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Speaker 1: The Little Mixer by Lily and Nicholas Scheren. There was

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no fault to be found with the present itself. The

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trouble lay in the method of transportation. This thought was

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definite enough in Hannah's mind, but she had to rely

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upon a seven year old vocabulary for expression, and grown

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ups are notably dull of comprehension. Even mothers don't always

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understand without being told exactly in so many words. I

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didn't say the kimona wasn't nice, Mamma, explained Hannah. And

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course cousin Carrie was all for good to send it

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to me. But Santa Claus is going to bring Virginia

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one tomorrow night down the chimbly rose. Joseph slipped the

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absurd little garment over her daughter's dainty lingerie frock and

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stood her on a chair that she might view herself

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in the narrow mirror between the windows of the living room.

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The child was as lovely as a flower, but Vanity

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was still sound asleep in her soul, and she glanced

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indifferently at the reflection, her body sagging with disappointment. It

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is just like those little Japanese girls wear, her mother

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cried in that over enthusiastic adult tone, which warns a

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child he is about to be the recipient of a

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gold brick. I am sure Virginia's can't be any nicer

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than this one. But Mamma, Santa Claus is going to

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bring her is down the chimney. Mine, her voice dropped

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to a mournful key. Mine came through the door. But Darling,

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what difference does it make? Just so you get it?

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Pity for her mother's barren childhood shone in Hannah's soft

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black eyes. That's that's no way for presents to come,

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she explained. Mamma, it's Christmas. It is hanuku. Missus. Joseph

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replied firmly. Remember you are a Jewess, dear. I can't

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never forget it, said the child, with a catch in

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her voice, specially at Christmas. But Darling, the Jewish children

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have Honkah. It comes about the same time as Christmas,

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ann amounts to the same thing. Hannah shook her bronze curls.

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Honkkah is because the children of Israel took Jerusalem and

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the Temple away from the bad people, she recited glibly.

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And you say prayers and light candles eight days, and

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all your uncles and aunts and cousins sends you things,

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but Sati Claus, he don't pay any attention to Honikah.

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Christmas is just one day, and Santa Claus comes down

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to Chimbley and brings things to all good children, except

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little Jews, because it is the birthday of our Savior.

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Missus Joseph was silent so long that Hannah felt that

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she had convinced her mother the superiority of the gentile

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Christmas over the Jewish Honukkah. And she continued more in detail.

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And the children's kin folks just give Santi Claus money

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and tell him what to buy, and he brings the presents,

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and nobody asked to bother about it, Tim Hannah, Missus

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Joseph interrupted coldly, who told you about the birthday of

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the Savior? Nellie Halleran answered, Hannah, and Virginia too. They've

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got the same one, the same what the same savior?

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Hannah explained, Darling, hasn't Mama told you many times that

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you must never never talk about religion to Nelly and Virginia. Oh,

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we don't, Mama, never never. But of course we got

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to talk about Santi Claus and things there seemed to

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be no reasonable objection to that, so Missus Joseph dropped

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the subject. She spent a great deal of time folding

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the despised and rejected kimono into its tissue paper wrappings. Presently,

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she brought a narrow parcel from another room. See what

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Uncle Aaron has sent you, dear, she cried, gaily, a

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little man. You whind him up in the back with

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his key, so and then he dances and plays the fiddle.

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Hannah forced a polite giggle man's antics. He too, rested

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under the ban of having come through the door, and

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her attention soon wandered. Nellie got a jumping jacket very

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top of her stocking last Christmas, because she's such a

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jumping jack herself. Or Papa said, you know, Mama, Santa

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Claus puts nuts and candy and the little things in

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your stocking. He puts your big things all around the room.

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Sometimes he brings a tree and hangs them all on

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the tree. Virginia and Nellie wanted a tree and a

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new doll. Virginia gets a new doll every Christmas, and

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she got every doll Santi ever brought her, even her

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little baby rubber doll. She's eight years old, and we'll

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have eight dolls. But Nellie ain't hasn't saved a single one,

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and she's scared she won't get one this Christmas. Off scared? Why, dear,

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asked Missus Joseph, when Hannah paused for breath, Because the

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doll Santi brought Nellie last Christmas? You know what? She

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was playing Indian with a brother one day and chopped

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her head off. And Nellie's mama said, she don't know

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whether old Santie's going to forget that or not. But Nellie,

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she says, she prays hard to the Virgin Mary every

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night if she don't go to sleep too quick. Mama,

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what's a virgin? Mama? What's a virgin? Is a lady

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who has never been married, answered Missus Joseph, putting the

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neglected musician back into his box. Anna wrestled alone for

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a moment with a mighty ecclesiastical problem, and then gave

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it up. The Virgin Mary is God's mother. Hannah continued,

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that's her picture over our fireplace, pointing to a copy

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of a Crewe thirteenth century Madonna and child in a

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carved Gothic frame, which Eli and rose Joseph had bought

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in Italy while on their wedding trip. Flanked now by

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candles burning and silver candelabra in honor of Hanukkah. It

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gave the mantle a passing resemblance to a Catholic shrine.

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I don't think God's mother is very pretty, do you, Mama?

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And I think Nellie's little brother is a heap prettier

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in God. When he was the baby, Missus Joseph showed

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signs of having reached the limit. Hannah, she said firmly,

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It is time you were in bed, But Papa hasn't

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come home yet. Papa will be late tonight. Here the

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Christmas rush side, Hannah. Mama, you haven't looked down my

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throat today, she added, Playing for time, Missus Joseph went

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through the daily ritual. It looks all right, she pronounced.

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It is all right. Came the triumphant answer. It is

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never going to be sore again, Virginia says. Never mind

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what Virginia says. If your throat ever hurts you the

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least little bit, you are to come to me instantly

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and tell me. Do you understand, Yes, Mama, But it

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isn't going to hurt anymore, Hannah insisted come on upstairs

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to bed. Still, Hannah hung back. She had not played

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her trump card yet, and the time was short. She

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caught her mother's slim, white hand in hers and fingered

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nervously at the rings. Mama, she almost whispered, Virginia says,

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it's Jewish mama's fault that santi Claus don't come to

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see Jewish children. If the mamas would just go to

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santi and tell him to come, you will, won't you, Mama? Please, Mama, Hannah,

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not another word about Christmas and santi Claus. Not another word.

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Hannah swallowed something that came in her throat and bravely

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winked back tears. Cat Mandy put me to bed, No,

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dear Mandy is busy in the kitchen. Mama will put

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you to bed and tell you stories. She bent down

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and kissed the child tenderly. Hannah flung her arms about

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her mother's neck. She loved the feel of the soft

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throat and the gently curving bosom against her little cheek,

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and the fragrance of her mother's hair and silken laces.

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She didn't know that her mother looked like a portrait

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by Raphael. But she did know that her mama was

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the prettiest, sweetest mama in all the world. And yet, Mama,

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I'm so tired of stories about the children of Israel.

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They never did anything funny. Mandy tells me tales about

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the old Plantashun when her mom was a slave, and

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old Mars and old Miz going to town and giving

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Santa Claus money so as he'd bring beads and juice,

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harps and things to the little niggers, and he never

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forgot one, from the biggest to the littlest darkie. Santa didn't.

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The child's body began to tremble with repressed sobs. I

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wished I was a little darkie. It's awful sad to

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be a little Jewish child at Christmas time. And then

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the storm broke. Two hours later, Eli Joseph's tired step

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sounded on the verandah, and Rose hurried to admit him,

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lifting a silencing hand. As soon as he crossed the threshold.

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Hannah has just gone to sleep, she whispered. No, no,

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she's not sick at all. He placed an arm around

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her and drew her into the library. Eli, your overcoat

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is what she exclaimed, untwining her arms from his neck snow,

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he said, his good looking, boyish face lighting up with pleasure.

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Seems we are to have a white Christmas after all Christmas,

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she cried. I wish I could never hear that word again. Well,

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I'm glad it only comes once a year. Tonight ends

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my siege, though tomorrow night Stein goes on duty and

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I come home for dinner to stay. Rose, darling, you

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look all tired out. You shouldn't wait up for me.

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It isn't that. It's Hannah. She cried for more than

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an hour to night. And but for Mandy and her tails,

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I believe she would still be crying. And she detailed

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the scene to him. But good gracious Rose, let Santa

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Claus bring her presents to her, said Eli, when she

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had finished. Hannah's nothing but a baby. She is beginning

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to think for herself, as you did at a very

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early age, he reminded her. And your father, the strictest

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of Orthodox rabbis, how old were you when you began

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slipping off to the reform temple. I broke my father's heart,

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she said, somberly. I'll be punished through Hannah, not unless

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you let Hannah think faster than you do. And remember,

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he added teasingly, if you hadn't run off to the

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reform temple, you would never have met me outside. At

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the foot of the steps, she recalled, I would never

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have met you inside. Maybe I'm a lax, he acknowledged.

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But it seems to me that if you are living

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a decent life yourself giving the other fellow a square deal,

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you are pretty nearly fulfilling the law and the prophets.

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And what do you suppose is happening to Hannah with

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a Christian science family on one side and Roman Catholics

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on the other, she demanded. Tragically, She's decided not to

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take any more medicine because Virginia Lawrence doesn't. She has

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Nellie Hallaeranz every expression about the Virgin and the Savior.

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Not only that, but she has made friends with a

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Christian Science practitioner through the Lawrences and calls him my friend,

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mister Jackson. She runs to meet him and walks the

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length of the block with him every time he passes.

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Hannah is certainly a natural born mixer, laughed the father.

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We are saving ourselves trouble by giving her the best

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there is to mix with. Eli I am afraid we

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have made a mistake moving out here away from all

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her people. No, we didn't make a mistake, he declared earnestly.

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The square was no place to bring up Hannah among

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those partn of Jews. We have the prettiest home on

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the heights and the best people in town for our neighbors.

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Our child is losing her identity as a Jewish. Let

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her find it again as an American, he replied frankly. Rose,

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I don't lose any sleep over trying to keep my

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identity is a Jew intact. If the Jew doesn't like

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it here, let him go back to Palestine, or does

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the country that oppressed him. I say, I've got the

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same amount of patience with these hyphenated Americans as I

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have with the Jews who try to segregate themselves and

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dot the map with new Jerusalems. Where's the scents? And

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throwing yourself into the melting pot, glad at the chance,

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and then kicking because you come out something different. Come

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on to be dear. You are as pale as a ghost,

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and I'm so tired I can't see straight. Our baby

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is all right, don't you worry. Snowfalls on the just

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and the unjust. There was quite as much of it

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and Hannah's backyard as in either Virginia's or Nelly's. Perhaps

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even a little more had drifted into the fence corners.

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Hannah's joy in discovering that in this respect she had

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not been slighted crowded her troubles into the background. Immediately

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after breakfast, bundled up snugly, she stood in her yard

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and threw snowballs toward her neighbors homes while she squealed

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with delight. In a very few minutes, three little girls

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were playing where only one had played before. Newcomers, Virginia

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Lawrence and Nellie Halleran, presented an interesting contrast. Virginia, slim

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and tall for her age, with long, flat yellow braids,

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handled the snow daintily, even gingerly. Nellie, fat and dimpled

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her curls, tousled into a flame colored halo, rolled over

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and over in the snow, and then shook herself like

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a puppy. Until the advent of Hannah, a subtle antagonism

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that existed between the two children, Virginia's favorite game was

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playing a lady with a train floating gracefully behind her.

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Nellie's cheap joy and life was seeing how long she

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could stand on her head, her short skirts of band

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laws of gravity. All the while, Hannah, however, vibrated obligingly

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between the two sports and kept the peace and violin

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romping in the snow was hard play, and presently the

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little girl sat panting on the top step of the

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Joseph's back porch. Immediately, Nellie produced a string of amistice

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colored beads from her coat pocket with the announcement that

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she would say her prayers while resting. What kind of

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beads are those? Asked Hannah, rosary beats, course, responded Nelly, Hannah,

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you don't know anything. I do too, But you don't

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even know about the Mother of God. Until I told you,

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I reckon, I thought God was an orphan, Hannah pleaded

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in extenuation. But what about God's papa, she demanded, his

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sudden inspiration. You're so smarty, tell me about that. Oh,

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God didn't have to have a father, Nelly answered, easily.

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Everything is free in heaven, so he didn't have to

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have a father to work for him when he was little.

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Then why did he have to have a mama to

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tell him what to do? Of course, do you know

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how 'tis? If you ask your papa anything, don't he

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always say go ask your mama? Anne, I had noticed

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00:14:50,200 --> 00:14:54,759
this shifting of masculine responsibility more than once. That's so

242
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she acquiesced, and then a terrible thought struck her. I

243
00:14:58,480 --> 00:15:00,600
don't want to go to heaven. I don't want to

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go anywhere unless my papa can go too. Nellie's nimble,

245
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irish wits were ready. I just said God didn't need

246
00:15:08,440 --> 00:15:11,600
any papa. Of course, our papas will go to heaven

247
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because that's the only place they can quit working. Didn't

248
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I hear my papa say one time he hoped he'd

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get a little rest in heaven because he never got

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any on this earth. But you have to die before

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you get to heaven side Hannah Virginia, who had maintained

252
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a most dignified silence, looked as if she must speak

253
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or explode. No, you don't. Heaven begins here and now,

254
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she recided, And if you were good, you are well

255
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and happy, and that's heaven. Tisn't scoff Nellie? Do you

256
00:15:41,960 --> 00:15:45,759
see any angels fly around in this here yard? I don't.

257
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Hannah rather took to Virginia's argument and resolved to have

258
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conversation with her sometime, Undampened by Nellie's skepticism, if there

259
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could be feasting on the joys of heaven here and now,

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Hannah had every intention of being at banquet table at

261
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the present moment. However, the rosary beads were a fascinating interest.

262
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She must hold them in her own hands and watch

263
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the play of purple lights upon the snow as she

264
00:16:11,320 --> 00:16:14,879
flashed them in the sun. Questions about the crucifix she

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found brought on an embarrassing silence. Nellie looked at Virginia.

266
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Virginia looked at Nelly. Then the two excused themselves for

267
00:16:24,120 --> 00:16:27,000
a whispered colloquy at the other end of the yard.

268
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When they returned, Virginia acted as spokesman, fixing Nelly with

269
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an unrelenting eye. That is, Jesus nailed to the cross, Hannah,

270
00:16:36,799 --> 00:16:40,600
some very wicked people did it. There was nothing exciting

271
00:16:40,639 --> 00:16:43,679
in this to Hannah. Wicked people were doing wicked things

272
00:16:44,000 --> 00:16:48,120
the world over all the time. The statement fell flat,

273
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and Nelly, disappointed at the lack of dramatic effect, broke treaty.

274
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I spect the Jews did it? She said they did not.

275
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Hannah's voice trembled. The Jews are nice people. They wouldn't

276
00:17:00,159 --> 00:17:03,480
a wicked thing like that. Virginia put an arm across

277
00:17:03,559 --> 00:17:07,119
Hannah's shoulders. Now see what you've done, she snapped at Nelly.

278
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Oh I spect the Irish helped him. Nelly added magnanimously.

279
00:17:12,799 --> 00:17:16,720
My papa, says the Irish. You're into everything, not having

280
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to bear the ignominy alone. Hannah was comforted. What makes

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00:17:20,519 --> 00:17:23,440
you say prayers on the beach, she asked, because I

282
00:17:23,480 --> 00:17:26,359
want Sante to bring me a doll tonight. I wrote

283
00:17:26,400 --> 00:17:28,839
him about sixteen letters, and I'm going to say my

284
00:17:29,000 --> 00:17:34,160
Rosary a dozen times today tomorrow was Christmas Day. Anna's

285
00:17:34,200 --> 00:17:38,319
face fell, all her sorrows returned with a rush. Have

286
00:17:38,440 --> 00:17:41,559
you got any more of those beach he asked, yes,

287
00:17:41,960 --> 00:17:44,319
but they wouldn't do you any good. Nelly answered, with

288
00:17:44,440 --> 00:17:48,359
quick understanding. You're not a Catholic. Couldn't I be one?

289
00:17:48,759 --> 00:17:51,880
Not unless you're baptized with Hollywood the priest does it?

290
00:17:52,680 --> 00:17:56,160
The levin had begun to work. What did your mama

291
00:17:56,200 --> 00:17:59,680
say about asking Santa Claus to come? Virginny inquired, with

292
00:17:59,799 --> 00:18:04,359
a quick glance toward the beads. Hannah shook her head speechless.

293
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She pressed her lips into a tight line with an

294
00:18:07,160 --> 00:18:10,720
effort at self control, but two large tears rolled down

295
00:18:10,759 --> 00:18:14,960
her cheeks and splashed on her scarlet coat. Again, Virginia

296
00:18:14,960 --> 00:18:19,960
placed an arm protectingly across Hannah's shoulders. Nellie's bright blue

297
00:18:19,960 --> 00:18:23,960
eyes grew soft with pity. I tell you what, she exclaimed.

298
00:18:24,079 --> 00:18:27,920
I'll baptize Hannah. Then she'll be a gentile, and Santa

299
00:18:27,920 --> 00:18:30,680
Claus will come no matter what. And when your mama

300
00:18:30,720 --> 00:18:33,720
sees how nice it is, she won't care. But you

301
00:18:33,799 --> 00:18:36,920
said a priest has to baptize anybody, objected at Virginia.

302
00:18:37,680 --> 00:18:39,960
He does less. It's a time of danger, and you

303
00:18:40,000 --> 00:18:43,359
can't get any priest than any Catholic can baptize anybody.

304
00:18:43,880 --> 00:18:47,240
My mama baptized our washerwoman's little baby because they knew

305
00:18:47,319 --> 00:18:50,400
it was going to die before Father Murphy could get there.

306
00:18:51,000 --> 00:18:54,920
It ain't this a time of danger. Nobody's dying. Virginia

307
00:18:55,119 --> 00:18:59,920
was distressingly literal. Hannah looked from one friend to the other,

308
00:19:00,279 --> 00:19:04,359
hoping against hope. No, but there's danger. Santa Claus won't

309
00:19:04,359 --> 00:19:07,319
come to see Hannah lest something is done mighty quick

310
00:19:07,599 --> 00:19:11,119
came Nellie's ready reply, and can't we get a priest?

311
00:19:11,440 --> 00:19:15,000
You go get one, Virginia, go get one. Clearly there

312
00:19:15,079 --> 00:19:17,720
was no answer to this. The ceremony was set for

313
00:19:17,799 --> 00:19:22,079
early afternoon, when grandmother Haloran took her nap and Nellie

314
00:19:22,079 --> 00:19:25,000
could borrow the bottle of holy water from her shelf.

315
00:19:25,680 --> 00:19:27,720
As to the place, there were six boys at the

316
00:19:27,720 --> 00:19:32,119
Halaranes always in the way, Missus Lawrence had guessed. Obviously

317
00:19:32,160 --> 00:19:35,440
the baptismal wright would have to be performed at Hannah's house.

318
00:19:36,240 --> 00:19:39,079
After lunch, the children assembled in the sun parlor of

319
00:19:39,160 --> 00:19:42,880
the Joseph's home, in full view of Missus Joseph, who

320
00:19:42,920 --> 00:19:46,640
sat embroidering in the library. The French door closed between

321
00:19:46,680 --> 00:19:50,960
them so that she could not hear. Nellie had secured

322
00:19:51,000 --> 00:19:53,519
the bottle of holy water and arrayed in her brother

323
00:19:53,640 --> 00:19:57,160
Joe's long black raincoat, a towel about her neck for

324
00:19:57,240 --> 00:20:01,400
a stole. Acted as priest. Virginia, not to be left

325
00:20:01,440 --> 00:20:04,519
out of such an important affair, consented to be godmother

326
00:20:05,279 --> 00:20:07,720
in lieu of a prayer. Manuel Nelly used one of

327
00:20:07,759 --> 00:20:11,480
Hannah's story books. She chose a verse, which, because she

328
00:20:11,559 --> 00:20:15,519
knew it by heart, she could read exceptionally well, little

329
00:20:15,519 --> 00:20:18,319
boy Blue, come blow your horn. The sheep are in

330
00:20:18,359 --> 00:20:21,680
the metal and the cows are in the corn. Then

331
00:20:21,720 --> 00:20:24,000
she poured a little of the holy water on Hannah's

332
00:20:24,039 --> 00:20:29,680
forehead wet hair might occasion unanswerable questions, and baptized her.

333
00:20:30,240 --> 00:20:35,960
Hannah agnes Anaceus Joseph called upon for a response. The

334
00:20:36,000 --> 00:20:40,559
Godmother recited very impressively the scientific statement of being as

335
00:20:40,599 --> 00:20:44,480
found in the Christian Science textbook, and Hannah was pronounced

336
00:20:44,519 --> 00:20:48,559
a Gentile and a Catholic. One thing more remained to

337
00:20:48,559 --> 00:20:52,519
be done. Hannah ran to her mother, cheeks aglow, Mama,

338
00:20:52,559 --> 00:20:56,279
may I trade my stripe ball to Nelly for some beads. Why,

339
00:20:56,359 --> 00:20:59,640
of course, darling, if you wish, the exchange was made.

340
00:20:59,680 --> 00:21:02,119
In some time was spent in mastering the use of

341
00:21:02,160 --> 00:21:05,440
the rosary. All three of the children knew that our father,

342
00:21:05,839 --> 00:21:08,759
though there were some difference of opinion as to debts

343
00:21:08,799 --> 00:21:13,680
and trespasses, which is apt to hold in all mixed congregations.

344
00:21:13,799 --> 00:21:16,400
The Hail Mary proved a bit difficult for Hannah, and

345
00:21:16,440 --> 00:21:20,880
she fondly abandoned it. I'll say, Hero Israel, the Lord,

346
00:21:20,920 --> 00:21:24,599
our God, the Lord is one, she said. I already

347
00:21:24,599 --> 00:21:26,680
know that, And a prayer is a prayer, isn't it.

348
00:21:27,680 --> 00:21:31,160
Nellie refilled the holy water bottle from a kitchen hydrant

349
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and hurried home to replace it before her grandmother should awaken.

350
00:21:35,519 --> 00:21:38,359
Hannah spent the next hour life flat on her stomach,

351
00:21:38,440 --> 00:21:41,839
printing letters, appealing to Virginia from time to time for

352
00:21:42,079 --> 00:21:47,079
aid as to the spelling. Virginia being a very superior speller.

353
00:21:48,359 --> 00:21:51,680
Missus Joseph was busy with callers. When Virginia went home

354
00:21:51,720 --> 00:21:55,319
and Hannah was left to her own devices. Suddenly she

355
00:21:55,559 --> 00:21:58,799
thought of one stone that had been left unturned. There

356
00:21:58,920 --> 00:22:01,759
was her friend, mister Jahs, to whom the Lawrence has

357
00:22:01,839 --> 00:22:05,400
always appealed in times of stress. She knew the formula,

358
00:22:05,599 --> 00:22:07,759
She knew his number were on the list by the

359
00:22:07,839 --> 00:22:12,599
Lawrence's telephone. His name, like Abubin Adams, led all the

360
00:22:12,640 --> 00:22:17,079
rest Maine one, two, three four. It was easy to counting.

361
00:22:17,680 --> 00:22:20,640
She slipped into the telephone closet and closed the door.

362
00:22:21,960 --> 00:22:24,680
There was no trouble with Hannah that night. She went

363
00:22:24,720 --> 00:22:27,920
to bed early and didn't care to have any stories told.

364
00:22:28,160 --> 00:22:31,799
She could go to sleep by herself. Quite a change

365
00:22:31,799 --> 00:22:34,880
of heariday Eli commented at the Rose as they sat

366
00:22:34,920 --> 00:22:37,960
by the living room fire after telling their little girl

367
00:22:38,000 --> 00:22:41,359
good night. She's been like that all day, playing as

368
00:22:41,400 --> 00:22:45,200
happily as you please. Rose responded, I suppose she got

369
00:22:45,200 --> 00:22:47,440
it all out of her system and last night's seen

370
00:22:48,839 --> 00:22:52,759
Eli drummed abstractedly on the arm of his chair. I

371
00:22:52,799 --> 00:22:55,599
don't feel quite right about it, even so, he said,

372
00:22:56,640 --> 00:23:00,720
maybe you will think me inconsistent, She confessed, blushing. Hannah

373
00:23:00,839 --> 00:23:04,000
was so indifferent about the present center for Hanukkah. I

374
00:23:04,039 --> 00:23:06,920
only showed her too. I've save the others to give

375
00:23:06,920 --> 00:23:09,319
her Christmas Day so she will have something of her

376
00:23:09,319 --> 00:23:11,640
own to show when the other children bring theirs over.

377
00:23:12,519 --> 00:23:19,799
Eli didn't seem any too pleased. Poor little mite, he murmured, Yes,

378
00:23:20,880 --> 00:23:25,960
Missus Joseph, it was Bridget Hallanan's old family servant, calling

379
00:23:26,039 --> 00:23:29,880
softly from the hall. I'll be after taking the prisons

380
00:23:30,000 --> 00:23:33,039
he stored away for us. I'll have him on the

381
00:23:33,079 --> 00:23:35,279
back porch and carry him over when the children are

382
00:23:35,279 --> 00:23:38,599
all asleep. Nellie's in bed like a little angel, bless

383
00:23:38,640 --> 00:23:42,000
her heart. But them divilish boys do be a snoop

384
00:23:42,079 --> 00:23:46,480
and in every crack and corner, Missus Joseph unlocked a

385
00:23:46,559 --> 00:23:50,119
closet under the stairs and loaded Bridget's arms with heavy

386
00:23:50,119 --> 00:23:53,960
and bulky parcels. Sureantis, a sad Christmas will be having,

387
00:23:54,480 --> 00:23:58,680
saying the children. Mister timmy him. That's old missus haller

388
00:23:58,759 --> 00:24:01,599
NaN's youngest but old enough to know better. He upped

389
00:24:01,680 --> 00:24:05,640
and runs away today. And Mary's a Protestant girl. And

390
00:24:05,720 --> 00:24:08,319
if you open your window the bit have a crack,

391
00:24:09,000 --> 00:24:11,160
you'll hear the poor old lady this minute. Well, and

392
00:24:11,319 --> 00:24:14,839
like a banshee. But mister Timothy is such a nice

393
00:24:14,880 --> 00:24:17,480
young man. He must have married a lovely girl, Bridget,

394
00:24:18,000 --> 00:24:20,519
said Rose. Sure, and that may be, but she is

395
00:24:20,559 --> 00:24:24,039
a Protestant, Missus Joseph. She runs away from her folks,

396
00:24:24,039 --> 00:24:26,079
and he runs away from his, and they get married

397
00:24:26,119 --> 00:24:29,079
by the justice of peace. And no peace will come

398
00:24:29,119 --> 00:24:32,799
a such thing, Lord, and mercy on their souls, Oh,

399
00:24:32,799 --> 00:24:37,799
poor Grandma Hollernan, poor lovers, said Eli. When Bridget had gone,

400
00:24:37,960 --> 00:24:39,920
I'll wager they had the very deuce of a time

401
00:24:39,960 --> 00:24:43,599
with both sides. No sooner had they settled themselves again

402
00:24:43,960 --> 00:24:48,079
than the door knocker sounded, Eli, admitted mister Jackson, the

403
00:24:48,200 --> 00:24:52,400
Christian science practitioner. I have only a minute, he said,

404
00:24:52,599 --> 00:24:54,880
I just dropped by to leave a doll my wife

405
00:24:55,000 --> 00:24:58,240
dressed for your little girl. She chose one that we

406
00:24:58,599 --> 00:25:01,920
thought looked like Hannah. Oh but this is kind of you,

407
00:25:02,079 --> 00:25:05,519
Rose looked her gratitude. Missus Laurence has told me how

408
00:25:05,559 --> 00:25:08,279
busy both you and your wife always are, and to

409
00:25:08,359 --> 00:25:11,160
take time to think of our little girl. I had

410
00:25:11,200 --> 00:25:14,799
intended to give it to her myself, mister Jackson continued,

411
00:25:15,240 --> 00:25:17,759
but after her talk with me to day, I decided

412
00:25:17,799 --> 00:25:20,039
she would enjoy it more if I asked Santa Claus

413
00:25:20,079 --> 00:25:24,119
to bring it. His eyes twinkled reminiscently. She called me

414
00:25:24,200 --> 00:25:26,680
up by telephone and asked me to give Santa Claus

415
00:25:26,720 --> 00:25:29,599
a treatment. She seemed to think that he would pass

416
00:25:29,640 --> 00:25:32,799
her by. I could assure her that he wouldn't, as

417
00:25:32,799 --> 00:25:36,119
I had already seen the doll. Hannah is a wonderful child,

418
00:25:37,119 --> 00:25:39,799
we think, so, smiled Eli. I'm sure we thank you

419
00:25:40,400 --> 00:25:43,960
and wish you the very merriest Christmas. Anne, it will

420
00:25:44,000 --> 00:25:46,880
be a happy Christmas for me, he answered, I'm going

421
00:25:46,920 --> 00:25:50,119
to the station to meet my father and mother. Some

422
00:25:50,400 --> 00:25:52,920
years ago. They felt a strange for me. Bear, both

423
00:25:53,160 --> 00:25:56,720
staunch Presbyterians of the Old School, and it nearly broke

424
00:25:56,799 --> 00:26:00,079
their hearts when I went into Christian Science work. But

425
00:26:00,200 --> 00:26:03,240
they are beginning to look more tolerantly upon my calling,

426
00:26:03,720 --> 00:26:05,799
and they are on their way now to spend Christmas

427
00:26:05,799 --> 00:26:08,759
with us. You can guess how happy that makes me.

428
00:26:10,000 --> 00:26:13,160
Peace on earth, goodwill to men. It is a wonder

429
00:26:13,240 --> 00:26:18,039
working thought, it is, indeed, Eli agreed heartily. When the

430
00:26:18,079 --> 00:26:21,119
door had closed upon their visitor, Rose and Eli stood

431
00:26:21,160 --> 00:26:25,720
staring at each other rather foolishly. She was the first

432
00:26:25,759 --> 00:26:29,039
to speak, is there no end to the fight between

433
00:26:29,079 --> 00:26:33,160
the old and the new generation? We're just beginning the

434
00:26:33,200 --> 00:26:36,440
scrap with our new generation, he said. She called him

435
00:26:36,480 --> 00:26:39,359
up and asked for Christian Science help. I wonder what

436
00:26:39,400 --> 00:26:42,640
else the little monkey has been up to. They soon

437
00:26:42,680 --> 00:26:46,599
found out, carrying the doll mister Jackson had brought. Rose

438
00:26:46,640 --> 00:26:50,000
tiptoed after Eli into the nursery and gradually turned on

439
00:26:50,119 --> 00:26:53,440
the light. The first object to meet their eyes was

440
00:26:53,480 --> 00:26:57,359
Hannah Stocking, hanging precariously to a pin driven into the mantle.

441
00:26:58,200 --> 00:27:01,839
Pinned to the wall were several message, neatly printed in pencil,

442
00:27:01,920 --> 00:27:07,039
which told her own tale. Dear Santie, Nellie baptized me

443
00:27:07,240 --> 00:27:13,480
holy water, Hannah, Dear Santie I want things in my stocking. Hannah,

444
00:27:14,319 --> 00:27:19,400
Dear Santa Claus, I'm a gentile Nellie baptized me. I'm

445
00:27:19,440 --> 00:27:25,240
a gentile Catholic c s Hannah, Dear Santi, bring me

446
00:27:25,359 --> 00:27:29,680
any nice things you got left would love? Hannah, Dear Santie,

447
00:27:30,079 --> 00:27:34,960
don't let my mama and papa get mad about you, Hannah.

448
00:27:35,480 --> 00:27:38,519
Eli began to chortle, and Hannah stirred in her sleep,

449
00:27:38,680 --> 00:27:42,400
throwing both chubby arms over her head, clutched tightly in

450
00:27:42,440 --> 00:27:46,519
her left hand. They saw a rosary of Amesist colored beads.

451
00:27:47,079 --> 00:27:49,759
Rose snapped off the light and pushed Eli out into

452
00:27:49,799 --> 00:27:52,799
the hall. He sat down on the stairs and laughed

453
00:27:52,839 --> 00:27:55,759
until he cried. The dog gone a little mixer, He

454
00:27:55,839 --> 00:28:00,680
chuckled a gentile Catholic Christian scientist as she if she

455
00:28:00,680 --> 00:28:03,480
has ever happened to hear anything about Mahomet, believe me.

456
00:28:03,559 --> 00:28:08,000
She's sleeping with her feet toward Mecca right now. Rose

457
00:28:08,119 --> 00:28:12,400
was weeping silently over the little message, don't let my

458
00:28:12,559 --> 00:28:16,359
mamma and my papa get mad bout you. She touched

459
00:28:16,359 --> 00:28:19,279
her husband on the shoulder. Eli, what shall we do

460
00:28:19,359 --> 00:28:22,880
about it? Do? He stood up and set his jaw determinedly.

461
00:28:23,400 --> 00:28:25,680
You spoke just now, the fight between the old and

462
00:28:25,759 --> 00:28:28,720
the new generations. Do you see what we are coming to?

463
00:28:28,759 --> 00:28:32,599
If we don't conceal our child her legitimate rights, she

464
00:28:32,640 --> 00:28:35,359
will seek them out and take them by force, and

465
00:28:35,480 --> 00:28:39,240
never forgive us for withholding them. That's what every child

466
00:28:39,279 --> 00:28:41,640
who has ever heard of Santa Claus has a right

467
00:28:41,680 --> 00:28:44,720
to enjoy. The men didn't I give a hundred dollars

468
00:28:44,759 --> 00:28:46,759
to the elks and a hundred dollars to the big

469
00:28:46,799 --> 00:28:49,759
brothers who were looking after the empty stockings of the

470
00:28:49,799 --> 00:28:53,480
poor children, while my own baby he'd reached the bedroom

471
00:28:53,559 --> 00:28:57,319
door and was kicking off his house slippers. Eli, where

472
00:28:57,359 --> 00:29:00,160
are you going down town to see Santa Claus? As

473
00:29:00,160 --> 00:29:02,720
if I have to break open a dozen stores, he

474
00:29:02,759 --> 00:29:07,720
answered determinedly. It seemed that Santa Claus, never having visited

475
00:29:07,759 --> 00:29:10,640
Hannah before, had a mind to make up for lost time.

476
00:29:11,240 --> 00:29:14,960
An overflowing stocking hung from the mantel, the tree loaded

477
00:29:15,039 --> 00:29:18,400
with presents and tinsels stood by her bed without the

478
00:29:18,480 --> 00:29:21,440
room or placed large gifts everything a little girl might

479
00:29:21,480 --> 00:29:24,880
wish for. Anna was dazed. She didn't see her mother

480
00:29:24,960 --> 00:29:27,759
and father standing in the doorway of the nursery. Their

481
00:29:27,880 --> 00:29:31,319
arms about each other and smiling. She tugged at her

482
00:29:31,319 --> 00:29:34,279
window until it opened, and then called to Nellie across

483
00:29:34,279 --> 00:29:38,319
the intervening space. He came, He came, She screamed, as

484
00:29:38,359 --> 00:29:41,160
a tossle of flame colored head showed at the window

485
00:29:41,160 --> 00:29:44,640
opposite Anna, brushed by her parents, and running to the

486
00:29:44,640 --> 00:29:48,359
window near his Virginia's room, repeated her message. Then she

487
00:29:48,400 --> 00:29:51,960
came back into the nursery, still oblivious of mother and father,

488
00:29:52,559 --> 00:29:56,319
and stared about in her ecstasy. Vaccasion called for some

489
00:29:56,400 --> 00:30:00,480
expression of thanksgiving. What could it be? The seven year

490
00:30:00,519 --> 00:30:03,880
old child hasn't words for such a big emotion. She

491
00:30:03,920 --> 00:30:07,279
could think of but one thing to do. Reverently, bowing

492
00:30:07,319 --> 00:30:09,799
her little bronze head, she made the sign of the

493
00:30:09,839 --> 00:30:17,039
Cross upside down and of the Little Mixer by Lillian Nicholson.

494
00:30:17,079 --> 00:30:17,480
Sheeran