Free The Mandie Collection by Lois Gladys Leppard Page B

replied. “Now git along, Liza, and you too, Jenny.”
    Jenny took her husband’s hand. “Come along, Abraham,” she ordered.
    â€œAunt Lou!” Mandie pleaded. “You are ruining our Christmas tree trimming party. Why do y’all have to go?”
    Aunt Lou motioned to the other servants to go ahead of her out of the room. “We’s got sumpin’ to do dat we ain’t talkin’ ’bout,” she answered.
    The adults around the fireplace looked at each other.
    Joe tied another ball on the tree, and Snowball tried to pull it down. “I wouldn’t go hinting at secrets, Aunt Lou,” Joe said. “You know Mandie. She won’t rest until she finds out what you’re talking about.”
    â€œJoe Woodard!” Mandie exclaimed.
    The old Negro woman just smiled at Mandie. “She find out when we gits ready fo’ huh to find out,” she said. Then she hurried out of the parlor after the other servants.
    â€œNow, what do you suppose that was all about?” Mrs. Taft said to no one in particular.
    Mandie pouted. “I wish people wouldn’t have secrets,” she said. “Mother has some big secret for me, and now Aunt Lou and all the other servants have secrets.”
    â€œI have a secret, too,” Joe teased as he helped Hilda put a decoration on the tree.
    Mandie scowled at him. “Well, I think I’ll just have a secret myself,” she said.
    Hilda moved around the tree, placing another ornament on an already full branch. “Secret,” she said, smiling at Mandie.
    Mandie shook her head. “Now, don’t tell me you have a secret, too, Hilda.”
    Hilda nodded. “Secret,” she repeated.
    Mrs. Taft shifted in her chair by the fireplace. “Why don’t we all just have a little secret?” she said. “After all, it’s Christmastime.”
    â€œThat’s a good idea,” Joe agreed, stepping back to admire his work.
    Mandie straightened a bow on the tree. “There!” she exclaimed. “I think the decorating is all finished! Now all I have to do is figure out what my secret will be.”
    Just as she was about to sit down, the huge grandfather clock in the front hallway chimed eleven times.
    â€œGoodness,” Mrs. Taft said, “is it eleven o’clock already? I think it’s time we all retire for the night. You young people should have already been in bed. You won’t want to get up in the morning.” She rose and motioned to Hilda. “Come on, Hilda, dear. Bedtime.”
    Hilda drew back when Mrs. Taft reached for her hand.
    â€œGrandmother, why don’t you let Hilda sleep with me?” Mandie suggested. “That way I’ll know if she gets out of bed during the night.”
    â€œI suppose that’ll be all right,” Mrs. Taft agreed. She turned to Mr. and Mrs. Burns. “I’ll get Liza to come and show you to your room. I hope you sleep well.”
    â€œThank you, ma’am,” Ludie Burns replied. “I’m sure we will.”
    â€œYes, ma’am,” Jake added.
    Mandie took Hilda’s hand. “Come on, Hilda,” she said. “We’re going to sleep.”
    â€œSleep,” the girl repeated, allowing Mandie to lead her upstairs.
    Snowball followed.
    Mandie got Hilda’s nightgown from the room where the girl was supposed to be sleeping and brought it to her. “Put this on,” she said.
    Hilda did what she was told, and Mandie put on her own nightgown as they both hovered near the warm fireplace.
    â€œLet’s get in bed,” Mandie said, and together they jumped into the big featherbed and covered up with the heavy quilts. Snowball curled up on the foot of the bed and was soon asleep.
    When Mandie blew out the oil lamp by the bed, Hilda giggled and wiggled around.
    By the light of the fireplace, Mandie looked into the girl’s dark brown eyes. “Now, Hilda, you have to go to sleep.