Gifts from Writers 2025: Madeline’s Christmas

December 2025

Madeline’s Christmas

by

Ludwig Bemelmans

In an old house in Paris

That was covered with vines

Lived twelve little girls

In two straight lines.

They left the house at half-past nine

In two straight lines, in rain or shine.

The smallest one was MADELINE.

She was not afraid of mice

She loved winter, snow and ice

And to the tiger in the zoo

Madeline just said . . .

               “POOH POOH!”

It was the night before Christmas

And all through the house

Not a creature was stirring

Not even the mouse.

For like everyone else

in that house which was old

The poor mouse was in bed

With a miserable cold.

And only

Our brave little Madeline

Was up and about

And feeling

Just fine.

Suddenly came a knock

Which made her pause—

Could it perhaps be Santa Claus?

But no . . .

A rug merchant was at the door.

He had twelve rugs,

He had no more.

“Why, these” said Madeline,

“Would be so neat

For our ice-cold

In the morning feet.

“It seems to me,” said Miss Clavel

“That you have chosen very well.”

Madeline gave him

A handful of francs,

“Here they are

With all our thanks.”

Without the rugs

Which he had sold

The rug merchant

Got awfully cold.

“To sell my rugs,” he cried,

“Was silly!

Without them I am very chilly.”

He wants to get them back—

But how will he?

He made it—

Back to Madeline’s door—

He couldn’t take one footstep more.

And little Madeline set about

To find a way to thaw him out.

The merchant,

Who was tall and thin,

(And also a ma-g-ci-an)

Bravely took his medicine.

The magician,

As he took his pill, said

“Ask me, Madeline, what you will.”

Said she, “I’ve cooked

A dinner nutritious,

Will you please help me

With these dishes?”

“If you’ll clear up

I’ll go and see

If I can find

A Christmas tree.”

His magic ring he gave a glance

And went into his special trance—

The dirty dishes washed

Themselves

And jumped right back

Upon the shelves.

And then he mumbled words

Profound—

“ABRACADABRA”

    BRACADABR

      RACADAB

        ACADA

          CAD

             A!”

This made the carpets

Leave the ground—

And twelve little girls

were on their way—-

To surprise their parents

On Christmas Day.

Miss Clavel again quite well

Thought it time to ring her bell

Which quickly broke

The magic spell.

And now we’re back,

All twelve right here

To wish our friends

A HAPPY NEW YEAR!