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Speaker 1: Stephens Scarriages Christmas by Frank R. Stockton. The Cottage twas

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Christmas Eve, an Adamantine's sky hung dark and heavy over

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the white earth. The forests were conescent with frost, and

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the great trees bent as if they were not able

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to sustain the weight of snow and ice with which

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the young winter had loaded them. In a by path

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of the solemn woods, there stood a cottage that would

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not perhaps have been noticed in the decreasing twilight, had

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it not been for a little wisp of smoke that

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feebly curled from the chimney, apparently intending every minute to

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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

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gathered the family of Arthur Tyrrell, himself, his wife, a boy,

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and a girl. Twas Christmas Eve. A damp air rushed

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from the recesses of the forest and came an unbidden

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guest into the cottage of the Tyrols. And it sat

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on every chair, and lay upon every bed, and held

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in its chilly embrace every member of the family all sighed.

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Father said the boy, is there no more wood that

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I may replenish the fire. No, my son, bitterly replied

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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,

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at these words, wiped a silent tear from her eyes,

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and drew her children yet nearer the smoldering coals. The

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father rose and moodily stood by the window, gazing out

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upon the night. A wind had now arisen, and the

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dead branches strewed the path that he soon must take

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to the neighboring town. But he cared not for the danger.

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His fate and heart were alike hard. Mother said the

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little girl, Shall I hang up my stocking to night

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tis Christmas Eve? A Damascus blade could not have cut

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the mother's heart more keenly than this question. No, dear,

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she faltered, you must wear your stockings. There is no fire,

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and your feet uncovered will freeze. The little girl sighed

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and gazed sadly upon the blackening coals. But she raised

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her head again and said, but, mother, dear, if I

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should sleep with my legs outside the clothes, Old Santa

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Claus might slip in some little things between the woolen

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and my skin, Could he not, dear mother, Mother, is

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weeping sister, said the boy. Press her no further. The

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father now drew around him his threadbare coat, put upon

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his head his well brushed straw hat, and approached the door.

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Where are you going this bitter night, dear father, cried

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his little son. He goes, then, said the weeping mother,

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to the town disturb him, not my son, for he

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will buy a mackerel for our Christmas dinner. Amarel cried

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both the children, and their eyes sparkled with joy. The

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boys sprang to his feet. You must not go alone,

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dear father, he cried, I will accompany you, and together

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they left the cottage. The town. The streets were crowded

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with merry faces and well wrapped up forms. Snow and

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ice cities true lay thick upon the pavements and roofs,

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But what of that? Bright lights glistened from every window.

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Bright fires warmed and softened the air within the houses,

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while bright hearts made rosy and happy the countenances of

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the merry crowd without. In some of the shops, great

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turkeys hung in placid obesity from the bending beams, and

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enormous bowls of mincemeat sent up delightful fumes, which mingled

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

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

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the light from the chandeliers struck upon the polished surface

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of many a new wheelbarrow, sled or hobby horse, or

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lighted up the placid features of recumbent dolls and the

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demoniacal countenances of wildly jumping jacks. The crop of marbles

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and tops was almost more than could be garnered. Boxes

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and barrels of soldiers stood on every side, Tin horns

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

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while all the floor was packed with joyous children carrying

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their little purses. Beyond there stood the candy stores, those

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earthly paradises of the young, where golden gum drops, rare

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

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sweetened wealth. Over All available space to these and many

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other shops and stores, and stalls and stands thronged the townspeople,

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rich and poor. Even the humblests had some money to

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spend upon this merry Christmas eve. A damsel of the

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lower orders might here be seen hurrying home with a

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cheap chicken. Here another with a duck, and here the

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saving father of a family bent under the load of

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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

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and comfortable little tenements, happy hearts, rosy cheeks and bright eyes.

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Nobody cared for the snow and ice. They had so

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much that was warm and cheering. It was all the

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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,

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where the happy boys were shouting and the merry girls

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were hurrying in and out of the shops, came a

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man who was neither joyous, hilarious, merry, nor happy. It

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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

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warm and comfortable, and he had fur around his wrists

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and his neck. His hat was pushed down tight upon

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his little head, as though he would shut out all

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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

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the Christian world was an annoying and irritating season to

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his unsympathetic, selfish heart. Oh ho, he said to himself,

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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.

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Ha ha. There seems to be a great ease in

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the money market just now, oh ho ho. They all

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seem as flush as millionaires. There's nothing like the influence

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of holiday times to make one open his pockets. It's

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not yet the first of the months, tis true, but

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it matters not. I'll go and collect my rents tonight

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while all this money is afloat, ha ha ha. And

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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.

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Some resisted bravely, for the settlement day had not yet arrived,

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and these were served with notices to leave at the

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earliest legal moment. Others paid up their dues, with many

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an angry protest, while some poor souls had no money

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ready for this unforeseen demand, and Stephen's Scarage seized whatever

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he could find that would satisfy his claim. Thus, many

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a poor weeping families saw the turkey or the fat goose,

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which was to have graced the Christmas table, carried away

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by the relentless landlord. The children shed tears to see

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their drums and toys depart, and many a little memento

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of affection intended for a gift upon the morrow, became

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the property of the hard hearted Stephen. It was nearly

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nine o'clock when Scarage finished his nefarious labor. He had

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converted his seizures into money, and was returning to his

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inhospitable home with more more joyous light in his eyes

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than had shone there for many a day. When he

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saw Arthur Tyrrell and his son enter the bright main

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street of the town. Ohho, said Stephen, has he too

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come to spend his Christmas money? He the poor, miserable,

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

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

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store and the markets with their rich treasures of eatables.

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Past the toy shops, where the boy's eyes sparkled with

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

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Past the candy shops where the windows were so enchancing

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that the little fellow could scarcely look upon them. On

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past all these to a small shop at the bottom

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of the street, where a crowd of the very poorest

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people were making their little purchases, went the father and

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his son, followed by the evil minded scarriage. When the

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Tyrrels went into the shop, the old man concealed himself

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outside behind a friendly pillar, lest any of these poor

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people should happen to be his tenants and return him

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the damage he had just done to them.

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Speaker 2: But he very.

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Speaker 1: Plainly saw Arthur Tyrrell go up to the counter and

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ask for a mackerel. When one was brought, costing ten cents,

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he declined it, but eventually purchased a smaller one, the

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price of which was eight cents. The two cents which

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he received as change were expended for a modicum of lard,

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and father and son then left the store and wended

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their way homeward. The way was long, but the knowledge

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that they brought that which would make the next day

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something more like Christmas than an ordinary day made their

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steps lighter and the path less wearisome. They reached the

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cottage and opened the door. There By a rush light

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on a table sat the mother and the little girl,

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arranging greens wherewith to decorate their humble home. To the

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mute interrogation of the mother's eyes, the father said, with

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something of the old fervor in his voice, Yes, my dear,

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I have got it, and he laid the mackerel on

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the table. The little girl sprang up to look at it,

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and the boys stepped back to shut the door. But

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before he could do so, it was pushed wide open,

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and Scarage, who had followed them all the way, entered

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the cottage. The inmates gazed at him with astonishment, but

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they did not long remain in ignorance of the meaning

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

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of his pocket a huge memorandum book and turning over

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the pages with a swift and practiced hand. I believe

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you owe me do two months, rent, Let me see.

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Yes here it is eighty seven and a half cents

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two months at forty three and three quarters cents per month.

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I should like to have it now, if you please.

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And he stood with his head on one side, his

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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

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ran behind their parents. Sir said, Tyrol, I have no money.

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To your worst, no money, cried the hard hearted Stephen.

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That story will not do for me. Everybody seems to

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have money tonight, and if they have none, it is

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because they have wilfully spent it. But if you rarely

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have none, and here a ray of hope shot through

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the hearts of the Tyrrell family. You must have something

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that will bring money, and that I shall seize upon. Aha,

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I will take this. And he picked up the Christmas

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mackerel from the table where Arthur had laid it. Tis

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very little, said scourage, but it will at least pay

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me interest. Wrapping it in the brown paper which lay

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under it, he thrust it into his capacious pocket, and

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

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sank into a chair and covered his face with his hands.

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His children, dumb with horror and dismay, clung to the

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rends of his chair, while his wife, ever faithful in

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the day of sorrow as in that of joy, put

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her arm around his neck and whispered in his ear

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Cheer up, Dear Arthur, all me yet be well, have courage.

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He did not take the lard. What always happens. Swiftly

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homeward through the forest walked the triumphant scarage, and he

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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,

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an old woman coming every day to prepare his meals

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and do the little houseworks that he required. Opening his

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

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and seating himself at a large table in a spacious

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room in the front of the house, he counted over

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the money he had collected that evening, entered the amounts

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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

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he took from his pocket the mackerel of the Tyrrell family.

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He opened it, laid it flat upon the table before him,

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and died it by imaginary lines into six parts. Here

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said he to himself, AH, breakfasts for six days. I

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

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And even had that man bought the ten cent fish

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that I saw offered him, there would have been seven portions. Well,

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perhaps I can make it do even now, let me

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see a little off here, and the same off this.

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

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which had been lying split open upon its back, now

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closed itself, gave two or three long drawn gasps, and then,

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heaving a sigh of relief, it flapped its tail, rolled

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its eyes a little, and, deliberately, wriggling itself over to

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a pile of ledgers, sat up on its tail and

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looked at scarage. This astounded individual pushed back his chair

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and gazed with all his eyes at the strange fish.

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But he was more astounded yet when the fish spoke

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

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very wry face, greeting me.

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Speaker 2: A glass of water. I feel all of a part inside.

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Speaker 1: Scourage mumbled out some sort of an assent, and hurried

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to a table near by, where stood a pitcher and

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a glass, and, filling the latter, he brought it to

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the mackerel.

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Speaker 2: Will you hold it to my mouth? Said the fish.

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Speaker 1: Stephen complying, the mackerel drank a good half of the

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water there, it said, that.

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00:16:52,600 --> 00:16:56,879
Speaker 2: Makes me feel better. I don't mind, Brian, if I

237
00:16:56,960 --> 00:17:01,720
could take exercise, but to lie perfectly still in salt

238
00:17:01,799 --> 00:17:07,000
water makes one feel riched. You don't know how hungry

239
00:17:07,079 --> 00:17:13,720
I am. Have you any worms, convenient worms? Cried Stephen.

240
00:17:13,880 --> 00:17:19,079
Speaker 1: Why what a question? No, I have no worms, well

241
00:17:19,640 --> 00:17:24,160
said the fish, somewhat petulantly. You must have some sort

242
00:17:24,200 --> 00:17:27,799
of a yard or garden. Go and dig me some,

243
00:17:29,039 --> 00:17:30,920
dig them, cried Stephen.

244
00:17:31,559 --> 00:17:32,119
Speaker 2: Don't know.

245
00:17:32,319 --> 00:17:35,960
Speaker 1: It's winter and the ground's frozen, and the worm's too.

246
00:17:36,119 --> 00:17:39,920
For that matter, I don't go anything. For all that,

247
00:17:40,599 --> 00:17:43,160
said the mackerel, Go you and dig some.

248
00:17:43,400 --> 00:17:46,880
Speaker 2: Up frozen or the ward. It is all one to me.

249
00:17:47,440 --> 00:17:48,799
I could eat them anywhere.

250
00:17:50,799 --> 00:17:54,480
Speaker 1: The manner of the fish was so imperative that Stephen's

251
00:17:54,519 --> 00:17:58,480
carriage did not think of disobeying. But taking a crowbar

252
00:17:58,599 --> 00:18:01,720
and a spade from a pilot of agricultural implements that

253
00:18:01,839 --> 00:18:04,680
lay in one corner of the room, and which heard

254
00:18:04,720 --> 00:18:08,559
at various times been seized for debts, he lighted a

255
00:18:08,640 --> 00:18:12,799
lantern and went down into the little back garden. There

256
00:18:12,839 --> 00:18:16,200
he shoveled away the snow, and when he reached the ground,

257
00:18:16,319 --> 00:18:19,720
he was obliged to use the crowbar vigorously before he

258
00:18:19,720 --> 00:18:23,839
could make any impression on the frozen earth. After a

259
00:18:23,880 --> 00:18:27,960
half hour's hard labor, he managed by most carefully searching

260
00:18:28,000 --> 00:18:30,480
through the earth thrown out of the hole he had made,

261
00:18:30,920 --> 00:18:36,440
to find five frozen worms. These he considered a sufficient

262
00:18:36,599 --> 00:18:39,880
meal for a fish, which would scarcely make seven meals

263
00:18:39,880 --> 00:18:43,440
for himself, And so he threw down his implements and

264
00:18:43,519 --> 00:18:47,480
went into the house with his lantern, his five frozen worms,

265
00:18:47,839 --> 00:18:52,240
and twice as many frozen fingers. When he reached the

266
00:18:52,279 --> 00:18:55,079
bottom of the stairs, he was certain that he heard

267
00:18:55,079 --> 00:18:57,039
the murmur of voices from above.

268
00:18:58,000 --> 00:18:59,759
Speaker 2: He was terrified.

269
00:19:00,039 --> 00:19:03,200
Speaker 1: Voices came from the room where all his treasures lay.

270
00:19:03,480 --> 00:19:08,119
Could it be thieves. Extinguishing his lantern and taking off

271
00:19:08,119 --> 00:19:12,519
his shoes, he softly crept up the stairs. He had

272
00:19:12,519 --> 00:19:14,880
not quite closed the door of the room when he

273
00:19:14,960 --> 00:19:17,960
left it, and he could now look through an opening

274
00:19:18,039 --> 00:19:22,359
which commanded a view of the whole apartment, And such

275
00:19:22,440 --> 00:19:27,680
a sight now met his wide stretched eyes. In his chair,

276
00:19:28,079 --> 00:19:32,359
his own arm chair by the table, there sat a dwarf,

277
00:19:32,839 --> 00:19:36,480
whose head as large as a prize cabbage, was placed

278
00:19:36,559 --> 00:19:39,559
upon a body so small as not to be noticeable,

279
00:19:39,960 --> 00:19:43,440
and from which depended a pair of little legs appearing

280
00:19:43,599 --> 00:19:48,359
like the roots of the before mentioned vegetable on the table,

281
00:19:48,559 --> 00:19:52,000
bitterly engaged in dusting a day book with a pen wiper,

282
00:19:52,319 --> 00:19:55,079
was a fairy no more than a foot high, and

283
00:19:55,160 --> 00:19:57,960
as pretty and graceful as a queen of the ballet.

284
00:19:58,160 --> 00:20:02,400
Viewed from the dress circle, the mackerel still leaned against

285
00:20:02,400 --> 00:20:06,440
the pile of ledgers, and, oh horror, upon a great

286
00:20:06,519 --> 00:20:11,279
iron box. In one corner there sat a giant, whose head,

287
00:20:11,519 --> 00:20:14,920
had he stood up, would have reached the lofty ceiling.

288
00:20:16,519 --> 00:20:20,880
A chill colder than the frosty earth and air outside

289
00:20:20,960 --> 00:20:25,599
could cause ran through the frame of stephen'scarriage as he

290
00:20:25,759 --> 00:20:28,519
crouched by the crack of the door and looked upon

291
00:20:28,599 --> 00:20:33,599
these dreadful visitors and their conversation, of which he could

292
00:20:33,680 --> 00:20:39,759
hear distinctly. Every word caused the freezing perspiration to trickle

293
00:20:39,799 --> 00:20:42,640
in icy globules down his back.

294
00:20:44,359 --> 00:20:48,759
Speaker 2: He's gone to get me some worms, said the mackerel,

295
00:20:49,359 --> 00:20:52,359
and we might as well settle it all before he

296
00:20:52,440 --> 00:20:56,759
comes back. For my part, I'm very sure of what

297
00:20:56,920 --> 00:20:59,079
I have been saying.

298
00:20:59,400 --> 00:21:02,359
Speaker 1: Oh ye, yes, said the dwarf. There could be no

299
00:21:02,440 --> 00:21:05,799
doubt about it at all. I believe it every word.

300
00:21:07,279 --> 00:21:10,920
Of course, it is, so, said the fairy, standing upon

301
00:21:10,960 --> 00:21:15,519
the day book, which was now well dusted. Everybody knows

302
00:21:15,599 --> 00:21:21,240
it is. It couldn't be otherwise, said the giant, in

303
00:21:21,279 --> 00:21:26,279
a voice like thunder among the pines. We're all agreed

304
00:21:26,440 --> 00:21:32,279
upon that, A mighty partitive about it, whatever it is,

305
00:21:32,839 --> 00:21:36,559
thought the trembling Stephen, who continued to look with all

306
00:21:36,640 --> 00:21:41,240
his eyes and to listen with all his ears. Well,

307
00:21:41,680 --> 00:21:44,400
said the dwarf, leaning back in the chair and twisting

308
00:21:44,400 --> 00:21:47,079
his little legs around each other until they looked like

309
00:21:47,119 --> 00:21:51,480
a rope's end. Let us arrange matters for my part.

310
00:21:51,640 --> 00:21:54,920
I would like to see all crooked things made straight,

311
00:21:55,279 --> 00:22:00,160
just as quickly as possible. So would I, said the fairy,

312
00:22:00,279 --> 00:22:02,960
sitting down on the day book and crossing her dainty

313
00:22:03,000 --> 00:22:06,000
satin covered ankles, from which she stooped to brush a

314
00:22:06,039 --> 00:22:10,359
trifle of dust. I want to see everything nice and

315
00:22:10,519 --> 00:22:15,960
pretty and just write. As for me, said the mackerel.

316
00:22:16,480 --> 00:22:22,680
Speaker 2: I am somewhat divided in my opinion, I mean, but

317
00:22:22,960 --> 00:22:27,319
whatever you all agree upon will suit me, I'm sure.

318
00:22:28,640 --> 00:22:32,240
Speaker 1: Then, said the giant, rising to his feet and just

319
00:22:32,400 --> 00:22:35,440
escaping a violent contact of his head with the ceiling.

320
00:22:36,160 --> 00:22:40,559
Let us get to work and while we're about it,

321
00:22:40,599 --> 00:22:45,000
we'll make our clean sweep of it. To this, the

322
00:22:45,039 --> 00:22:48,599
others all gave assent, and the giant, after moving the

323
00:22:48,640 --> 00:22:51,720
mackerel to one corner of the table and requesting the

324
00:22:51,720 --> 00:22:55,440
fairy to stand beside the fish, spread all the ledgers

325
00:22:55,480 --> 00:22:59,079
and day books, and cash and bill and memorandum books

326
00:22:59,160 --> 00:23:04,079
upon the table, and opened them all at the first page.

327
00:23:04,119 --> 00:23:06,839
Then the dwarf climbed up on the table and took

328
00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:10,119
a pen, and the fairy did the same, and they

329
00:23:10,200 --> 00:23:13,039
both set to work as hard as they could to

330
00:23:13,160 --> 00:23:18,119
take an account of stephens Garage's possessions. As soon as

331
00:23:18,119 --> 00:23:21,079
either of them had added up two pages, the giant

332
00:23:21,160 --> 00:23:23,920
turned over the leaves, and he had to be very

333
00:23:23,960 --> 00:23:27,200
busy about it. So active was the dwarf, who had

334
00:23:27,240 --> 00:23:30,680
a splendid head for accounts, and who had balanced the

335
00:23:30,720 --> 00:23:33,680
same head so long upon his little legs that he

336
00:23:33,759 --> 00:23:36,799
had no manner of difficulty in balancing a few letgers.

337
00:23:37,799 --> 00:23:40,759
The fairy, too, ran up and down the columns as

338
00:23:40,799 --> 00:23:43,079
if she were dancing a measure in which the only

339
00:23:43,200 --> 00:23:46,920
movements were forward one and backward one. And she got

340
00:23:46,960 --> 00:23:51,000
over her business nearly as fast as the dwarf, as

341
00:23:51,039 --> 00:23:54,000
for the mackerel, he could not add up, but the

342
00:23:54,039 --> 00:23:56,640
fairy told him what figures she had to carry to

343
00:23:56,720 --> 00:23:59,680
the next column, and he remembered them for her, and

344
00:23:59,720 --> 00:24:03,279
thus helped her a great deal. In less than half

345
00:24:03,359 --> 00:24:06,359
an hour, the giant turned over the last page of

346
00:24:06,440 --> 00:24:09,359
the last book, and the dwarf put down on a

347
00:24:09,440 --> 00:24:14,559
large sheet of foolscap the sum total of Stephen's garage's wealth.

348
00:24:15,839 --> 00:24:20,039
The fairy read out the sum, and the woeful listener

349
00:24:20,079 --> 00:24:23,119
at the door was forced to admit to himself that

350
00:24:23,160 --> 00:24:29,839
they had got it exactly right. Now, then said the giant,

351
00:24:30,079 --> 00:24:34,559
here is I went list. Let us make out the schedule.

352
00:24:36,200 --> 00:24:39,319
In twenty minutes, the Giant, the dwarf, and the fairy,

353
00:24:39,640 --> 00:24:42,960
the last reading out the names of stephens various tenants,

354
00:24:43,359 --> 00:24:46,319
the giant stating what amounts he deemed the due of

355
00:24:46,319 --> 00:24:49,480
each one, and the dwarf, putting down the sums opposite

356
00:24:49,519 --> 00:24:53,640
their names, had made out the schedule, and the giant

357
00:24:53,799 --> 00:24:59,720
read it over in a voice that admitted of no inattention. Hurrah,

358
00:25:00,079 --> 00:25:04,240
said the dwarf. That done, and I'm glad, And he

359
00:25:04,319 --> 00:25:07,519
stepped lightly from the table to the arm of the chair,

360
00:25:07,920 --> 00:25:11,000
and then down to the seat and jumped to the floor,

361
00:25:11,519 --> 00:25:14,680
balancing his head in the most wonderful way as he

362
00:25:14,799 --> 00:25:21,279
performed these agile feats. Yes, said the mackerel, it's all.

363
00:25:21,039 --> 00:25:25,519
Speaker 2: Right, so to be sure, I'm somewhat divided.

364
00:25:26,039 --> 00:25:30,519
Speaker 1: Oh we won't prefer at that now, said the giant.

365
00:25:30,759 --> 00:25:36,799
Let bygones be bygones. As for the fairy, she didn't

366
00:25:36,799 --> 00:25:39,440
say a word, but she just bounced on the top

367
00:25:39,480 --> 00:25:41,680
of the day book that she had dusted and which

368
00:25:41,759 --> 00:25:44,519
now lay closed near the edge of the table, And

369
00:25:44,599 --> 00:25:48,839
she danced such a charming little fantee that everybody gazed

370
00:25:48,880 --> 00:25:53,039
at her with delight. The giant stooped and opened his

371
00:25:53,200 --> 00:25:56,240
mouth as if he expected her to whirl herself into

372
00:25:56,319 --> 00:26:00,319
it when she was done, and the mackerel was actually

373
00:26:00,480 --> 00:26:03,920
moved to tears and tried to wipe his eyes with

374
00:26:04,039 --> 00:26:07,240
his fin, but it was not long enough, and so

375
00:26:07,400 --> 00:26:11,160
the tears rolled down and hardened into a white crust

376
00:26:11,240 --> 00:26:15,440
on the green baize which covered the table. The dwarf

377
00:26:15,559 --> 00:26:18,000
was on the floor, and he just stood still on

378
00:26:18,079 --> 00:26:20,240
his little toes, as if he had been a great

379
00:26:20,480 --> 00:26:26,279
top dead asleep. Even Stephen, though he was terribly agitated,

380
00:26:26,720 --> 00:26:29,759
thought the dance was the most beautiful thing he had

381
00:26:29,799 --> 00:26:34,079
ever seen. At length, with a whirl which made her

382
00:26:34,119 --> 00:26:35,960
look like a snowball on a pivot.

383
00:26:36,400 --> 00:26:38,079
Speaker 2: She stopped stock.

384
00:26:37,839 --> 00:26:41,079
Speaker 1: Still standing on one toe, as if she had fallen

385
00:26:41,119 --> 00:26:44,480
from the sky and had stuck upright on the daybook

386
00:26:45,480 --> 00:26:49,640
bravel Babble, cried the dwarf, and you could hear his

387
00:26:49,720 --> 00:26:54,960
little hands clapping beneath his head. Hurrah, cried the giant,

388
00:26:55,240 --> 00:26:58,200
and he brought his great palms together with a clap

389
00:26:58,240 --> 00:27:01,480
that rattled the window panes like the report of a cannon.

390
00:27:03,119 --> 00:27:05,519
Speaker 2: Very nice, very nice.

391
00:27:05,279 --> 00:27:10,119
Speaker 1: Indeed, said the mackerel. Though I'm rather divault. Oh no,

392
00:27:10,440 --> 00:27:14,359
you're not, cried the fairy, making a sudden, joyful jump

393
00:27:14,400 --> 00:27:17,160
at him, and putting her little hand on his somewhat

394
00:27:17,240 --> 00:27:22,880
distorted and certainly very ugly mouth. You're nothing of the kind.

395
00:27:23,519 --> 00:27:26,599
And now let's have him in here and make him sign.

396
00:27:27,400 --> 00:27:30,240
Do you think he will do it? Said she, turning

397
00:27:30,279 --> 00:27:35,480
to the giant. That mighty individual doubled up his great

398
00:27:35,640 --> 00:27:39,000
right fist like a trip hammer, and he opened his

399
00:27:39,119 --> 00:27:42,640
great left hand, as hard and solid as an anvil,

400
00:27:42,759 --> 00:27:46,640
and he brought the two together with a sounding wang.

401
00:27:47,880 --> 00:27:53,240
Ya's said he I think he will. In that case,

402
00:27:53,640 --> 00:27:56,599
said the dwarf, we might as well call him.

403
00:27:57,200 --> 00:28:01,559
Speaker 2: I sent him after some worms, said the mackerel. But

404
00:28:01,720 --> 00:28:05,720
he has not been all this time getting them. I

405
00:28:06,039 --> 00:28:09,319
should not wonder at all if he had been listening

406
00:28:09,359 --> 00:28:11,440
at the door all the while.

407
00:28:13,000 --> 00:28:15,920
Speaker 1: We all still m to settle, that said the dwarf,

408
00:28:16,039 --> 00:28:19,759
walking rapidly across the room, his head rolling from side

409
00:28:19,799 --> 00:28:24,119
to side, but still preserving that admirable balance for which

410
00:28:24,119 --> 00:28:28,319
it was so justly noted. When he reached the door,

411
00:28:28,440 --> 00:28:33,279
he pulled it wide open, and there stood poor Stephen's scarriage,

412
00:28:33,599 --> 00:28:37,759
trembling from head to foot, with the five frozen worms

413
00:28:37,880 --> 00:28:44,200
firmly grasped in his hands. Calmburne, said the giant, and

414
00:28:44,359 --> 00:28:48,799
Stephen walked in, slowly and fearfully, bowing as he came

415
00:28:49,039 --> 00:28:55,920
to the several personages in the room. Are those my worms,

416
00:28:56,559 --> 00:28:57,400
said the mackerel.

417
00:28:58,039 --> 00:29:01,720
Speaker 2: If so put them in my mouth one at a time.

418
00:29:02,680 --> 00:29:09,200
They're not so fast. They are frozen, sure enough, But

419
00:29:09,319 --> 00:29:12,079
do you know that I believe I like them this

420
00:29:12,240 --> 00:29:19,279
way the best. I never tasted frozen ones before. By

421
00:29:19,359 --> 00:29:22,720
this time the dwarf had mounted the table, and, opening

422
00:29:22,720 --> 00:29:26,359
the schedule, stood pointing to an agreement written at the

423
00:29:26,359 --> 00:29:29,880
bottom of it, while the fairy had a pen already

424
00:29:29,920 --> 00:29:32,559
dipped in the ink, which she held in her hand

425
00:29:32,759 --> 00:29:37,400
as she stood on the other side of the schedule. Now, sir,

426
00:29:38,200 --> 00:29:40,640
said the giant, just take.

427
00:29:40,440 --> 00:29:45,200
Speaker 1: Your seat in your chair, take that pen in your hand,

428
00:29:45,880 --> 00:29:51,680
and sign your name below that agreement. If you've been

429
00:29:51,839 --> 00:29:55,400
listening at the door all this time, as I believe

430
00:29:55,640 --> 00:29:59,920
you have, you have heard the contents of the schedule,

431
00:30:00,480 --> 00:30:06,119
and therefore need not read it over Stephen thought no

432
00:30:06,240 --> 00:30:09,680
more of disobeying than he did of challenging the giant

433
00:30:09,759 --> 00:30:14,160
to a battle, and he therefore seated himself in his chair, and,

434
00:30:14,359 --> 00:30:17,200
taking the pen from the fairy, wrote his name at

435
00:30:17,240 --> 00:30:20,519
the bottom of the agreement, although he knew that by

436
00:30:20,559 --> 00:30:25,599
that act he was signing away half his wealth. When

437
00:30:25,640 --> 00:30:28,400
he had written his signature, he laid down the pen

438
00:30:28,680 --> 00:30:31,440
and looked round to see if anything more was required

439
00:30:31,480 --> 00:30:35,799
of him. But just at that moment something seemed to

440
00:30:35,839 --> 00:30:38,680
give way in the back of his neck. His head

441
00:30:38,720 --> 00:30:42,240
fell forward so as to nearly strike the table, and

442
00:30:42,480 --> 00:30:48,160
he awoke. There was no longer a schedule, a fairy,

443
00:30:48,359 --> 00:30:52,759
a dwarf, or a giant in front of him. Was

444
00:30:52,839 --> 00:30:57,759
the mackerel, split open and lying on its back. It

445
00:30:57,880 --> 00:31:04,319
was all a dream. For an hour, stephen'scarage sat at

446
00:31:04,359 --> 00:31:08,640
his table, his face buried in his hands. When at

447
00:31:08,680 --> 00:31:12,559
last his candle gave signs of spluttering out. He arose,

448
00:31:13,039 --> 00:31:16,839
and with a subdued and quiet air, he went to bed.

449
00:31:19,440 --> 00:31:25,920
What must occur The next morning was bright, cold and cheering,

450
00:31:26,400 --> 00:31:30,680
and Stephen's scarriage arose very early, went down to the

451
00:31:30,759 --> 00:31:33,920
large front room where his treasures were kept, got out

452
00:31:33,960 --> 00:31:38,400
his check book, and for two hours was busily employed

453
00:31:38,559 --> 00:31:42,799
in writing. When the old woman who attended to his

454
00:31:42,920 --> 00:31:47,200
household affairs arrived at the usual hour, she was surprised

455
00:31:47,240 --> 00:31:50,680
at his orders to cook for his breakfast the whole

456
00:31:50,839 --> 00:31:54,400
of a mackerel, which he handed her. When he had

457
00:31:54,440 --> 00:31:56,960
finished his meal, at which he ate at least one

458
00:31:57,039 --> 00:32:00,680
half of the fish, he called her up into his room.

459
00:32:00,960 --> 00:32:06,720
He then addressed her as follows, Margaret, you have been

460
00:32:06,839 --> 00:32:12,720
my servant for seventeen years. During that time I have

461
00:32:13,039 --> 00:32:17,920
paid you fifty cents per week for your services. I

462
00:32:17,960 --> 00:32:22,240
am now convinced that the sum was insufficient. You should

463
00:32:22,279 --> 00:32:26,000
have had at least two dollars, considering you only had

464
00:32:26,079 --> 00:32:30,440
one meal. In the house, as you would probably have

465
00:32:30,559 --> 00:32:33,200
spent the money as fast as I gave it to you.

466
00:32:33,519 --> 00:32:36,759
I shall pay you no interest upon what I have withheld.

467
00:32:37,640 --> 00:32:43,359
But here is a check for the unpaid balance one thousand,

468
00:32:43,720 --> 00:32:49,000
three hundred and twenty six dollars. Invest it carefully and

469
00:32:49,119 --> 00:32:53,920
you will find it quite a help to you. Handing

470
00:32:53,960 --> 00:32:56,960
the paper to the astounded woman, he took up a

471
00:32:57,039 --> 00:33:00,799
large wallet stuffed with checks, and let left the house.

472
00:33:02,160 --> 00:33:04,599
He went down into the lower part of the town

473
00:33:04,880 --> 00:33:09,319
with a countenance full of lively fervor and generous light.

474
00:33:10,559 --> 00:33:13,799
When he reached the quarter where his property lay, he

475
00:33:13,960 --> 00:33:16,920
spent an hour or two in converse with his tenants,

476
00:33:17,319 --> 00:33:19,880
and when he had spoken with the last one, his

477
00:33:20,000 --> 00:33:23,319
wallet was nearly empty, and he was followed by a

478
00:33:23,480 --> 00:33:27,160
wildly joyful crowd, who would have brought a chair and

479
00:33:27,359 --> 00:33:30,119
carried him in triumph through the town had he not

480
00:33:30,319 --> 00:33:35,559
calmly waved them back. When the concourse of grateful ones

481
00:33:35,599 --> 00:33:38,720
had left him, he repaired to the house of Philip Weaver,

482
00:33:38,920 --> 00:33:42,799
the butcher, and hired his pony and spring cart. Then

483
00:33:42,880 --> 00:33:46,039
he went to Ambrose Smith, the baker, at whose shop

484
00:33:46,079 --> 00:33:49,240
he had stopped on his way down town and inquired

485
00:33:49,279 --> 00:33:53,920
if his orders had been filled. Although it was Christmas morning,

486
00:33:54,160 --> 00:33:57,480
Ambrose and his seven assistants were all as busy as bees,

487
00:33:57,799 --> 00:34:01,599
but they had not yet been able to fill so orders.

488
00:34:01,599 --> 00:34:05,640
In an hour, however, Ambrose came himself to a candy

489
00:34:05,680 --> 00:34:09,199
store where Stephen was treating a crowd of delighted children,

490
00:34:09,519 --> 00:34:12,639
and told him all was ready and the cart loaded.

491
00:34:13,679 --> 00:34:17,639
At this Stephen hurried to the baker's shop, mounted the cart,

492
00:34:17,920 --> 00:34:21,360
took the reins, and drove rapidly in the direction of

493
00:34:21,440 --> 00:34:25,239
the cottage of Arthur Tyrol. When he reached the place,

494
00:34:25,440 --> 00:34:30,119
it was nearly one o'clock. Driving cautiously as he neared

495
00:34:30,159 --> 00:34:32,920
the house, he stopped at a little distance from it

496
00:34:33,119 --> 00:34:37,039
and tied the horse to a tree. Then he stealthily

497
00:34:37,079 --> 00:34:42,320
approached a window and looked in. Arthur Tyril sat upon

498
00:34:42,360 --> 00:34:45,119
a chair in the middle of the room, his arms

499
00:34:45,199 --> 00:34:49,760
folded and his head bowed upon his breast. On a

500
00:34:49,800 --> 00:34:53,719
stool by his left side sat his wife, her tearful

501
00:34:53,880 --> 00:34:59,000
eyes raised to his somber countenance. Before her father stood

502
00:34:59,000 --> 00:35:02,920
the little girl, leaning upon his knees and watching the

503
00:35:03,039 --> 00:35:08,000
varied expressions that flashed across his face. By his father's

504
00:35:08,039 --> 00:35:12,320
right side, his arm resting upon his parents shoulder. Stood

505
00:35:12,400 --> 00:35:17,239
the boy, a look of calm resignation far beyond his ears,

506
00:35:17,480 --> 00:35:22,719
lighting up his intelligent face. Twas a tableau never to

507
00:35:22,760 --> 00:35:27,000
be forgotten. Able to gaze upon it. But a few minutes,

508
00:35:27,679 --> 00:35:32,639
stephen'scarriage pushed open the door and entered the room. His

509
00:35:33,079 --> 00:35:37,280
entrance was the signal of consternation. The wife and children

510
00:35:37,400 --> 00:35:40,519
fled to the farthest corner of the room, while Arthur

511
00:35:40,599 --> 00:35:46,679
Tyrrell arose and sternly confronted the intruder. Ha said, he

512
00:35:47,159 --> 00:35:50,360
you have soon returned. You think that we can be

513
00:35:50,480 --> 00:35:56,039
yet further despoiled? Proceed Take all that we have. There

514
00:35:56,239 --> 00:36:00,519
is yet this, and he pointed to the two sense

515
00:36:00,599 --> 00:36:06,039
worth of lard, which still lay upon the table. No.

516
00:36:06,039 --> 00:36:10,800
No faltered stephen'scarriage, seizing the hand of Arthur Tyril and

517
00:36:10,960 --> 00:36:15,920
warmly pressing it, Keep it, keep it. Tis not for

518
00:36:16,039 --> 00:36:19,920
that I came, but to ask your pardon and to

519
00:36:20,039 --> 00:36:25,079
beg your acceptance of a Christmas gift, pardon for having

520
00:36:25,159 --> 00:36:29,159
increased the weight of your poverty, and a gift to

521
00:36:29,280 --> 00:36:34,760
celebrate the advent of a happier feeling between us. Having

522
00:36:34,880 --> 00:36:40,239
said this, Stephen paused for a reply. Arthur Tyril mused

523
00:36:40,280 --> 00:36:43,559
for a moment. Then he cast his eyes upon his

524
00:36:43,639 --> 00:36:47,519
wife and his children, and in a low but firm voice,

525
00:36:47,679 --> 00:36:55,400
he said, I pardon and accept that's right, cried Scarriage,

526
00:36:55,599 --> 00:37:00,440
his whole being animated by a novel delight. Come out

527
00:37:00,519 --> 00:37:03,000
to the cart, to you and your son, and help

528
00:37:03,079 --> 00:37:06,400
me bring in the things. While missus Tea and the

529
00:37:06,480 --> 00:37:11,280
girl set the table as quickly as possible. The cart

530
00:37:11,440 --> 00:37:13,840
was now brought up before the door, and it was

531
00:37:13,960 --> 00:37:18,280
rapidly unloaded by willing hands from under a half dozen

532
00:37:18,360 --> 00:37:21,800
new blankets, which served to keep the other contents from

533
00:37:21,840 --> 00:37:25,679
contact with the frosty air. Stephen first handed out a

534
00:37:25,679 --> 00:37:29,920
fine linen tablecloth, and then a basket containing a dinner

535
00:37:29,960 --> 00:37:34,599
set of queensware, said glass seventy eight pieces with soup,

536
00:37:34,679 --> 00:37:38,559
turene and pickle dishes, and a half dozen knives and forks,

537
00:37:38,679 --> 00:37:42,960
rubber handled and warranted to stand hot water. When the

538
00:37:43,000 --> 00:37:46,360
cloth had been spread and the plates and dishes arranged,

539
00:37:46,760 --> 00:37:50,039
Arthur Tyrrell and his son, aided now by the wife

540
00:37:50,079 --> 00:37:53,599
and daughter, brought in the remaining contents of the cart

541
00:37:53,840 --> 00:37:57,119
and placed them on the table, while with a bundle

542
00:37:57,159 --> 00:38:00,519
of kindling which he had brought, and the fallen which

543
00:38:00,599 --> 00:38:04,480
lay all about the cottage, Scarage made a rousing fire

544
00:38:04,639 --> 00:38:08,639
on the hearth. When the cart was empty and the

545
00:38:08,679 --> 00:38:15,000
table fully spread, it presented, indeed a noble sight at

546
00:38:15,079 --> 00:38:18,719
one end of great turkey at the other, a pair

547
00:38:18,760 --> 00:38:22,039
of geese, a dark upon one side, and a pigeon

548
00:38:22,079 --> 00:38:28,679
pie upon the other. Cranberries, potatoes, white and sweet onions, parsnips,

549
00:38:28,800 --> 00:38:34,559
celery bread, butter beets, pickled and buttered, pickled cucumbers and walnuts,

550
00:38:34,639 --> 00:38:38,159
and several kinds of sauces made up the first course,

551
00:38:38,840 --> 00:38:42,760
while upon a side table stood minced pies, apple pies,

552
00:38:42,880 --> 00:38:48,280
pumpkin pies, apples, nuts, almonds, raisins, and a huge picture

553
00:38:48,320 --> 00:38:53,639
of cider for dessert. It was impossible for the Tyrrell

554
00:38:53,760 --> 00:38:59,719
family to gaze unmoved upon this bounteously spread table, and

555
00:38:59,760 --> 00:39:03,840
after silently crasping each other for a moment, they sat

556
00:39:04,000 --> 00:39:08,679
down with joyful, thankful hearts to a meal far better

557
00:39:08,760 --> 00:39:14,119
than they had seen for years. At their earnest solicitation,

558
00:39:14,840 --> 00:39:20,519
mister Scarage joined them. When the meal was over and

559
00:39:20,559 --> 00:39:24,280
there was little left but empty dishes, they all arose

560
00:39:24,559 --> 00:39:30,519
and Scarage prepared to take his leave. But before I go,

561
00:39:31,119 --> 00:39:34,960
said he, I would leave you with a further memento

562
00:39:35,199 --> 00:39:40,000
of my good feeling and friendship. You know my Hillsdale

563
00:39:40,119 --> 00:39:45,119
farm in the next township. Oh yes, cried Arthur Tyrol.

564
00:39:45,840 --> 00:39:48,559
Is it possible that you will give me a position there?

565
00:39:50,159 --> 00:39:55,079
I make you a present of the whole farm, said Scourage.

566
00:39:55,840 --> 00:39:59,519
There are two hundred and forty two acres, sixty of

567
00:39:59,599 --> 00:40:04,519
which in timber large mansion house, two good barns, and

568
00:40:04,800 --> 00:40:09,320
cow and chicken houses are well covered in an orchard

569
00:40:09,400 --> 00:40:12,280
of young fruit trees, and a stream of water flowing

570
00:40:12,320 --> 00:40:17,280
through the place. The estate is well stocked with blooded cattle, horses,

571
00:40:17,320 --> 00:40:24,559
et cetera, and all necessary farming utensils. Possession immediate. Without

572
00:40:24,599 --> 00:40:29,079
waiting for the dumbfounded Tyrrel to speak, Scarage turned quickly

573
00:40:29,119 --> 00:40:33,400
to his wife and said, here, madam, is my Christmas

574
00:40:33,400 --> 00:40:37,480
gift to you. In this package you will find chairs

575
00:40:37,519 --> 00:40:40,880
of the New York Central and Hudson Sixes, of eighty

576
00:40:40,920 --> 00:40:45,119
three of the Fort Wayne Guaranteed and of the Saint

577
00:40:45,119 --> 00:40:50,480
Paul's Preferred. Also bonds of the Delaware, Lackawanna and Western

578
00:40:50,760 --> 00:40:55,760
Second Mortgage, and of the Michigan seven percent Warlon in

579
00:40:55,800 --> 00:40:59,679
all these amounts of nine and eighty two dollars, but

580
00:40:59,800 --> 00:41:03,280
to preclude the necessity of selling at a sacrifice for

581
00:41:03,400 --> 00:41:06,559
immediate once I have taken the liberty of placing in

582
00:41:06,599 --> 00:41:11,519
the package one thousand dollars in green bags, and now,

583
00:41:11,719 --> 00:41:17,719
dear friend Adieux. But the grateful family could not allow

584
00:41:17,840 --> 00:41:22,079
this noble man to leave them. Thus Arthur Tyrell seized

585
00:41:22,119 --> 00:41:24,920
his hand and pressed it to his bosom, And then,

586
00:41:25,159 --> 00:41:29,199
as if overcome with emotion, Missus Tyrrell fell upon her

587
00:41:29,199 --> 00:41:33,360
benefactor's neck, while the children gratefully grasped the skirts of

588
00:41:33,400 --> 00:41:37,400
his coat. With one arm around the neck of the

589
00:41:37,480 --> 00:41:42,199
still young, once beautiful, and now fast improving Missus Tyroll.

590
00:41:42,760 --> 00:41:47,280
Stephen'scarriage stood for a few minutes, haunted by memories of

591
00:41:47,320 --> 00:41:54,559
the past. Then he spoke, Once, said he his voice

592
00:41:54,760 --> 00:41:59,800
trembling the while, Once, I too loved such a one.

593
00:42:00,480 --> 00:42:03,760
But it is all over now, and the grass waves

594
00:42:03,800 --> 00:42:11,119
over her grave. Farewell, farewell, dear friend. And dashing away

595
00:42:11,159 --> 00:42:14,840
a tear, he tore himself from the fervent family and

596
00:42:15,000 --> 00:42:20,440
swiftly left the house. Springing into the cart, he drove

597
00:42:20,679 --> 00:42:27,280
rapidly into the town a happy man. Did you ever

598
00:42:27,480 --> 00:42:34,519
read a story like that before? End of Stephen's Garage's

599
00:42:34,599 --> 00:42:36,679
Christmas by Frank Gars Stockton