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Stephens Scarriages Christmas by Frank R.
Stockton. The Cottage twas Christmas Eve,

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an Adamantine's sky hung dark and heavy
over the white earth. The forests were

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conescent with frost, and the great
trees bent as if they were not able

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to sustain the weight of snow and
ice with which the young winter had loaded

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them. In a by path of
the solemn woods, there stood a cottage

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that would not perhaps have been noticed
in the decreasing twilight, had it not

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been for a little wisp of smoke
that feebly curled from the chimney, apparently

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intending every minute to draw up its
attenuated tail and disappear within Around the hearth,

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whereon the dying embers sent up that
feeble smoke. There gathered the family

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of Arthur Tyrrell, himself, his
wife, a boy, and a girl.

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Twas Christmas Eve. A damp air
rushed from the recesses of the forest

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and came an unbidden guest into the
cottage of the Tyrols. And it sat

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on every chair, and lay upon
every bed, and held in its chilly

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embrace every member of the family all
sighed. Father said the boy, is

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there no more wood that I may
replenish the fire. No, my son,

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bitterly replied the father, his face
hidden in his hands. I brought

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at noon the last stick from the
wood pile. The mother, at these

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words, wiped a silent tear from
her eyes, and drew her children yet

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nearer the smoldering coals. The father
rose and moodily stood by the window,

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gazing out upon the night. A
wind had now arisen, and the dead

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branches strewed the path that he soon
must take to the neighboring town. But

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he cared not for the danger.
His fate and heart were alike hard.

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Mother said the little girl, Shall
I hang up my stocking to night tis

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Christmas Eve? A Damascus blade could
not have cut the mother's heart more keenly

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than this question. No, dear, she faltered, you must wear your

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stockings. There is no fire,
and your feet uncovered will freeze. The

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little girl sighed and gazed sadly upon
the blackening coals. But she raised her

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head again and said, but,
mother, dear, if I should sleep

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with my legs outside the clothes,
Old Santa Claus might slip in some little

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things between the woolen and my skin, Could he not, dear mother,

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Mother, is weeping sister, said
the boy. Press her no further.

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The father now drew around him his
threadbare coat, put upon his head his

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well brushed straw hat, and approached
the door. Where are you going this

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bitter night, dear father, cried
his little son. He goes, then,

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said the weeping mother, to the
town disturb him, not my son,

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for he will buy a mackerel for
our Christmas dinner. Amarel cried both

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the children, and their eyes sparkled
with joy. The boys sprang to his

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feet. You must not go alone, dear father, he cried, I

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will accompany you, and together they
left the cottage. The town. The

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streets were crowded with merry faces and
well wrapped up forms. Snow and ice

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cities true lay thick upon the pavements
and roofs, But what of that?

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Bright lights glistened from every window.
Bright fires warmed and softened the air within

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the houses, while bright hearts made
rosy and happy the countenances of the merry

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crowd without. In some of the
shops, great turkeys hung in placid obesity

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from the bending beams, and enormous
bowls of mincemeat sent up delightful fumes,

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which mingled harmoniously with the scents of
the oranges, the apples, and the

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barrels of sugar and bags of spices. In others, the light from the

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chandeliers struck upon the polished surface of
many a new wheelbarrow, sled or hobby

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horse, or lighted up the placid
features of recumbent dolls and the demoniacal countenances

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of wildly jumping jacks. The crop
of marbles and tops was almost more than

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could be garnered. Boxes and barrels
of soldiers stood on every side, Tin

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horns hung from every prominence, and
boxes of wonders filled the counters, while

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all the floor was packed with joyous
children carrying their little purses. Beyond there

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stood the candy stores, those earthly
paradises of the young, where golden gum

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drops, rare cream chocolate, variegated
mint stick, and enrapturing mixtures spread their

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sweetened wealth. Over All available space
to these and many other shops and stores,

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and stalls and stands thronged the townspeople, rich and poor. Even the

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humblests had some money to spend upon
this merry Christmas eve. A damsel of

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the lower orders might here be seen
hurrying home with a cheap chicken. Here

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another with a duck, and here
the saving father of a family bent under

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the load of a turkey, and
a huge basket of auxiliary good things everywhere,

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cheerful lights and warm hearthstones, bright
and gay mansions, cozy and comfortable

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little tenements, happy hearts, rosy
cheeks and bright eyes. Nobody cared for

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the snow and ice. They had
so much that was warm and cheering.

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It was all the better for the
holiday. What would Christmas be without snow?

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An inevitable entrance through these joyous crowds, down the hilarious streets, where

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the happy boys were shouting and the
merry girls were hurrying in and out of

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the shops, came a man who
was neither joyous, hilarious, merry,

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nor happy. It was Stephen's scarriage, the landlord of so many houses in

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that town. He wore an overcoat, which, though old, was warm

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and comfortable, and he had fur
around his wrists and his neck. His

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hat was pushed down tight upon his
little head, as though he would shut

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out all the sounds of merriment which
filled the town. Wife and child,

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he had none, And this season
of joy to all the Christian world was

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an annoying and irritating season to his
unsympathetic, selfish heart. Oh ho,

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he said to himself, as one
after another of his tenants loaded down with

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baskets and bundles, hurried by,
each wishing him a merry Christmas. Ha

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ha. There seems to be a
great ease in the money market just now,

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oh ho ho. They all seem
as flush as millionaires. There's nothing

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like the influence of holiday times to
make one open his pockets. It's not

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yet the first of the months,
tis true, but it matters not.

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I'll go and collect my rents tonight
while all this money is afloat, ha

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ha ha ha. And so old
Scarage went from house to house and threatened

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with expulsion all who did not pay
their rents that night. Some resisted bravely,

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for the settlement day had not yet
arrived, and these were served with

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notices to leave at the earliest legal
moment. Others paid up their dues,

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with many an angry protest, while
some poor souls had no money ready for

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this unforeseen demand, and Stephen's Scarage
seized whatever he could find that would satisfy

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his claim. Thus, many a
poor weeping families saw the turkey or the

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fat goose, which was to have
graced the Christmas table, carried away by

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the relentless landlord. The children shed
tears to see their drums and toys depart,

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and many a little memento of affection
intended for a gift upon the morrow,

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became the property of the hard hearted
Stephen. It was nearly nine o'clock

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when Scarage finished his nefarious labor.
He had converted his seizures into money,

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and was returning to his inhospitable home
with more more joyous light in his eyes

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than had shone there for many a
day. When he saw Arthur Tyrrell and

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his son enter the bright main street
of the town. Ohho, said Stephen,

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has he too come to spend his
Christmas money? He the poor,

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miserable, penniless one. I'll follow
him. So behind the unhappy father and

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his son went the skulking's carriage,
past the grocery store and the markets with

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their rich treasures of eatables. Past
the toy shops, where the boy's eyes

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sparkled with the delight, which disappointment
soon washed out with a tear. Past

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the candy shops where the windows were
so enchancing that the little fellow could scarcely

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look upon them. On past all
these to a small shop at the bottom

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of the street, where a crowd
of the very poorest people were making their

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little purchases, went the father and
his son, followed by the evil minded

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scarriage. When the Tyrrels went into
the shop, the old man concealed himself

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outside behind a friendly pillar, lest
any of these poor people should happen to

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be his tenants and return him the
damage he had just done to them.

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But he very plainly saw Arthur Tyrrell
go up to the counter and ask for

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a mackerel. When one was brought, costing ten cents, he declined it,

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but eventually purchased a smaller one,
the price of which was eight cents.

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The two cents which he received as
change were expended for a modicum of

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lard, and father and son then
left the store and wended their way homeward.

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The way was long, but the
knowledge that they brought that which would

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make the next day something more like
Christmas than an ordinary day made their steps

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lighter and the path less wearisome.
They reached the cottage and opened the door.

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There By a rush light on a
table sat the mother and the little

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girl, arranging greens wherewith to decorate
their humble home. To the mute interrogation

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of the mother's eyes, the father
said, with something of the old fervor

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in his voice, Yes, my
dear, I have got it, and

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he laid the mackerel on the table. The little girl sprang up to look

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at it, and the boys stepped
back to shut the door. But before

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he could do so, it was
pushed wide open, and Scarage, who

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had followed them all the way,
entered the cottage. The inmates gazed at

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him with astonishment, but they did
not long remain in ignorance of the meaning

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of this untimely visit. Mister Tyrrell, said Scaarage, taking out of his

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pocket a huge memorandum book and turning
over the pages with a swift and practiced

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hand. I believe you owe me
do two months, rent, Let me

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see. Yes here it is eighty
seven and a half cents two months at

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forty three and three quarters cents per
month. I should like to have it

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now, if you please. And
he stood with his head on one side,

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his little eyes gleaming with a yellow
maliciousness. Are sir, Tyrill arose,

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his wife crept to his side,
and the two children ran behind their

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parents. Sir said, Tyrol,
I have no money. To your worst,

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no money, cried the hard hearted
Stephen. That story will not do

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for me. Everybody seems to have
money tonight, and if they have none,

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it is because they have wilfully spent
it. But if you rarely have

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none, and here a ray of
hope shot through the hearts of the Tyrrell

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family. You must have something that
will bring money, and that I shall

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seize upon. Aha, I will
take this. And he picked up the

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Christmas mackerel from the table where Arthur
had laid it. Tis very little,

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said scourage, but it will at
least pay me interest. Wrapping it in

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the brown paper which lay under it, he thrust it into his capacious pocket,

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and without another word, went out
into the night. Arthur Tyrill sank

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into a chair and covered his face
with his hands. His children, dumb

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with horror and dismay, clung to
the rends of his chair, while his

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wife, ever faithful in the day
of sorrow as in that of joy,

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put her arm around his neck and
whispered in his ear Cheer up, Dear

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Arthur, all me yet be well, have courage. He did not take

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the lard. What always happens.
Swiftly homeward through the forest walked the triumphant

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scarage, and he reached his home
an hour before midnight. He lived alone

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in a handsome house which he had
seized for a debt, an old woman

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coming every day to prepare his meals
and do the little houseworks that he required.

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Opening his door with his latch key, he hurried upstairs, lighted a

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candle, and seating himself at a
large table in a spacious room in the

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front of the house, he counted
over the money he had collected that evening,

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entered the amounts in one of the
great folios which lay upon the table,

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and locked up the cash in a
huge safe. Then he took from

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his pocket the mackerel of the Tyrrell
family. He opened it, laid it

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flat upon the table before him,
and died it by imaginary lines into six

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parts. Here said he to himself, AH, breakfasts for six days.

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I would it were a week.
I like to have things square. And

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even had that man bought the ten
cent fish that I saw offered him,

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there would have been seven portions.
Well, perhaps I can make it do

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even now, let me see a
little off here, and the same off

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this. So at this moment something
very strange occurred. The mackerel, which

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had been lying split open upon its
back, now closed itself, gave two

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or three long drawn gasps, and
then, heaving a sigh of relief,

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it flapped its tail, rolled its
eyes a little, and, deliberately,

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wriggling itself over to a pile of
ledgers, sat up on its tail and

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looked at scarage. This astounded individual
pushed back his chair and gazed with all

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his eyes at the strange fish.
But he was more astounded yet when the

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fish spoke to him. Would you
mind, said the mackerel, making a

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very wry face, greeting me a
glass of water. I feel all of

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a part inside. Scourage mumbled out
some sort of an assent, and hurried

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to a table near by, where
stood a pitcher and a glass, and,

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filling the latter, he brought it
to the mackerel. Will you hold

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it to my mouth? Said the
fish. Stephen complying, the mackerel drank

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a good half of the water there, it said, that makes me feel

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better. I don't mind, Brian, if I could take exercise, but

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to lie perfectly still in salt water
makes one feel riched. You don't know

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how hungry I am. Have you
any worms, convenient worms? Cried Stephen.

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Why what a question? No,
I have no worms, well said

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the fish, somewhat petulantly. You
must have some sort of a yard or

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garden. Go and dig me some, dig them, cried Stephen. Don't

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know. It's winter and the ground's
frozen, and the worm's too. For

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that matter, I don't go anything. For all that, said the mackerel,

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Go you and dig some up frozen
or the ward. It is all

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one to me. I could eat
them anywhere. The manner of the fish

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was so imperative that Stephen's carriage did
not think of disobeying. But taking a

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crowbar and a spade from a pilot
of agricultural implements that lay in one corner

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of the room, and which heard
at various times been seized for debts,

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he lighted a lantern and went down
into the little back garden. There he

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shoveled away the snow, and when
he reached the ground, he was obliged

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to use the crowbar vigorously before he
could make any impression on the frozen earth.

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After a half hour's hard labor,
he managed by most carefully searching through

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the earth thrown out of the hole
he had made, to find five frozen

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worms. These he considered a sufficient
meal for a fish, which would scarcely

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make seven meals for himself, And
so he threw down his implements and went

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into the house with his lantern,
his five frozen worms, and twice as

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00:18:48,720 --> 00:18:53,039
many frozen fingers. When he reached
the bottom of the stairs, he was

203
00:18:53,119 --> 00:19:00,599
certain that he heard the murmur of
voices from above. He was terrified voices

204
00:19:00,680 --> 00:19:03,599
came from the room where all his
treasures lay. Could it be thieves.

205
00:19:04,880 --> 00:19:11,279
Extinguishing his lantern and taking off his
shoes, he softly crept up the stairs.

206
00:19:11,160 --> 00:19:15,400
He had not quite closed the door
of the room when he left it,

207
00:19:15,720 --> 00:19:18,519
and he could now look through an
opening which commanded a view of the

208
00:19:18,559 --> 00:19:26,759
whole apartment, And such a sight
now met his wide stretched eyes. In

209
00:19:26,920 --> 00:19:32,359
his chair, his own arm chair
by the table, there sat a dwarf,

210
00:19:32,839 --> 00:19:37,319
whose head as large as a prize
cabbage, was placed upon a body

211
00:19:37,480 --> 00:19:41,960
so small as not to be noticeable, and from which depended a pair of

212
00:19:41,039 --> 00:19:48,359
little legs appearing like the roots of
the before mentioned vegetable on the table,

213
00:19:48,559 --> 00:19:52,000
bitterly engaged in dusting a day book
with a pen wiper, was a fairy

214
00:19:52,319 --> 00:19:56,240
no more than a foot high,
and as pretty and graceful as a queen

215
00:19:56,279 --> 00:20:02,400
of the ballet. Viewed from the
dress circle, the mackerel still leaned against

216
00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:07,319
the pile of ledgers, and,
oh horror, upon a great iron box.

217
00:20:07,440 --> 00:20:11,160
In one corner there sat a giant, whose head, had he stood

218
00:20:11,240 --> 00:20:18,079
up, would have reached the lofty
ceiling. A chill colder than the frosty

219
00:20:18,200 --> 00:20:26,279
earth and air outside could cause ran
through the frame of stephen'scarriage as he crouched

220
00:20:26,319 --> 00:20:32,480
by the crack of the door and
looked upon these dreadful visitors and their conversation,

221
00:20:32,880 --> 00:20:38,079
of which he could hear distinctly.
Every word caused the freezing perspiration to

222
00:20:38,319 --> 00:20:47,160
trickle in icy globules down his back. He's gone to get me some worms,

223
00:20:47,880 --> 00:20:52,359
said the mackerel, and we might
as well settle it all before he

224
00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:56,400
comes back. For my part,
I'm very sure of what I have been

225
00:20:56,480 --> 00:21:02,359
saying. Oh ye, yes,
said the dwarf. There could be no

226
00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:07,960
doubt about it at all. I
believe it every word. Of course,

227
00:21:07,000 --> 00:21:11,599
it is, so, said the
fairy, standing upon the day book,

228
00:21:11,720 --> 00:21:18,440
which was now well dusted. Everybody
knows it is. It couldn't be otherwise,

229
00:21:19,039 --> 00:21:23,960
said the giant, in a voice
like thunder among the pines. We're

230
00:21:25,039 --> 00:21:32,279
all agreed upon that, A mighty
partitive about it, whatever it is,

231
00:21:32,839 --> 00:21:37,759
thought the trembling Stephen, who continued
to look with all his eyes and to

232
00:21:37,880 --> 00:21:42,200
listen with all his ears. Well, said the dwarf, leaning back in

233
00:21:42,240 --> 00:21:47,160
the chair and twisting his little legs
around each other until they looked like a

234
00:21:47,279 --> 00:21:52,480
rope's end. Let us arrange matters
for my part. I would like to

235
00:21:52,519 --> 00:21:57,559
see all crooked things made straight,
just as quickly as possible. So would

236
00:21:57,559 --> 00:22:02,519
I, said the fairy, sitting
down on the day book and crossing her

237
00:22:02,599 --> 00:22:06,880
dainty satin covered ankles, from which
she stooped to brush a trifle of dust.

238
00:22:07,039 --> 00:22:14,039
I want to see everything nice and
pretty and just write. As for

239
00:22:14,200 --> 00:22:21,359
me, said the mackerel. I
am somewhat divided in my opinion, I

240
00:22:21,440 --> 00:22:26,960
mean, but whatever you all agree
upon will suit me, I'm sure,

241
00:22:27,640 --> 00:22:33,440
then, said the giant, rising
to his feet and just escaping a violent

242
00:22:33,519 --> 00:22:38,319
contact of his head with the ceiling. Let us get to work and while

243
00:22:38,400 --> 00:22:44,519
we're about it, we'll make our
clean sweep of it. To this,

244
00:22:44,839 --> 00:22:48,240
the others all gave assent, and
the giant, after moving the mackerel to

245
00:22:48,319 --> 00:22:52,599
one corner of the table and requesting
the fairy to stand beside the fish,

246
00:22:52,920 --> 00:22:59,079
spread all the ledgers and day books, and cash and bill and memorandum books

247
00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:03,480
upon the table, and opened them
all at the first page. Then the

248
00:23:03,559 --> 00:23:07,680
dwarf climbed up on the table and
took a pen, and the fairy did

249
00:23:07,759 --> 00:23:12,039
the same, and they both set
to work as hard as they could to

250
00:23:12,160 --> 00:23:18,880
take an account of stephens Garage's possessions. As soon as either of them had

251
00:23:18,920 --> 00:23:22,319
added up two pages, the giant
turned over the leaves, and he had

252
00:23:22,319 --> 00:23:26,200
to be very busy about it.
So active was the dwarf, who had

253
00:23:26,240 --> 00:23:32,000
a splendid head for accounts, and
who had balanced the same head so long

254
00:23:32,079 --> 00:23:36,200
upon his little legs that he had
no manner of difficulty in balancing a few

255
00:23:36,319 --> 00:23:40,920
letgers. The fairy, too,
ran up and down the columns as if

256
00:23:40,960 --> 00:23:45,680
she were dancing a measure in which
the only movements were forward one and backward

257
00:23:45,680 --> 00:23:48,599
one. And she got over her
business nearly as fast as the dwarf,

258
00:23:49,720 --> 00:23:53,799
as for the mackerel, he could
not add up, but the fairy told

259
00:23:53,880 --> 00:23:57,759
him what figures she had to carry
to the next column, and he remembered

260
00:23:57,799 --> 00:24:03,079
them for her, and thus helped
her a great deal. In less than

261
00:24:03,079 --> 00:24:07,240
half an hour, the giant turned
over the last page of the last book,

262
00:24:07,599 --> 00:24:11,440
and the dwarf put down on a
large sheet of foolscap the sum total

263
00:24:11,559 --> 00:24:18,519
of Stephen's garage's wealth. The fairy
read out the sum, and the woeful

264
00:24:18,599 --> 00:24:23,000
listener at the door was forced to
admit to himself that they had got it

265
00:24:23,319 --> 00:24:32,000
exactly right. Now, then said
the giant, here is I went list.

266
00:24:32,680 --> 00:24:37,000
Let us make out the schedule.
In twenty minutes, the Giant,

267
00:24:37,119 --> 00:24:41,920
the dwarf, and the fairy,
the last reading out the names of stephens

268
00:24:41,000 --> 00:24:45,839
various tenants, the giant stating what
amounts he deemed the due of each one,

269
00:24:47,160 --> 00:24:51,160
and the dwarf, putting down the
sums opposite their names, had made

270
00:24:51,240 --> 00:24:56,160
out the schedule, and the giant
read it over in a voice that admitted

271
00:24:56,279 --> 00:25:02,400
of no inattention. Hurrah, said
the dwarf. That done, and I'm

272
00:25:02,519 --> 00:25:07,519
glad, And he stepped lightly from
the table to the arm of the chair,

273
00:25:07,920 --> 00:25:11,319
and then down to the seat and
jumped to the floor, balancing his

274
00:25:11,519 --> 00:25:18,319
head in the most wonderful way as
he performed these agile feats. Yes,

275
00:25:18,880 --> 00:25:23,680
said the mackerel, it's all right, so to be sure, I'm somewhat

276
00:25:23,759 --> 00:25:30,000
divided. Oh we won't prefer at
that now, said the giant. Let

277
00:25:30,279 --> 00:25:37,559
bygones be bygones. As for the
fairy, she didn't say a word,

278
00:25:37,720 --> 00:25:41,200
but she just bounced on the top
of the day book that she had dusted

279
00:25:41,319 --> 00:25:45,240
and which now lay closed near the
edge of the table, And she danced

280
00:25:45,319 --> 00:25:51,519
such a charming little fantee that everybody
gazed at her with delight. The giant

281
00:25:51,720 --> 00:25:56,440
stooped and opened his mouth as if
he expected her to whirl herself into it

282
00:25:56,480 --> 00:26:02,720
when she was done, and the
mackerel was actually moved to tears and tried

283
00:26:02,759 --> 00:26:06,799
to wipe his eyes with his fin, but it was not long enough,

284
00:26:06,880 --> 00:26:11,880
and so the tears rolled down and
hardened into a white crust on the green

285
00:26:11,960 --> 00:26:15,839
baize which covered the table. The
dwarf was on the floor, and he

286
00:26:17,079 --> 00:26:19,240
just stood still on his little toes, as if he had been a great

287
00:26:19,480 --> 00:26:26,160
top dead asleep. Even Stephen,
though he was terribly agitated, thought the

288
00:26:26,279 --> 00:26:32,640
dance was the most beautiful thing he
had ever seen. At length, with

289
00:26:32,720 --> 00:26:37,240
a whirl which made her look like
a snowball on a pivot. She stopped

290
00:26:37,359 --> 00:26:41,799
stock still standing on one toe,
as if she had fallen from the sky

291
00:26:41,000 --> 00:26:48,839
and had stuck upright on the daybook
bravel Babble, cried the dwarf, and

292
00:26:48,920 --> 00:26:53,519
you could hear his little hands clapping
beneath his head. Hurrah, cried the

293
00:26:53,559 --> 00:26:57,920
giant, and he brought his great
palms together with a clap that rattled the

294
00:26:59,000 --> 00:27:04,160
window panes like the report of a
cannon. Very nice, very nice,

295
00:27:04,279 --> 00:27:10,680
indeed, said the mackerel. Though
I'm rather divault. Oh no, you're

296
00:27:10,759 --> 00:27:14,759
not, cried the fairy, making
a sudden, joyful jump at him,

297
00:27:14,880 --> 00:27:19,279
and putting her little hand on his
somewhat distorted and certainly very ugly mouth.

298
00:27:21,480 --> 00:27:25,880
You're nothing of the kind. And
now let's have him in here and make

299
00:27:25,960 --> 00:27:30,240
him sign. Do you think he
will do it? Said she, turning

300
00:27:30,279 --> 00:27:36,960
to the giant. That mighty individual
doubled up his great right fist like a

301
00:27:37,079 --> 00:27:41,519
trip hammer, and he opened his
great left hand, as hard and solid

302
00:27:41,559 --> 00:27:45,640
as an anvil, and he brought
the two together with a sounding wang.

303
00:27:47,880 --> 00:27:53,400
Ya's said he I think he will. In that case, said the dwarf,

304
00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:59,599
we might as well call him.
I sent him after some worms,

305
00:28:00,119 --> 00:28:04,119
said the mackerel. But he has
not been all this time getting them.

306
00:28:04,640 --> 00:28:10,720
I should not wonder at all if
he had been listening at the door all

307
00:28:10,880 --> 00:28:15,920
the while. We all still m
to settle, that said the dwarf,

308
00:28:15,039 --> 00:28:19,680
walking rapidly across the room, his
head rolling from side to side, but

309
00:28:19,920 --> 00:28:26,400
still preserving that admirable balance for which
it was so justly noted. When he

310
00:28:26,480 --> 00:28:32,680
reached the door, he pulled it
wide open, and there stood poor Stephen's

311
00:28:32,680 --> 00:28:37,920
scarriage, trembling from head to foot, with the five frozen worms firmly grasped

312
00:28:37,920 --> 00:28:45,559
in his hands. Calmburne, said
the giant, and Stephen walked in,

313
00:28:45,920 --> 00:28:51,359
slowly and fearfully, bowing as he
came to the several personages in the room.

314
00:28:52,759 --> 00:28:59,640
Are those my worms, said the
mackerel. If so put them in

315
00:28:59,680 --> 00:29:07,200
my mouth one at a time.
They're not so fast. They are frozen,

316
00:29:07,519 --> 00:29:11,079
sure enough, But do you know
that I believe I like them this

317
00:29:11,240 --> 00:29:19,200
way the best. I never tasted
frozen ones before. By this time the

318
00:29:19,279 --> 00:29:23,880
dwarf had mounted the table, and, opening the schedule, stood pointing to

319
00:29:23,920 --> 00:29:29,119
an agreement written at the bottom of
it, while the fairy had a pen

320
00:29:29,319 --> 00:29:33,440
already dipped in the ink, which
she held in her hand as she stood

321
00:29:33,440 --> 00:29:37,960
on the other side of the schedule. Now, sir, said the giant,

322
00:29:38,640 --> 00:29:45,200
just take your seat in your chair, take that pen in your hand,

323
00:29:45,880 --> 00:29:52,559
and sign your name below that agreement. If you've been listening at the

324
00:29:52,640 --> 00:29:57,319
door all this time, as I
believe you have, you have heard the

325
00:29:57,400 --> 00:30:06,119
contents of the schedule, and therefore
need not read it over Stephen thought no

326
00:30:06,240 --> 00:30:11,240
more of disobeying than he did of
challenging the giant to a battle, and

327
00:30:11,319 --> 00:30:15,480
he therefore seated himself in his chair, and, taking the pen from the

328
00:30:15,519 --> 00:30:18,960
fairy, wrote his name at the
bottom of the agreement, although he knew

329
00:30:19,000 --> 00:30:25,880
that by that act he was signing
away half his wealth. When he had

330
00:30:25,920 --> 00:30:30,119
written his signature, he laid down
the pen and looked round to see if

331
00:30:30,160 --> 00:30:34,799
anything more was required of him.
But just at that moment something seemed to

332
00:30:34,839 --> 00:30:38,880
give way in the back of his
neck. His head fell forward so as

333
00:30:38,920 --> 00:30:45,480
to nearly strike the table, and
he awoke. There was no longer a

334
00:30:45,640 --> 00:30:52,440
schedule, a fairy, a dwarf, or a giant in front of him.

335
00:30:52,680 --> 00:30:57,000
Was the mackerel, split open and
lying on its back. It was

336
00:30:57,200 --> 00:31:04,440
all a dream. For an hour, stephen'scarage sat at his table, his

337
00:31:04,640 --> 00:31:11,319
face buried in his hands. When
at last his candle gave signs of spluttering

338
00:31:11,359 --> 00:31:15,200
out. He arose, and with
a subdued and quiet air, he went

339
00:31:15,359 --> 00:31:25,920
to bed. What must occur The
next morning was bright, cold and cheering,

340
00:31:26,400 --> 00:31:30,640
and Stephen's scarriage arose very early,
went down to the large front room

341
00:31:30,680 --> 00:31:36,119
where his treasures were kept, got
out his check book, and for two

342
00:31:36,279 --> 00:31:41,799
hours was busily employed in writing.
When the old woman who attended to his

343
00:31:41,920 --> 00:31:48,240
household affairs arrived at the usual hour, she was surprised at his orders to

344
00:31:48,319 --> 00:31:52,720
cook for his breakfast the whole of
a mackerel, which he handed her.

345
00:31:52,839 --> 00:31:56,319
When he had finished his meal,
at which he ate at least one half

346
00:31:56,400 --> 00:32:00,880
of the fish, he called her
up into his room. He then addressed

347
00:32:00,920 --> 00:32:09,240
her as follows, Margaret, you
have been my servant for seventeen years.

348
00:32:10,079 --> 00:32:15,799
During that time I have paid you
fifty cents per week for your services.

349
00:32:16,680 --> 00:32:22,839
I am now convinced that the sum
was insufficient. You should have had at

350
00:32:22,920 --> 00:32:27,319
least two dollars, considering you only
had one meal. In the house,

351
00:32:28,720 --> 00:32:32,039
as you would probably have spent the
money as fast as I gave it to

352
00:32:32,079 --> 00:32:37,720
you. I shall pay you no
interest upon what I have withheld. But

353
00:32:37,319 --> 00:32:45,400
here is a check for the unpaid
balance one thousand, three hundred and twenty

354
00:32:45,440 --> 00:32:51,559
six dollars. Invest it carefully and
you will find it quite a help to

355
00:32:51,680 --> 00:32:57,400
you. Handing the paper to the
astounded woman, he took up a large

356
00:32:57,480 --> 00:33:02,119
wallet stuffed with checks, and let
left the house. He went down into

357
00:33:02,160 --> 00:33:08,000
the lower part of the town with
a countenance full of lively fervor and generous

358
00:33:08,079 --> 00:33:14,440
light. When he reached the quarter
where his property lay, he spent an

359
00:33:14,519 --> 00:33:17,720
hour or two in converse with his
tenants, and when he had spoken with

360
00:33:17,839 --> 00:33:22,200
the last one, his wallet was
nearly empty, and he was followed by

361
00:33:22,240 --> 00:33:27,960
a wildly joyful crowd, who would
have brought a chair and carried him in

362
00:33:28,079 --> 00:33:34,440
triumph through the town had he not
calmly waved them back. When the concourse

363
00:33:34,480 --> 00:33:37,720
of grateful ones had left him,
he repaired to the house of Philip Weaver,

364
00:33:37,920 --> 00:33:43,240
the butcher, and hired his pony
and spring cart. Then he went

365
00:33:43,279 --> 00:33:46,079
to Ambrose Smith, the baker,
at whose shop he had stopped on his

366
00:33:46,160 --> 00:33:52,960
way down town and inquired if his
orders had been filled. Although it was

367
00:33:52,039 --> 00:33:57,480
Christmas morning, Ambrose and his seven
assistants were all as busy as bees,

368
00:33:57,799 --> 00:34:01,319
but they had not yet been able
to fill so orders. In an hour,

369
00:34:01,480 --> 00:34:07,640
however, Ambrose came himself to a
candy store where Stephen was treating a

370
00:34:07,680 --> 00:34:12,639
crowd of delighted children, and told
him all was ready and the cart loaded.

371
00:34:13,679 --> 00:34:17,159
At this Stephen hurried to the baker's
shop, mounted the cart, took

372
00:34:17,199 --> 00:34:22,039
the reins, and drove rapidly in
the direction of the cottage of Arthur Tyrol.

373
00:34:23,000 --> 00:34:29,360
When he reached the place, it
was nearly one o'clock. Driving cautiously

374
00:34:29,440 --> 00:34:32,239
as he neared the house, he
stopped at a little distance from it and

375
00:34:32,360 --> 00:34:37,800
tied the horse to a tree.
Then he stealthily approached a window and looked

376
00:34:37,840 --> 00:34:44,000
in. Arthur Tyril sat upon a
chair in the middle of the room,

377
00:34:44,400 --> 00:34:50,519
his arms folded and his head bowed
upon his breast. On a stool by

378
00:34:50,519 --> 00:34:55,360
his left side sat his wife,
her tearful eyes raised to his somber countenance.

379
00:34:57,519 --> 00:35:01,719
Before her father stood the little girl, leaning upon his knees and watching

380
00:35:01,840 --> 00:35:07,719
the varied expressions that flashed across his
face. By his father's right side,

381
00:35:08,079 --> 00:35:14,119
his arm resting upon his parents shoulder. Stood the boy, a look of

382
00:35:14,320 --> 00:35:21,280
calm resignation far beyond his ears,
lighting up his intelligent face. Twas a

383
00:35:21,400 --> 00:35:25,559
tableau never to be forgotten. Able
to gaze upon it. But a few

384
00:35:25,599 --> 00:35:32,800
minutes, stephen'scarriage pushed open the door
and entered the room. His entrance was

385
00:35:32,880 --> 00:35:37,960
the signal of consternation. The wife
and children fled to the farthest corner of

386
00:35:38,000 --> 00:35:45,480
the room, while Arthur Tyrrell arose
and sternly confronted the intruder. Ha said,

387
00:35:45,519 --> 00:35:51,119
he you have soon returned. You
think that we can be yet further

388
00:35:51,199 --> 00:35:58,320
despoiled? Proceed Take all that we
have. There is yet this, and

389
00:35:58,400 --> 00:36:02,119
he pointed to the two sense worth
of lard, which still lay upon the

390
00:36:02,239 --> 00:36:09,800
table. No. No faltered stephen'scarriage, seizing the hand of Arthur Tyril and

391
00:36:09,960 --> 00:36:15,480
warmly pressing it, Keep it,
keep it. Tis not for that I

392
00:36:15,639 --> 00:36:22,519
came, but to ask your pardon
and to beg your acceptance of a Christmas

393
00:36:22,559 --> 00:36:28,920
gift, pardon for having increased the
weight of your poverty, and a gift

394
00:36:29,079 --> 00:36:35,360
to celebrate the advent of a happier
feeling between us. Having said this,

395
00:36:35,760 --> 00:36:42,119
Stephen paused for a reply. Arthur
Tyril mused for a moment. Then he

396
00:36:42,360 --> 00:36:45,360
cast his eyes upon his wife and
his children, and in a low but

397
00:36:45,639 --> 00:36:54,400
firm voice, he said, I
pardon and accept that's right, cried Scarriage,

398
00:36:54,599 --> 00:37:00,199
his whole being animated by a novel
delight. Come out to the cart,

399
00:37:00,320 --> 00:37:04,400
to you and your son, and
help me bring in the things.

400
00:37:04,960 --> 00:37:09,960
While missus Tea and the girl set
the table as quickly as possible. The

401
00:37:09,960 --> 00:37:15,280
cart was now brought up before the
door, and it was rapidly unloaded by

402
00:37:15,320 --> 00:37:20,559
willing hands from under a half dozen
new blankets, which served to keep the

403
00:37:20,639 --> 00:37:25,039
other contents from contact with the frosty
air. Stephen first handed out a fine

404
00:37:25,119 --> 00:37:30,760
linen tablecloth, and then a basket
containing a dinner set of queensware, said

405
00:37:30,880 --> 00:37:37,039
glass seventy eight pieces with soup,
turene and pickle dishes, and a half

406
00:37:37,119 --> 00:37:42,840
dozen knives and forks, rubber handled
and warranted to stand hot water. When

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00:37:42,880 --> 00:37:46,679
the cloth had been spread and the
plates and dishes arranged, Arthur Tyrrell and

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00:37:46,760 --> 00:37:52,199
his son, aided now by the
wife and daughter, brought in the remaining

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00:37:52,320 --> 00:37:57,119
contents of the cart and placed them
on the table, while with a bundle

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00:37:57,159 --> 00:38:00,400
of kindling which he had brought,
and the fallen which lay all about the

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00:38:00,440 --> 00:38:07,760
cottage, Scarage made a rousing fire
on the hearth. When the cart was

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00:38:07,800 --> 00:38:15,000
empty and the table fully spread,
it presented, indeed a noble sight at

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one end of great turkey at the
other, a pair of geese, a

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00:38:19,960 --> 00:38:23,280
dark upon one side, and a
pigeon pie upon the other. Cranberries,

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00:38:23,480 --> 00:38:30,719
potatoes, white and sweet onions,
parsnips, celery bread, butter beets,

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00:38:30,800 --> 00:38:36,840
pickled and buttered, pickled cucumbers and
walnuts, and several kinds of sauces made

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00:38:36,960 --> 00:38:42,280
up the first course, while upon
a side table stood minced pies, apple

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00:38:42,400 --> 00:38:46,119
pies, pumpkin pies, apples,
nuts, almonds, raisins, and a

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00:38:46,239 --> 00:38:53,360
huge picture of cider for dessert.
It was impossible for the Tyrrell family to

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00:38:53,440 --> 00:39:01,360
gaze unmoved upon this bounteously spread table, and after silently crasping each other for

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00:39:01,440 --> 00:39:07,239
a moment, they sat down with
joyful, thankful hearts to a meal far

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00:39:07,320 --> 00:39:15,960
better than they had seen for years. At their earnest solicitation, mister Scarage

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00:39:15,239 --> 00:39:22,239
joined them. When the meal was
over and there was little left but empty

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00:39:22,320 --> 00:39:29,800
dishes, they all arose and Scarage
prepared to take his leave. But before

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00:39:30,000 --> 00:39:35,280
I go, said he, I
would leave you with a further memento of

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00:39:35,519 --> 00:39:40,920
my good feeling and friendship. You
know my Hillsdale farm in the next township.

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00:39:42,920 --> 00:39:46,559
Oh yes, cried Arthur Tyrol.
Is it possible that you will give

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00:39:46,599 --> 00:39:52,440
me a position there? I make
you a present of the whole farm,

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00:39:53,239 --> 00:39:59,840
said Scourage. There are two hundred
and forty two acres, sixty of which

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00:40:00,159 --> 00:40:06,199
in timber large mansion house, two
good barns, and cow and chicken houses

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00:40:06,840 --> 00:40:10,400
are well covered in an orchard of
young fruit trees, and a stream of

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00:40:10,440 --> 00:40:15,719
water flowing through the place. The
estate is well stocked with blooded cattle,

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00:40:15,840 --> 00:40:23,559
horses, et cetera, and all
necessary farming utensils. Possession immediate. Without

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00:40:23,599 --> 00:40:30,039
waiting for the dumbfounded Tyrrel to speak, Scarage turned quickly to his wife and

435
00:40:30,119 --> 00:40:35,400
said, here, madam, is
my Christmas gift to you. In this

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00:40:35,599 --> 00:40:39,599
package you will find chairs of the
New York Central and Hudson Sixes, of

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00:40:39,639 --> 00:40:46,199
eighty three of the Fort Wayne Guaranteed
and of the Saint Paul's Preferred. Also

438
00:40:46,679 --> 00:40:52,159
bonds of the Delaware, Lackawanna and
Western Second Mortgage, and of the Michigan

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00:40:52,239 --> 00:40:59,679
seven percent Warlon in all these amounts
of nine and eighty two dollars, but

440
00:40:59,800 --> 00:41:05,360
to preclude the necessity of selling at
a sacrifice for immediate once I have taken

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00:41:05,400 --> 00:41:10,159
the liberty of placing in the package
one thousand dollars in green bags, and

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00:41:10,400 --> 00:41:17,480
now, dear friend Adieux. But
the grateful family could not allow this noble

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00:41:17,559 --> 00:41:22,519
man to leave them. Thus Arthur
Tyrell seized his hand and pressed it to

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00:41:22,599 --> 00:41:28,679
his bosom, And then, as
if overcome with emotion, Missus Tyrrell fell

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00:41:28,800 --> 00:41:34,000
upon her benefactor's neck, while the
children gratefully grasped the skirts of his coat.

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00:41:35,320 --> 00:41:38,599
With one arm around the neck of
the still young, once beautiful,

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00:41:38,679 --> 00:41:45,280
and now fast improving Missus Tyroll.
Stephen'scarriage stood for a few minutes, haunted

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00:41:45,400 --> 00:41:52,920
by memories of the past. Then
he spoke, Once, said he his

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00:41:53,199 --> 00:42:00,559
voice trembling the while, Once,
I too loved such a one. But

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00:42:00,760 --> 00:42:06,800
it is all over now, and
the grass waves over her grave. Farewell,

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00:42:07,199 --> 00:42:13,119
farewell, dear friend. And dashing
away a tear, he tore himself

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00:42:13,159 --> 00:42:19,360
from the fervent family and swiftly left
the house. Springing into the cart,

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00:42:19,840 --> 00:42:27,920
he drove rapidly into the town a
happy man. Did you ever read a

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00:42:28,039 --> 00:42:36,679
story like that before? End of
Stephen's Garage's Christmas by Frank Gars Stockton