The Mandie Collection by Lois Gladys Leppard Page B

in the parlor. “Grandmother! They’ll all be here for Christmas!” she cried, thrusting the piece of paper into the woman’s hand.
    Mrs. Taft, alarmed at the excitement, took the paper and read it aloud while the others listened.
    â€œThat means my parents will be back in time for Christmas, too,” Joe said with a big grin.
    Mandie quickly turned to Joe. “Oh, forgive me for thinking only of my mother, Joe,” she said. “Of course you were anxious for your parents to get back, too. I’m so glad.” She reached for Joe’s hand and gave it a little squeeze.
    Mr. Bond looked concerned. “I don’t want to ruin your happiness,” he said, “but please remember, this snow has got to stop before anyone can get through from Tellico.”
    â€œI know, but I figure God will turn it all off tonight so my mother can come home in time to celebrate Jesus’ birthday with me,” Mandie said with tears of joy sparkling in her blue eyes.
    Ludie Burns sat forward. “Bless you, child. I hope so,” she said.
    â€œI hope so, too,” her husband added, “so we can be gittin’ on home ourselves.”
    Suddenly Hilda ran over to Mrs. Taft, knelt by her chair and threw her arms around her. “Mother!” she said to everyone’s surprise.
    Mrs. Taft hugged her back. “Yes, Hilda, darling,” Mrs. Taft said. “I’ll be your mother. I love you.”
    Then just as suddenly, Hilda jumped up and started dancing around the Christmas tree, saying, “Red, green, red, green,” in a sing-song fashion.
    Mandie couldn’t help but wonder why Hilda kept saying that if she had nothing to do with the missing presents.
    That night, before Mandie crawled into bed, she knelt with Hilda by the fire to say her prayers. “Thank you, dear God, for letting me hear from my mother. But please, don’t you think we’ve had enough snow?” she prayed. “Please make sure my mother and all the others get home in time to celebrate Jesus’ birthday. Thank you, dear God. Thank you for everything and everybody.”
    Hilda tried to repeat what Mandie was saying, but finally she just said, “Thank. God.”
    Mandie hugged the girl and they quickly crawled into the warm featherbed and pulled the heavy quilts over them.
    Just before she dropped off to sleep Mandie’s last thoughts were, My mother will be home for Christmas. And now I can find out what the big surprise is .

CHAPTER EIGHT
    MYSTERIOUS FOOTPRINTS
    The next thing Mandie knew, Liza was shaking her awake.
    â€œMissy, better git up and go look under de Christmas tree,” Liza said.
    Mandie’s eyes opened wide, and she jumped out of bed. “What’s wrong now, Liza?”
    Startled by Mandie’s sudden movement, Snowball hopped down and ran out the open door.
    â€œI hates to tell you dis, Missy,” Liza said, stirring up the fire she had just built in the fireplace, “but all dem red presents, dey be back under de tree, and de green ones dey be gone now.”
    â€œOh, no!” Mandie shrieked so loudly that Hilda woke up and jumped out of bed.
    â€œSecret?” Hilda asked, joining them by the fire.
    Mandie ignored Hilda. “What else is going to happen?” She sighed.
    â€œDat ain’t all. No it ain’t,” Liza said.
    â€œLiza, come on and tell me,” Mandie begged. “What is it?”
    â€œWell, it be like dis,” the little maid replied. “All dem presents be back, but somebody done messed ’em all up.”
    â€œMessed them all up? How?” she asked, slipping into her robe and helping Hilda with hers. “I’ll just go see.”
    As she hurried down the stairs, Liza and Hilda followed. Down in the parlor beneath the Christmas tree, they found all Mandie’s red-wrapped presents, but the paper and ribbons were all wrinkled. And now all the green presents were missing.
    Tears came