Aunt Judys Tales | Page 4

as well have attempted
to melt a stone wall as those hard-hearted beings who had the charge of
them.
"And now, my dears," observed Aunt Judy, stopping in her account,
"this is of all others the exact moment at which you ought to show your
sympathy with the sufferers, and groan."
The little ones groaned accordingly, but in a very feeble manner.
Aunt Judy shook her head.
"That groan is not half hearty enough for such a misery. Don't you
think, if you tried hard, you could groan a little louder?"
They did try, and succeeded a little better, but cast furtive glances at
each other immediately after.
"Were the beds very uncomfortable ones, Aunt Judy?" inquired No. 8,
in a subdued voice.
"You shall judge for yourself," was the answer. "They were raised off
the floor upon legs, so that no wind from under the door could get at
them; and on the flat bottom called the bed-stock, there was placed a
thick strong bag called a mattress, which was stuffed with some soft
material which made it springy and pleasant to touch or lie down upon.

The shape of it was a long square, or what may be called a rectangular
parallelogram. I strongly advise you all to learn that word, for it is
rather an amusing idea as one steps into bed, to think that one is going
to sleep upon a parallelogram."
Nos. 3 and 4 were here unable to contain themselves, but broke into a
peal of laughter. The little ones stared.
"Well," resumed Aunt Judy, "for my part, I think it's a very nice thing
to learn the ins and outs of one's own life; to consider how one's bed is
made, and the why and wherefore of its shape and position. It is a great
pity to get so accustomed to things as not to know their value till we
lose them! But to proceed.
"On the top of this parallelogramatic mattress was laid a soft blanket.
On the top of that blanket, two white sheets. On the top of the sheets,
two or more warm blankets, and on the top of the blankets, a spotted
cover called a counterpane.
"Now it was between the sheets that each little Victim was laid, and
such were the receptacles to which they were unwillingly consigned,
night after night of their lives!
"But I have not yet told you half the troubles of this dreadful 'going to
bed.' A good fire with a large tub before it, and towels hung over the
fender, was always the first sight which met the tearful eyes of the little
Victims as they entered the nursery after being torn from the joys of the
room down-stairs. And then, lo and behold! a new misery began, for,
whether owing to the fatigue of getting up-stairs, or that their feelings
had been so much hurt, they generally discovered at this moment that
they were one and all so excessively tired, they didn't know what to
do;--of all things, did not choose to be washed--and insisted, each of
them, on being put to bed first! But let them say what they would, and
cry afresh as they pleased, and even snap and snarl at each other like so
many small terriers, those cruel keepers of theirs never would grant
their requests; never would put any of them to bed dirty, and always
declared that it was impossible to put each of them to bed first!
Imagine now the feelings of those who had to wait round the fire while
the others were attended to! Imagine the weariness, the disgust, before
the whole party was finished, and put by for the night!"
Aunt Judy paused, but no one spoke.
"What!" cried she suddenly, "will nobody groan? Then I must groan

myself!" which she did, and a most unearthly noise she made; so much
so, that two or three of the little ones turned round to look at the
swelling red curtains, just to make sure the howl did not proceed from
thence.
After which Aunt Judy continued her tale:-
"So much for night and going to bed, about which there is nothing more
to relate, as the little Victims were uncommonly good sleepers, and
seldom awoke till long after daylight.
"Well now, what do you think? By the time they had had a good night,
they felt so comfortable in their beds, that they were quite contented to
remain there; and then, of course, their tormentors never rested till they
had forced them to get up! Poor little things! Just think of their being
made to go to bed at night, when they most disliked it, and then made
to get up in the morning, when they wanted to stay in bed! It certainly
was, as