are you thinking of?"

"Oh, do take them, auntie!" prayed Emma. "If nobody will have them, they must be killed."

"Tut, tut, children," said the dear old lady, by way of comforting. "They are only a couple of animals, after all."

"Animals?" ejaculated Emma. "It's Ada and her pup, Aunt Lizzie, please remember."

Upon this the four comrades went away in a rather disconsolate state of mind. After all, Aunt Lizzie was not as nice as they had thought her. Now she should not get the two sweet animals, even if she went down on her knees and prayed for them.

They went from one house to another. At every place they presented their Christmas gift, but without success. It was continually declined, and the situation grew more and more painful.

Now they were, as above described, rushing onward in high speed.

Suddenly Emma stopped, flushed and breathless. "I cannot walk farther," declared she; "I am getting too tired. But let us go and make Uncle Peter a Christmas present of Ada and the pup!"

"No, I am afraid of that," answered John; "Uncle Peter is so queer, says mama; he can't bear to see any one around."