At first I thought there was no one there, and was on
the point of leaving the room, and going out again into the snowy
street, when I suddenly caught the sparkle of eyes. I found that they
belonged to a little boy who lay very still on a sofa. I crept into a
dark corner by the sideboard, and watched him. He seemed very sad, and
did nothing but stare into the fire. At last he sighed out,--'I wish
mamma would come home.' 'Poor boy!' thought I, 'there is no help for
that but mamma.' Yet I would try to while away the time for him. So out
of my corner I stretched a long shadow arm, reaching all across the
ceiling, and pretended to make a grab at him. He was rather frightened
at first; but he was a brave boy, and soon saw that it was all a joke.
So when I did it again, he made a clutch at me; and then we had such
fun! For though he often sighed and wished mamma would come home, he
always began again with me; and on we went with the wildest games. At
last his mother's knock came to the door, and starting up in delight,
he rushed into the hall to meet her, and forgot all about poor black
me. But I did not mind that in the least; for when I glided out after
him into the hall, I was well repaid for my trouble by hearing his
mother say to him,--'Why, Charlie, my dear, you look ever so much
better since I left you!' At that moment I slipped through the closing
door, and as I ran across the snow, I heard the mother say,--'What
shadow can that be, passing so quickly?' And Charlie answered with a
merry laugh,--'Oh! mamma, I suppose it must be the funny shadow that
has been playing such games with me all the time you were out.
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