CHILDREN. Oh, Babushka! dear, good Babushka!
SOPHIA. Have you got something for everybody?
MASHA. I've tried to be good, all the whole year!
CHILDREN. We all have, _truly_, Babushka.
SERGIUS. I've had good lessons--you can ask the school-teacher.
KATINKA. My mother says I've been a good girl--aren't you glad?
PETER. Please, Babushka--I--I'm afraid I haven't been a very good boy. But I'm sorry, and I'll try to do better next year. I'll be bigger, then.
PRASKOVIA. We'll all be very, very good next year--won't we, children?
BORIS. Perhaps it will be easier next year.
FEODOSIA. Oh, please, Babushka, I have a baby brother at home. Could you give me something for him?
LEO. My big brother has gone wolf-hunting with the men, but he'll be sorry enough he missed you, Babushka.
MICHAEL. So has mine, and he'll be sorry, too.
NADIA. Dear Babushka, I've kept the present so carefully that you gave me last year.
MALASHKA. Oh, _did_ you? Mine got broken and I cried.
CHILDREN. Oh, Babushka, we love you, we love you! Why can't you stay with us always? Live here with us--in our village.
SASCHA. Babushka! You must have something for the Prince and Princess, haven't you?
[_As the_ BABUSHKA _gives them something, the_ BARON _turns to the children._
BARON. Children, the Babushka has given the best present of all to me.
BARON. Yes, some of you can guess. The Prince and the Princess were my Christmas present, for the Babushka gave them back to me.
SEMYON [_tapping his violin for quiet_]. Come, children, we must sing for the Babushka!
CHILDREN. Yes--we always do. [_Applaud again._ SEMYON _and_ IVAN _play, while children sing "The Golden Carol."_]
We saw a light shine out afar, On Christmas in the morning, And straight we knew Christ's star it was, Bright beaming in the morning. Then did we fall on bended knee, On Christmas in the morning, And praised the Lord, who'd let us see, His glory at its dawning.
2. Oh, ever thought be of His Name, On Christmas in the morning, Who bore for us both grief and shame, Afflictions sharpest scorning. And may we die (when death shall come) On Christmas in the morning, And see in heaven, our glorious home, That Star of Christmas morning.
RUSSIAN OVEN. Made from a wooden packing-case, five or six feet in height, covered with cambric, and painted to represent stone, brick, or tiles. These stoves are decorated with rich panels in bold conventional designs of flower or animal forms, or combinations of geometrical figures. They are often so large that in the bitter weather whole families may sleep on their tops, or on a platform above.