listen at the same time_.

_So_ JACK _reads_: "Dear Santa Claus, I have been very
good this year--most of the time; and I wish you would
bring me a toy soldier. I am very well and I hope you are.
Your loving little friend, Jack." Is that all right, Mother?

It is a very good letter, _says_ MOTHER; only I thought you were
going to speak about that pair of warm gloves for Father.

Oh, I forget that, _says_ JACK, _looking a little bit
ashamed_. I'll put it in a postscript. _So he goes on writing, and
so does Polly_. JACK _says his words aloud while he writes
them_: "P.S.--Fa--ather--would--like--a--pair--of--warm--gloves."

MOTHER _looks over at Polly, who seems to have finished, and says_:
Polly, let us hear your letter.

_So_ POLLY _reads_: "Dear Santa Claus, I am so glad that
tomorrow is Christmas. We have all hung up our stockings, and I think I
would like best to have a doll in short dresses. I love you very much.
Your little friend, Polly. P.S.--I think Mother would like a ball of
white knitting cotton." I had to put that in a postscript, Mother,
because I forgot, too.

_And now_ FATHER, _who has been listening all this time,
says_: Where will you put the letters?--on the mantel-piece or in the
stockings?

Oh, on the mantel-piece, _answers_ JACK. We always put them on the