The Milly-Molly-Mandy Storybook Read online

  And Mother said, yes, it would come in very useful indeed. So (as it was rather shabby) Uncle, who had been painting the door of the new shed with apple-green paint, painted the little chest of drawers green too, so that it was a very pretty little chest of drawers indeed.

  “Well,” said Uncle, “that ought to make any jam pot taste sweet!”

  Milly-Molly-Mandy began to think the little storeroom would be almost too good just for jam-pots.

  Then Aunty decided she and Uncle wanted a new mirror in their room, and she asked Mother if their little old one couldn’t be stored up in the little storeroom. And when Mother said it could, Uncle said he might as well use up the last of the green paint, so that he could throw away the tin. So he painted the frame of the mirror green, and it looked a very pretty little mirror indeed.

  “Jam-pots don’t want to look at themselves,” said Milly-Molly-Mandy. She thought the mirror looked much too pretty for the little storeroom.

  “Oh well – a mirror helps to make the room lighter,” said Mother.

  Then Milly-Molly-Mandy came upon Grandma embroidering a pretty little wool bird on either end of a strip of coarse linen. It was a robin, with a brown back and a scarlet front. Milly-Molly-Mandy thought it was a pretty cloth: and she wanted to know what it was for.

  And Grandma said, “I just thought it would look nice on the little chest of drawers in the little storeroom.” And then she added, “It might amuse the jam-pots!”

  And Milly-Molly-Mandy laughed, and begged Grandma to tell her what the pretty cloth really was for. But Grandma would only chuckle and say it was to amuse the jam-pots.

  The next day, when Milly-Molly-Mandy came home from school, Mother said, “Milly-Molly-Mandy, we’ve got the little storeroom in order again. Now, would you please run up and fetch me a pot of jam?”

  Milly-Molly-Mandy said, “Yes, Mother. What sort?”

  And Father said, “Blackberry.”

  And Grandpa said, “Marrow-ginger.”

  And Grandma said, “Red-currant.”

  And Uncle said, “Strawberry.”

  And Aunty said, “Raspberry.’

  But Mother said, “Any sort you like, Milly-Molly-Mandy!”

  Milly-Molly-Mandy thought something funny must be going to happen, for Father and Mother and Grandpa and Grandma and Uncle and Aunty all looked as if they had got a laugh down inside them. But she ran upstairs to the little storeroom.

  And when she opened the door, . . . she saw . . .

  Her own little cot-bed with the green coverlet on, just inside. And the little square window with the green curtains blowing in the wind. And a yellow pot of nasturtiums on the sill. And the little green chest of drawers with the robin cloth on it. And the little green mirror hanging on the primrose wall, with Milly-Molly-Mandy’s own face reflected in it.

  SHE SAID, “OH-H-H-H!” IN A VERY HUSHED VOICE

  And then Milly-Molly-Mandy knew that the little storeroom was to be her very own little bedroom, and she said, “O-h-h-h!” in a very hushed voice, as she looked all round her room.

  Then suddenly she tore downstairs back into the kitchen, and just hugged Father and Mother and Grandpa and Grandma and Uncle and Aunty; and they all said she was their favourite jam pot and pretended to eat her up!

  And Milly-Molly-Mandy didn’t know how to wait till bedtime, because she was so eager to go to sleep in the little room that was her Very Own!

  13

  Milly-Molly-Mandy Goes to a Concert

  Once upon a time Milly-Molly-Mandy was going to a grown-up concert with Father and Mother and Grandpa and Grandma and Uncle and Aunty. (They had all got their tickets.)

  It was to be held in the Village Institute at seven o’clock, and it wouldn’t be over until quite nine o’clock, which was lovely and late for Milly-Molly-Mandy. But you see this wasn’t like an ordinary concert, where people you didn’t know sang and did things.

  It was a quite extra specially important concert, for Aunty was going to play on the piano on the platform, and the young lady who helped Mrs Hubble in her baker’s shop was going to sing, and some other people whom Milly-Molly-Mandy had heard spoken of were going to do things too. So it was very exciting indeed.

  Aunty had a new mauve silk scarf for her neck, and a newly trimmed hat, and her handkerchief was sprinkled with the lavender water that Milly-Molly-Mandy had given her last Christmas.

  Milly-Molly-Mandy felt so proud that it was being used for such a special occasion. (Aunty put a drop on Milly-Molly-Mandy’s own handkerchief too.)

  When they had all got into their best clothes and shoes, they said goodbye to Toby the dog and Topsy the cat, and started off for the village – Father and Mother and Grandpa and Grandma and Uncle and Aunty and Milly-Molly-Mandy. And they as nearly as possible forgot to take the tickets with them off the mantelpiece! But Mother remembered just in time.

  There were several people already in their seats when Father and Mother and Grandpa and Grandma and Uncle and Aunty and Milly-Molly-Mandy got to the Institute. Mr and Mrs Hubble and the young lady who helped them were just in front, and Mr and Mrs Blunt and Mr and Mrs Moggs (little-friend-Susan’s father and mother) were just behind (Billy Blunt and little-friend-Susan weren’t there, but then they hadn’t got an aunty who was going to play on the platform, so it wasn’t so important for them to be up late).

  The platform looked very nice, with plants in crinkly green paper. And the piano was standing there, all ready for Aunty. People were coming in very fast, and it wasn’t long before the hall was full and everybody was talking and rustling programmes. Then people started clapping, and Milly-Molly-Mandy saw that some ladies and gentlemen with violins and things were going up steps on to the platform, with very solemn faces. A lady hit one or two notes on the piano, and the people with violins played a lot of funny noises without taking any notice of each other (Mother said they were “tuning up”). And then they all started off playing properly, and the concert had begun.

  Milly-Molly-Mandy did enjoy it. She clapped as hard as ever she could, and so did everybody else, when the music stopped. After that people sang one at a time, or a lot at a time, or played the piano, and one man sang a funny song (which made Milly-Molly-Mandy laugh and everybody else too).

  But Milly-Molly-Mandy was longing for the time to come for Aunty to play.

  She was just asking Mother in a whisper when Aunty was going to play, when she heard a queer little sound, just like a dog walking on the wooden floor. And she looked round and saw people at the back of the hall glancing down here and there, smiling and pointing.

  And presently what should she feel but a cold, wet nose on her leg, and what should she see but a white, furry object coming out from under her chair.

  And there was Toby the dog (without a ticket), looking just as pleased with himself as he could be for having found them!

  Milly-Molly-Mandy was very shocked at him and so was Mother. She said “Naughty Toby!” in a whisper, and Father pushed him under the seat and made him lie down. They couldn’t disturb the concert by taking him out just then.

  So there Toby the dog stayed and heard the concert without a ticket; and now and then Milly-Molly-Mandy put down her hand and Toby the dog licked it and half got up to wag his tail. But Father said, “Ssh!” so Milly-Molly-Mandy put her hand back in her lap, and Toby the dog settled down again. But they liked being near each other.

  Then the time came for the young lady who helped Mrs Hubble to sing, and Aunty to play for her. So the young lady got up and dropped her handbag, and Aunty got up and dropped her music (it made Toby the dog jump!). But they were picked up again, and then Aunty and the young lady went up on to the platform.

  And who do you think went up with them?

  Why, Toby the dog! Looking just as if he thought Aunty had meant him to follow!

  Everybody laughed, and Aunty pointed to Toby the dog to go down again. But Toby the dog didn’t seem to understand, and he got behind the piano and wouldn’t come out.
/>
  So Aunty had to play and the young lady to sing with Toby the dog peeping out now and then from behind the piano, and everybody tried not to notice him, lest it should make them laugh.

  But still Aunty played beautifully and the young lady sang, and Milly-Molly-Mandy clapped as hard as she could, and so did everybody else when the song was finished. In fact, they all clapped so loud that Toby the dog gave a surprised bark, and everybody laughed again.

  They had another try then to get Toby the dog off the platform, but Toby the dog wouldn’t come.

  Then Father said, “Milly-Molly-Mandy, you go and see if you can get him.”

  So Milly-Molly-Mandy slipped off her seat, past the people’s knees, and climbed up the steps on to the platform (in front of all the audience).

  And she said, “Toby, come here!” round the corner of the piano, and Toby the dog put out his nose and sniffed her hand, and Milly-Molly-Mandy was able to catch hold of his collar and pull him out.

  She walked right across the platform with Toby the dog in her arms, and everybody laughed, and somebody (I think it was the Blacksmith) called out, “Bravo! Encore!” and clapped.

  And Milly-Molly-Mandy (feeling very hot) hurried down the steps, with Toby the dog licking all over one side of her cheek and hair.

  SHE WALKED RIGHT ACROSS THE PLATFORM

  There was only a little bit of the concert to come after that, so Milly-Molly-Mandy stood at the back of the hall with Toby the dog till it was finished. Then everybody started crowding to the door. Most of them smiled at Milly-Molly-Mandy and Toby the dog as they stood waiting for Father and Mother and Grandpa and Grandma and Uncle and Aunty to come.

  Mr Jakes the Postman, passing with Mrs Jakes, said, “Well, well! I didn’t expect to see you turning out a public character just yet awhile, young lady.” And Milly-Molly-Mandy laughed with Mr Jakes.

  Then Mr Rudge, the Blacksmith, passed, and he said solemnly, “You and Toby gave us a very fine performance indeed. If I’d known beforehand I’d have sent you up a bouquet each.” Milly-Molly-Mandy liked the Blacksmith – he was a nice man.

  “Well,” said Aunty, as they all walked home together in the dark, “I think if we’d known Toby was going to perform up on the platform tonight, we’d have given him a bath and a new collar first!”

  14

  Milly-Molly-Mandy’s Mother Goes Away

  Once upon a time Milly-Molly-Mandy’s Mother went away from the nice white cottage with the thatched roof for a whole fortnight’s holiday.

  Milly-Molly-Mandy’s Mother hardly ever went away for holidays – in fact, Milly-Molly-Mandy could only remember her going away once before, a long time ago (and that was only for two days).

  Mrs Hooker, Mother’s friend in the next town, invited her. Mrs Hooker wanted to have a holiday by the sea, and she didn’t want to go alone, as it isn’t so much fun, so she wrote and asked Mother to come with her.

  When Mother read the letter first, she said it was very kind of Mrs Hooker, but she couldn’t possibly go, as she didn’t see how ever Father and Grandpa and Grandma and Uncle and Aunty and Milly-Molly-Mandy would get on without her to cook dinners for them, and wash clothes for them, and see after things.

  But Aunty said she could manage to do the cooking and the washing, somehow; and Grandma said she could do Aunty’s sweeping and dusting; and Milly-Molly-Mandy said she would help all she knew how; and Father and Grandpa and Uncle said they wouldn’t be fussy, or make any more work than they could help.

  And then they all begged Mother to write to Mrs Hooker and accept. So Mother did, and she was quite excited (and so was Milly-Molly-Mandy for her!).

  Then Mother bought a new hat and a blouse and a sunshade, and she packed them in her trunk with all her best things (Milly-Molly-Mandy helping).

  And then she kissed Grandpa and Grandma and Uncle and Aunty goodbye, and hugged Milly-Molly-Mandy. And then Father drove her in the pony-trap to the next town to the station to meet Mrs Hooker and go with her by train to the sea. (She kissed Father goodbye at the station.)

  And so Father and Grandpa and Grandma and Uncle and Aunty and Milly-Molly-Mandy had to manage as best they could in the nice white cottage with the thatched roof for a whole fortnight without Mother. It did feel queer.

  Milly-Molly-Mandy kept forgetting, and she would run in from school to tell Mother all about something, and find it was Aunty in Mother’s apron bending over the kitchen stove instead of Mother herself. And Father would put his head in at the kitchen door and say, “Polly, will you –” and then suddenly remember that “Polly” was having a lovely holiday by the sea (Polly was Mother’s other name, of course). And they felt so pleased when they remembered, but it did seem a long time to wait till she came back.

  Then one day Father said, “I’ve got a plan! Don’t you think it would be a good idea, while Polly’s away, if we were to . . .”

  And then Father told them all his plan; and Grandpa and Grandma and Uncle and Aunty thought it was a very fine plan, and so did Milly-Molly-Mandy. (But I mustn’t tell you what it was, because it was to be a surprise, and you know how secrets do get about once you start telling them! But I’ll just tell you this, that they made the kitchen and the scullery and the passage outside the kitchen most dreadfully untidy, so that nothing was in its proper place, and they had to have meals like picnics, only not so nice – though Milly-Molly-Mandy thought it quite fun.)

  Well, they all worked awfully hard at the plan in all their spare time, and nobody really minded having things all upset, because it was such fun to think how surprised Mother would be when she came back!

  Then another day Grandpa said: “There’s something I’ve been meaning to do for some time, to please Polly; I guess it would be a good plan to set about it now. It is . . .”

  And then Grandpa told them all his plan; and Father and Grandma and Uncle and Aunty thought it was a very fine plan, and so did Milly-Molly-Mandy. (But I mustn’t tell you what it was! – though I will just tell you this, that Grandpa was very busy digging up things in the garden and planting them again, and bringing things home in a box at the back of the pony-trap on market day. And Milly-Molly-Mandy helped him all she could.)

  Then Uncle had a plan, and Father and Grandpa and Grandma and Aunty thought it was a very fine plan, and so did Milly-Molly-Mandy. (It’s a secret, remember! – but I will just tell you this, that Uncle got a lot of bits of wood and nails and a hammer, and he was very busy in the evening after he had shut up his chickens for the night – which he called “putting them to bed.”)

  Then Grandma and Aunty had a plan, and Father and Grandpa and Uncle thought it was a very fine plan, and so did Milly-Molly-Mandy. (But I can only just tell you this, that Grandma and Aunty and Milly-Molly-Mandy, who helped too, made themselves very untidy and dusty indeed, and nobody had any cakes for tea at all that week, what with Aunty being so busy and the kitchen so upset. But nobody really minded, because it was such fun to think how pleased Mother would be when she came back!)

  And then the day arrived when Mother was to return home!

  They had all been working so hard in the nice white cottage with the thatched roof that the two weeks had simply flown. But they had just managed to get things straight again, and Aunty had baked a cake for tea, and Milly-Molly-Mandy had put flowers in all the vases.

  When Father helped Mother down from the pony-trap it almost didn’t seem as if it could be Mother at first; but of course it was! – only she had on her new hat, and she was so brown with sitting on the beach, and so very pleased to be home again!

  She kissed them all round and just hugged Milly-Molly-Mandy!

  And then they led her indoors.

  And directly Mother got inside the doorway – she saw a beautiful new passage, all clean and painted! And she was surprised!

  Then she went upstairs and took off her things, and came back down into the kitchen. And directly Mother got inside the door – she saw a beautiful new kitchen, all clean and sunny, with the ceiling
whitewashed and the walls freshly painted! And she was surprised!

  When they had had tea (Aunty’s cake was very good, though not quite like Mother’s) she helped to carry the cups and plates out into the scullery. And directly Mother got through the doorway – she saw a beautiful new scullery, all clean and whitewashed! And she was surprised!

  AND SHE WAS SURPRISED!

  She put the cups down on the draining board, and directly she looked out of the window – she saw a beautiful new flower garden just outside, and a rustic trellis-work hiding the dustbin. And she was surprised!

  Then Mother went upstairs to unpack. And when her trunk was cleared, Grandpa carried it up to the attic and Mother went first to open the door. And directly she opened it – Mother saw a beautifully tidy, spring-cleaned attic!

  And then Mother couldn’t say anything, but that they were all very dear, naughty people to have worked so hard while she was being lazy! And Father and Grandpa and Grandma and Uncle and Aunty and Milly-Molly-Mandy were all very pleased, and said they liked being naughty!

  Then Mother brought out the presents she had got for them. And what do you think Milly-Molly-Mandy’s present was (besides some shells which Mother had picked up on the sand)?

  It was a beautiful little blue dressing-gown, which Mother had sewed and sewed for her while she sat on the beach and under her new sunshade with Mrs Hooker listening to the waves splashing!

  Then Father and Grandpa and Grandma and Uncle and Aunty and Milly-Molly-Mandy all said Mother was very naughty to have worked when she might have been having a nice lazy time!

  But Mother said she liked being naughty too! – and Milly-Molly-Mandy was so pleased with her new little blue dressing-gown that she couldn’t help wearing it straight away!