1 00:00:00,600 --> 00:00:07,320 Speaker 1: The Pink Sweet Meat by Susan Coolidge. Only three pairs 2 00:00:07,320 --> 00:00:10,199 of stockings were left in the shop. It was a 3 00:00:10,320 --> 00:00:15,679 very little shop, indeed scarcely larger than a stall. Job Took, 4 00:00:16,120 --> 00:00:19,320 to whom it belonged, was not rich enough to indulge 5 00:00:19,359 --> 00:00:23,640 in the buying of any superfluous wares. Every spring he 6 00:00:23,719 --> 00:00:27,440 laid in a dozen dozen of thin stockings, a bale 7 00:00:27,559 --> 00:00:31,559 of cheap handkerchiefs, a gross of black buttons, a gross 8 00:00:31,600 --> 00:00:35,920 of white, a little stationery, and a few other small commodities. 9 00:00:36,759 --> 00:00:39,600 In the autumn he added a dozen dozen of thick 10 00:00:39,640 --> 00:00:43,560 stockings and a box full of mittens and knitted comforters. 11 00:00:44,240 --> 00:00:48,159 Besides these he sold penny papers and hold made yeast 12 00:00:48,439 --> 00:00:52,159 made by Missus Took. If the stock of wearables grew 13 00:00:52,200 --> 00:00:56,880 scant toward midwinter, Job rejoiced in his heart, but by 14 00:00:56,880 --> 00:01:00,359 no means made haste to replenish it. He just laid 15 00:01:00,359 --> 00:01:03,600 aside the money needed for the spring outfit and lived 16 00:01:03,679 --> 00:01:08,280 on what remained. Thus it went year after year. Trade 17 00:01:08,359 --> 00:01:12,280 was sometimes a little better, sometimes a little worse, but 18 00:01:12,400 --> 00:01:16,319 whichever way it was, Job grew no richer. He and 19 00:01:16,400 --> 00:01:19,760 his old wife lived along somehow without coming on the 20 00:01:19,799 --> 00:01:24,200 parish for support, and with this very moderate amount of prosperity, 21 00:01:24,640 --> 00:01:27,920 they were content. This year, of which I write, the 22 00:01:27,959 --> 00:01:31,200 supply of winter stockings had given out earlier than usual. 23 00:01:32,120 --> 00:01:35,680 The weather had been uncommonly cold since October, which may 24 00:01:35,680 --> 00:01:39,920 have been the reason. Certain it is that here at Michaelmas, 25 00:01:40,400 --> 00:01:43,480 with December not yet come in, only three pairs of 26 00:01:43,519 --> 00:01:46,640 stockings were left in the little shop. Job Took had 27 00:01:46,640 --> 00:01:50,000 told his wife only the week before that he almost 28 00:01:50,000 --> 00:01:51,760 thought he should be forced to lay in a few 29 00:01:51,760 --> 00:01:55,920 dozen more. Folks seemed so eager to get him. But 30 00:01:56,000 --> 00:01:58,400 since he said that, no one had asked for stockings, 31 00:01:58,599 --> 00:02:02,439 as it happened, and job thinking that trade was after 32 00:02:02,519 --> 00:02:05,799 all pretty well over for the season, had given up 33 00:02:05,840 --> 00:02:09,639 the idea of replenishing his stock. One of the three 34 00:02:09,639 --> 00:02:12,639 pairs of stockings was a big pair of dark mixed gray, 35 00:02:13,680 --> 00:02:17,879 one pair a little smaller, was white, and the third smaller, 36 00:02:17,960 --> 00:02:21,159 still in dark blue in color, was about the size 37 00:02:21,159 --> 00:02:24,599 for a child of seven or eight years old. Job 38 00:02:24,639 --> 00:02:26,919 Took had put up the shutters for the night and 39 00:02:27,000 --> 00:02:30,080 had gone to bed. The stockings were talking together in 40 00:02:30,120 --> 00:02:34,479 the quiet darkness, as stockings will wind left alone. One 41 00:02:34,520 --> 00:02:37,199 pair had been hung in the window. It had got 42 00:02:37,240 --> 00:02:40,319 down from its nail and was now straddling carelessly with 43 00:02:40,400 --> 00:02:42,479 one leg on either side of the edge of the 44 00:02:42,520 --> 00:02:45,719 box in which the others lay, as a boy might 45 00:02:45,840 --> 00:02:48,280 on the top of a style. This was the big 46 00:02:48,400 --> 00:02:52,759 gray pair. Our chances seemed to be getting slim, he 47 00:02:52,840 --> 00:02:56,919 said gloomily. That is more than you seem replied the 48 00:02:56,919 --> 00:03:00,479 White Stockings in a tart voice. Your ankle are as 49 00:03:00,560 --> 00:03:04,080 thick as ever, and your mesh looks to me coarser 50 00:03:04,120 --> 00:03:07,960 than usual tonight. There are worse things in the world 51 00:03:07,960 --> 00:03:13,039 than thickness, retorted the Gray Stockings angrily. I'm useful at 52 00:03:13,039 --> 00:03:16,039 any rates I am. While you have nowhere in you, 53 00:03:16,520 --> 00:03:19,000 I should say that you would come to darning about 54 00:03:19,000 --> 00:03:23,000 the second wash, if not sooner. Is that my fault, 55 00:03:23,479 --> 00:03:28,680 said the White pear, beginning to cry, No, it's your misfortune. 56 00:03:28,960 --> 00:03:32,080 But people as unfortunate as you are should mind their 57 00:03:32,120 --> 00:03:35,960 p's and cues, and not say disagreeable things to those 58 00:03:36,039 --> 00:03:40,360 who are better off. Pray, don't quarrel. Put in the 59 00:03:40,360 --> 00:03:44,599 little blues, who are always peacemakers. Think of our situation, 60 00:03:45,240 --> 00:03:48,919 the last survivors of twelve dozen. We ought to be friends, 61 00:03:49,800 --> 00:03:53,680 but as you say, matters are getting serious with us. 62 00:03:54,120 --> 00:03:57,759 Of course, we are all thinking about the same thing. Yes, 63 00:03:58,360 --> 00:04:02,360 about the Christmas and the corner, sighed the white pear. 64 00:04:03,000 --> 00:04:05,599 What a dreadful thing it would be if we went 65 00:04:05,639 --> 00:04:09,319 to the rag bag never having held a Christmas gift. 66 00:04:09,759 --> 00:04:13,080 I could not get over such a disgrace. My father, 67 00:04:13,560 --> 00:04:17,680 my grandfather, all my relations had their chance. Some of 68 00:04:17,720 --> 00:04:21,839 them were even hung a second time. Yes, Christmas is 69 00:04:21,920 --> 00:04:25,920 woven into our substance, said the gray stockings. The old 70 00:04:26,000 --> 00:04:28,920 skeins and the revelings tell the story to the new wool, 71 00:04:29,639 --> 00:04:32,680 the story of the Christmas time. The very sheep in 72 00:04:32,720 --> 00:04:36,639 the fields know it. For my part, he added proudly, 73 00:04:37,199 --> 00:04:39,480 I should blush to lie in the same ash sheep, 74 00:04:39,680 --> 00:04:42,759 even with an odd stocking who had died under the 75 00:04:42,800 --> 00:04:45,800 disgrace of never being hung up for Christmas. And I 76 00:04:45,839 --> 00:04:49,279 will never believe that my lifelong dream is to be disappointed. 77 00:04:50,279 --> 00:04:54,240 Why will you use such inflated language, snapped the white pear. 78 00:04:54,600 --> 00:04:57,800 You were only woven last July, as late as May. 79 00:04:57,839 --> 00:05:02,040 You were running around the meadow on the sheep's very well. 80 00:05:02,279 --> 00:05:04,800 I don't dispute it. I may not be as old 81 00:05:04,800 --> 00:05:09,199 as Methuselah. But long or short, my life is my life, 82 00:05:09,720 --> 00:05:12,680 and my dream is my dream, and you have no 83 00:05:12,759 --> 00:05:16,959 call to criticize my expressions, miss thundered the big pair. 84 00:05:17,759 --> 00:05:21,439 There you are again, said the little Blues. I do 85 00:05:21,560 --> 00:05:25,319 wish you wouldn't dispute. Now, let us talk about our chances. 86 00:05:25,839 --> 00:05:29,079 What day of the month is it? The twenty seventh 87 00:05:29,120 --> 00:05:33,439 of November, said the gray stockings, who, because they hung 88 00:05:33,480 --> 00:05:36,360 over the penny papers in the window, always knew the 89 00:05:36,439 --> 00:05:40,639 exact date. Little more than four weeks to the holidays, 90 00:05:41,240 --> 00:05:44,600 said the White pear dolorously. How I wish some one 91 00:05:44,639 --> 00:05:48,120 would come along and put us out of suspense. A 92 00:05:48,240 --> 00:05:51,959 being bought mightn't do that, suggested the little Blues. You 93 00:05:52,079 --> 00:05:54,160 might be taken by a person who had two pairs 94 00:05:54,160 --> 00:05:56,720 of stockings, and the others might be chosen to be 95 00:05:56,759 --> 00:06:01,519 hung up. Such things do happen. Oh, they wouldn't happen 96 00:06:01,600 --> 00:06:05,920 to me, I think, said the White pair, vaingloriously. As 97 00:06:05,959 --> 00:06:09,160 it happened, the three pairs of stockings were all sold 98 00:06:09,319 --> 00:06:12,839 the very day after this conversation, and all to one 99 00:06:13,000 --> 00:06:16,720 and the same person. This was missus Wynd, an englishwoman 100 00:06:16,800 --> 00:06:20,040 married to a Dutch Shipwright. She had lived in Holland 101 00:06:20,120 --> 00:06:23,399 for some years after her marriage, but now she and 102 00:06:23,480 --> 00:06:27,480 her husband lived in London. They had three children. The 103 00:06:27,560 --> 00:06:31,360 stockings were very much pleased to be bought. When Job 104 00:06:31,480 --> 00:06:34,519 took rolled them up in paper and tied a stout 105 00:06:34,600 --> 00:06:38,480 pack thread round them, they nestled close and squeezed each 106 00:06:38,560 --> 00:06:43,040 other with satisfaction. Besides the joy of being sold was 107 00:06:43,079 --> 00:06:46,600 a joy of keeping together and knowing about each other's adventures. 108 00:06:47,480 --> 00:06:50,959 The first of these adventures was not very exciting. It 109 00:06:51,040 --> 00:06:53,759 consisted in being laid away in the back part of 110 00:06:53,800 --> 00:06:58,720 a bureau drawer and carefully locked in. Now what is 111 00:06:58,759 --> 00:07:02,720 this for, questioned the white Stockings. Are we to stay 112 00:07:02,759 --> 00:07:06,360 here always? Yes, that is just what I should like 113 00:07:06,399 --> 00:07:10,839 to know, grumbled the big Grays. Why of course not. 114 00:07:11,480 --> 00:07:14,560 Who ever heard of stockings being put away? For? Always? 115 00:07:15,199 --> 00:07:19,079 Said the wise little Blues. Wait patiently, and we shall see. 116 00:07:19,480 --> 00:07:22,399 I think it is some sort of a surprise. But 117 00:07:22,560 --> 00:07:26,759 day after day passed and nothing happened, surprising or otherwise, 118 00:07:27,480 --> 00:07:31,160 till even the philosophical little blue Stockings began to lose 119 00:07:31,199 --> 00:07:35,319 heart and hope. At last, one evening they heard the 120 00:07:35,399 --> 00:07:38,319 key click in the lock of the drawer. A stream 121 00:07:38,360 --> 00:07:41,600 of light flashed into their darkness, and they were seized 122 00:07:41,639 --> 00:07:46,040 and drawn forth. Well, mother, let us see thy purchase. 123 00:07:46,600 --> 00:07:51,000 Truly fine hosen they are, said Jacob Wend, whose English 124 00:07:51,079 --> 00:07:56,319 was rather foreign. Yes, replied his wife. Good handsome stockings 125 00:07:56,319 --> 00:07:59,360 they are, and the children will be glad, for their 126 00:07:59,360 --> 00:08:02,759 old ones are worn out. The big pair is for Wilhelm. 127 00:08:03,079 --> 00:08:05,759 As thou knowest, those must hang to the right of 128 00:08:05,800 --> 00:08:09,560 the stove. The big gray pair cast a triumphant glance 129 00:08:09,600 --> 00:08:12,800 at his companions as he found himself suspended on a 130 00:08:12,839 --> 00:08:17,160 stout nail. This was something like life. The white are 131 00:08:17,160 --> 00:08:20,800 for Greta, and these small ones for little yan Ah. 132 00:08:20,920 --> 00:08:24,920 They are nice gifts. Indeed, said missus, went rubbing her hands. 133 00:08:25,439 --> 00:08:28,360 A fine Christmas they will be for the children. The 134 00:08:28,439 --> 00:08:32,120 stockings glowed with pleasure. Not only were they hung up 135 00:08:32,159 --> 00:08:36,799 to contain presents, but they themselves were Christmas presents. This 136 00:08:37,120 --> 00:08:41,879 was promotion. Indeed, hast thou naught else, demanded Jacob Wen 137 00:08:42,080 --> 00:08:46,399 of his wife. No great things. A kerchief for Greta, 138 00:08:46,799 --> 00:08:50,360 this comforter for Wilhelm, for the little one mittens. That 139 00:08:50,519 --> 00:08:54,240 is all. But it was not quite all, For after 140 00:08:54,279 --> 00:08:57,679 her husband had gone to bed. Missus went, a tender 141 00:08:57,679 --> 00:09:02,000 look on her motherly face, sought a small screwed up paper, 142 00:09:02,440 --> 00:09:04,480 and with the air of one who was a little 143 00:09:04,519 --> 00:09:07,919 ashamed of what she is doing, dropped into each stocking 144 00:09:08,559 --> 00:09:12,600 something made of sugar. They were not sugar almonds. They 145 00:09:12,600 --> 00:09:17,200 were not Salem gibraltars, which delightful confections are unfamiliar to 146 00:09:17,279 --> 00:09:22,000 London shops, but irregular lumps of an oddescript character, which 147 00:09:22,000 --> 00:09:25,240 were crumbly and sweet, and would be sure to please 148 00:09:25,360 --> 00:09:28,000 those who do not often get a taste of candy. 149 00:09:28,919 --> 00:09:31,240 It was a little yawn that his mother had thought 150 00:09:31,720 --> 00:09:34,480 when she bought the sweetmeats, and for his sake she 151 00:09:34,519 --> 00:09:37,519 had yielded to the temptation, though she looked upon it 152 00:09:37,600 --> 00:09:42,159 as an extravagance. There were three of the sweetmeats, two white, 153 00:09:42,440 --> 00:09:46,000 one pink, and the pink one went into yon stockings. 154 00:09:46,840 --> 00:09:50,240 Missus went had not said anything about them to her husband. 155 00:09:51,120 --> 00:09:55,279 Well this is satisfactory, said the gray pair, when Missus 156 00:09:55,320 --> 00:09:57,440 went had left the room, and he was sure of 157 00:09:57,480 --> 00:10:00,759 not being overheard. Here we are all hanging together on 158 00:10:00,840 --> 00:10:06,279 Christmas Eve. My dream is accomplished, Mine isn't, said the 159 00:10:06,320 --> 00:10:09,440 white pear plaintively. I always hoped that I should hold 160 00:10:09,480 --> 00:10:13,120 something valuable, like a watch or a pair of ear rings. 161 00:10:13,519 --> 00:10:16,080 It is rather a come down to have nothing but 162 00:10:16,159 --> 00:10:19,559 a bit of candy inside and a pocket handkerchief pinned 163 00:10:19,559 --> 00:10:22,679 to my leg. I don't half like it. It gives 164 00:10:22,679 --> 00:10:26,080 me an uncomfortable pricking sensation, like a stitch in the side. 165 00:10:27,080 --> 00:10:29,120 It's just as well for you to get used to it. 166 00:10:29,639 --> 00:10:32,000 Put in the gray. It doesn't prick as much as 167 00:10:32,000 --> 00:10:34,519 a darning needle. I fancy, and you'll have to get 168 00:10:34,519 --> 00:10:38,799 accustomed to that before long. As I've remarked before, I'm 169 00:10:38,799 --> 00:10:41,600 the only one who has a pink sweet meat, said 170 00:10:41,600 --> 00:10:45,279 the little Blues, who couldn't help being pleased. And I'm 171 00:10:45,480 --> 00:10:48,799 for a real child. Wilhelm and Greta are more than 172 00:10:48,840 --> 00:10:52,879 half grown up. Real children are very hard on their stockings, 173 00:10:52,919 --> 00:10:56,679 I've always heard, retorted the white Pear, who never could 174 00:10:56,720 --> 00:11:00,840 resist the temptation to say a disagreeable thing. Well that 175 00:11:01,039 --> 00:11:03,960 may be, but it is all in the future. This 176 00:11:04,120 --> 00:11:07,200 one night is my own, and I mean to enjoy it, 177 00:11:07,720 --> 00:11:12,039 replied the contented little Blues. So the night went, and 178 00:11:12,120 --> 00:11:15,200 now it was the dawn of Christmas, with the first light, 179 00:11:15,440 --> 00:11:18,879 the door opened softly, and the little boy crept into 180 00:11:18,919 --> 00:11:22,519 the room. This was yon when he saw the three 181 00:11:22,559 --> 00:11:25,919 pairs of stockings hanging by the stove. He clapped his 182 00:11:26,000 --> 00:11:30,600 hands together, but softly, lest the noise should wake the others. 183 00:11:31,679 --> 00:11:34,600 Then he crossed the room on tiptoe and looked hard 184 00:11:34,600 --> 00:11:38,080 at the stockings. He soon made sure which pair was 185 00:11:38,080 --> 00:11:41,639 for himself, but he did not take them down immediately, 186 00:11:42,440 --> 00:11:45,559 only stood with his hands behind his back and gazed 187 00:11:45,559 --> 00:11:49,919 at them with two large, pleased eyes. At last, he 188 00:11:49,960 --> 00:11:52,960 put his hand up and gently touched the three felt 189 00:11:52,960 --> 00:11:56,440 the little blue pear, gave it a pat, and finally 190 00:11:56,519 --> 00:11:59,279 unhooked it from its nail. Then he sat down on 191 00:11:59,360 --> 00:12:03,120 the floor and began to put them on his toe. 192 00:12:03,200 --> 00:12:06,960 Encountering an obstacle, he pulled the stocking off again, put 193 00:12:07,000 --> 00:12:10,879 his hand in and extracted the pink sweetmeat, with which 194 00:12:10,879 --> 00:12:14,519 he was so pleased that he laughed aloud. That woke 195 00:12:14,600 --> 00:12:18,960 up the others, who presently came in. Ah little rogue, 196 00:12:18,960 --> 00:12:22,840 that thou art always the first to awaken, said his mother, 197 00:12:23,200 --> 00:12:27,240 pleased at his pleasure. See mother, see what I found, 198 00:12:27,559 --> 00:12:32,000 cried It is good sweet. I have tasted a crumb 199 00:12:32,000 --> 00:12:36,120 already take some of it, mother, But missus Vient shook 200 00:12:36,159 --> 00:12:39,600 her head. No, she said, I do not care for sugar. 201 00:12:40,080 --> 00:12:43,360 That is for little folks like thee eat it thyself. Yon. 202 00:12:44,240 --> 00:12:47,759 It was her saying this, perhaps which prevented Wilhelm and 203 00:12:47,799 --> 00:12:51,240 Greta from making the same offer. At least I hope 204 00:12:51,279 --> 00:12:54,399 so certain it is that neither of them made it. 205 00:12:55,080 --> 00:12:57,919 Greta ate hers up on the spot with the frank 206 00:12:58,000 --> 00:13:01,120 greediness of a girl of twelve not often get candy. 207 00:13:01,720 --> 00:13:05,240 Wilhelm buttoned his up in his trousers pocket. All three 208 00:13:05,279 --> 00:13:08,200 made haste to put on the new stockings. The three 209 00:13:08,240 --> 00:13:10,960 pairs are the only time to hastily whisper. As they 210 00:13:10,960 --> 00:13:16,080 were separated to night, Perhaps we may meet again. The 211 00:13:16,120 --> 00:13:19,759 pink sweetmeat went into the pocket of Yan's jacket, and 212 00:13:19,840 --> 00:13:22,960 he carried it about with him all the morning. He 213 00:13:23,000 --> 00:13:25,799 did not eat it, because once eaten it would be gone, 214 00:13:26,360 --> 00:13:28,440 and it was a greater pleasure to have it to 215 00:13:28,480 --> 00:13:31,240 look forward to than to enjoy it. At the moment, 216 00:13:32,039 --> 00:13:36,200 Yan was a thrifty little boy, as you perceive. Being Christmas, 217 00:13:36,279 --> 00:13:39,799 it was of course an idle day. Jacob went never 218 00:13:39,879 --> 00:13:42,519 knew what to do with such. There was his pipe, 219 00:13:42,759 --> 00:13:45,279 and there was beard to be had, So in default 220 00:13:45,320 --> 00:13:49,399 of other occupation he amused himself with these. Missus Wen 221 00:13:49,559 --> 00:13:52,000 had her hands full with the dinner, and was frying 222 00:13:52,039 --> 00:13:56,159 sausages and mixing Yorkshire pudding all the morning. Only Greta 223 00:13:56,200 --> 00:13:59,720 went to church. She belonged to a parish school where 224 00:13:59,720 --> 00:14:02,919 they gave Christmas prizes, and by no means intended to 225 00:14:02,919 --> 00:14:07,480 lose her chance. But apart from that, she really loved 226 00:14:07,559 --> 00:14:11,639 church going, for she spoke English and understood it better 227 00:14:11,720 --> 00:14:14,279 than either of the other children, who Helm went off 228 00:14:14,320 --> 00:14:17,360 on errands of his own. Little Yan spent the morning 229 00:14:17,399 --> 00:14:21,240 and admiring his stockings, and in wrapping and unwrapping his 230 00:14:21,320 --> 00:14:24,240 precious sweetmeat, and taking it out of his pocket and 231 00:14:24,279 --> 00:14:27,759 putting it in again. Why dost thou not eat it? Dear, 232 00:14:28,240 --> 00:14:30,799 asked his mother, as she lifted the frying pan from 233 00:14:30,799 --> 00:14:35,320 the stove. But he answered, oh, not yet. When once 234 00:14:35,360 --> 00:14:39,480 it is eaten, it is over. I will wait. How 235 00:14:39,519 --> 00:14:44,000 long wilt thou wait, she asked, Yan said bashfully, I 236 00:14:44,080 --> 00:14:47,240 don't know. In truth, he had not made up his 237 00:14:47,320 --> 00:14:51,080 mind about the sweetmeat. Only he felt instinctively that he 238 00:14:51,120 --> 00:14:55,279 did not want to hurry and shorten his pleasure. Dinner over, 239 00:14:55,600 --> 00:14:58,279 he went out for a walk. Every now and then, 240 00:14:58,759 --> 00:15:01,679 as he marched along, his hand would steal into his 241 00:15:01,799 --> 00:15:05,240 pocket to finger his precious candy and make sure that 242 00:15:05,360 --> 00:15:08,679 it was safe. It was a gray afternoon, but not 243 00:15:08,759 --> 00:15:12,159 snowing or raining. Hyde Park was not too far away 244 00:15:12,200 --> 00:15:16,159 for a walk, and Yon went there. The Serpentine was 245 00:15:16,200 --> 00:15:19,679 skimmed over with ice just strong enough to bear boys, 246 00:15:20,120 --> 00:15:23,120 and quite a little crowd was sliding or skating upon it. 247 00:15:23,879 --> 00:15:27,080 Yon could skate very well, he had learned in Holland, 248 00:15:27,960 --> 00:15:30,960 but he made no attempt to join the crowd. He 249 00:15:31,039 --> 00:15:34,399 was rather shy of English boys, for they sometimes laughed 250 00:15:34,399 --> 00:15:38,039 at his Holland or clothes, or his Dutch accent, and 251 00:15:38,159 --> 00:15:40,919 he did not like to be laughed at. So he 252 00:15:40,960 --> 00:15:45,320 strolled away, passed the Serpentine and his skaters, and watched 253 00:15:45,320 --> 00:15:48,039 the riders in the row for a while. There were 254 00:15:48,080 --> 00:15:50,720 not a great many, for people who ride are apt 255 00:15:50,799 --> 00:15:53,480 to be out of London at the Christmas time, but 256 00:15:53,519 --> 00:15:56,519 there were some pretty horses, and one fair little girl 257 00:15:56,559 --> 00:16:00,080 on a pony who took Yon's fancy very much. He 258 00:16:00,120 --> 00:16:03,080 stood for a long time watching her trot up and down, 259 00:16:03,879 --> 00:16:06,279 and the idea occurred to him that he would like 260 00:16:06,320 --> 00:16:09,080 to give her his sweetmeat. He even put his hand 261 00:16:09,120 --> 00:16:12,360 into his pocket and half pulled it out, but the 262 00:16:12,360 --> 00:16:15,840 little girl did not look his way, and presently her father, 263 00:16:16,480 --> 00:16:19,600 with whom she was riding, spoke to her, and she 264 00:16:19,679 --> 00:16:22,960 turned her horse's head and trotted off through the marble arch. 265 00:16:23,600 --> 00:16:26,600 Yan dropped the sugar plum again into his pocket and 266 00:16:26,720 --> 00:16:30,399 felt as if his sudden fancy had been absurd, and indeed, 267 00:16:30,720 --> 00:16:33,559 I think the little girl would have been surprised and 268 00:16:33,759 --> 00:16:36,759 puzzled what to do had he carried out the attention. 269 00:16:37,799 --> 00:16:41,559 After the pony and his little mistress had departed, Yan 270 00:16:41,679 --> 00:16:44,759 lost his interest in the rider's and walked away across 271 00:16:44,799 --> 00:16:47,960 the park. Once he stopped to look a dear little 272 00:16:48,000 --> 00:16:50,879 dog with the blue collar who seemed to have lost 273 00:16:50,879 --> 00:16:54,799 his master, for he was wandering about by himself and 274 00:16:54,879 --> 00:16:58,759 smelling everybody and everything he met, as if to recover 275 00:16:58,840 --> 00:17:02,519 a lost trail. Yan called him. He came up in 276 00:17:02,519 --> 00:17:05,720 a very friendly way and allowed himself to be padded. 277 00:17:06,240 --> 00:17:09,359 And once more the sweetmeat was in danger, for Yan 278 00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:12,519 had taken it out with the intention of dividing it 279 00:17:12,559 --> 00:17:16,440 with his new friend. When a whistle was heard, which 280 00:17:16,440 --> 00:17:19,759 the little dog evidently recognized, and he darted off at 281 00:17:19,799 --> 00:17:23,920 once to join his master. So again the pink sweetmeat 282 00:17:23,960 --> 00:17:26,519 was put back into Yan's pockets, and he walked on. 283 00:17:27,480 --> 00:17:29,880 He had gone quite a distance when he saw a 284 00:17:29,960 --> 00:17:32,880 number of people collected round the foot of a tree. 285 00:17:33,200 --> 00:17:35,720 A ladder was set against one of the lower branches, 286 00:17:36,279 --> 00:17:38,240 and a man had climbed up nearly to the top 287 00:17:38,279 --> 00:17:41,960 of the tree. Yan, like a true boy, lost no 288 00:17:42,079 --> 00:17:45,400 time in joining the crowd, but at first he could 289 00:17:45,400 --> 00:17:48,799 not make out what was going on. The boughs were thick. 290 00:17:49,279 --> 00:17:51,519 All that he could see was the man's back high 291 00:17:51,599 --> 00:17:54,880 up overhead, and what he was doing he could not guess. 292 00:17:55,440 --> 00:17:58,799 A benevolent looking old gentleman stood near, and Yan heard 293 00:17:58,880 --> 00:18:03,599 him exclaim with great excitement, there he's got him. No 294 00:18:03,880 --> 00:18:07,920 he's not, But it was a close shave. Got what, sir? 295 00:18:08,480 --> 00:18:13,559 He ventured to ask why the rook to be sure? Then, 296 00:18:14,200 --> 00:18:17,279 seeing that Yan still looked puzzled, he took the trouble 297 00:18:17,359 --> 00:18:21,279 to explain, you see that rook up there, my lad, 298 00:18:21,400 --> 00:18:25,599 don't you? Yan had not seen any rook at all. Well, 299 00:18:26,119 --> 00:18:29,720 it is caught in some way how I can't tell you, 300 00:18:30,279 --> 00:18:33,000 but it can't get away from the tree. It has 301 00:18:33,079 --> 00:18:36,559 been there three days, they say, and all that time 302 00:18:36,839 --> 00:18:39,720 the other rooks have brought food to it and kept 303 00:18:39,720 --> 00:18:42,759 it from starving. Now some one has gone up to 304 00:18:42,759 --> 00:18:47,200 see what is the difficulty, and if possible, to set 305 00:18:47,240 --> 00:18:51,559 the poor thing free. Thank you, sir, said Yan, And 306 00:18:51,599 --> 00:18:54,880 the old gentleman looked at him kindly and said to himself, 307 00:18:55,400 --> 00:18:59,240 a very civil, tidy little lad. I like his face. 308 00:19:00,319 --> 00:19:03,640 Yon had now become deeply interested in what was going on. 309 00:19:04,359 --> 00:19:07,799 He stood on tiptoe and stretched his neck. But all 310 00:19:07,839 --> 00:19:10,200 he could see was the man's back and one of 311 00:19:10,240 --> 00:19:13,279 his feet, and now and then the movement of a 312 00:19:13,319 --> 00:19:15,839 stick with which the man seemed to be trying to 313 00:19:15,920 --> 00:19:19,279 hit something. At last there was a great plunge and 314 00:19:19,319 --> 00:19:23,039 a rustling of branches, and people began to hurrah. Yon 315 00:19:23,119 --> 00:19:26,920 hurrad too, though he still saw nothing very clearly. But 316 00:19:27,039 --> 00:19:30,119 it is easier to shout when other boys shout. If 317 00:19:30,119 --> 00:19:32,480 you happen to be a boy, then it is to 318 00:19:32,559 --> 00:19:35,839 keep still. Slowly, the man in the tree began to 319 00:19:35,880 --> 00:19:38,640 come down. He had only one hand to help himself 320 00:19:38,680 --> 00:19:42,359 with now, for the other held the heavy rook. We 321 00:19:42,480 --> 00:19:45,160 in America do not know what rooks are like, but 322 00:19:45,279 --> 00:19:49,359 in England they are common enough. They are large black birds, 323 00:19:49,880 --> 00:19:53,559 something like our crows, but they look wiser and are 324 00:19:53,599 --> 00:19:56,880 a good deal bigger. As the man neared the ground, 325 00:19:57,519 --> 00:19:59,640 every one in the crowd could see. But had been 326 00:19:59,640 --> 00:20:03,119 the matter with the rook A kite string caught among 327 00:20:03,160 --> 00:20:06,680 the tree branches had tangled his legs and held him fast. 328 00:20:07,640 --> 00:20:10,240 He had pulled so hard in his efforts to escape 329 00:20:10,759 --> 00:20:12,920 that the string had cut into one of his legs 330 00:20:12,960 --> 00:20:16,160 and half broken it. It was stiff and bleeding, and 331 00:20:16,240 --> 00:20:19,720 the rook could neither fly nor hop. People searched in 332 00:20:19,759 --> 00:20:22,799 their pockets, and one little girl who had a half 333 00:20:22,839 --> 00:20:26,440 biscuit began to feed the rook, who, for all the 334 00:20:26,480 --> 00:20:29,680 kindly efforts of his friends, seemed to be half famished. 335 00:20:30,720 --> 00:20:34,160 The poor thing was too weak to struggle or be frightened, 336 00:20:34,480 --> 00:20:38,079 and took the crumbs eagerly from the girl's hand. Yan 337 00:20:38,160 --> 00:20:40,640 thought of his sweetmeat and took it out for the 338 00:20:40,680 --> 00:20:44,240 third time. Everybody was crowding round a man who held 339 00:20:44,240 --> 00:20:47,680 the rook, and he could not get nearer. A very 340 00:20:47,720 --> 00:20:51,519 tall policeman stood in front of him. Yan pulled his arm, 341 00:20:52,039 --> 00:20:55,240 and when he churned, handed him the sweetmeat and said, 342 00:20:55,279 --> 00:20:59,839 in his soft foreign English for the birds, sir, thank you, 343 00:20:59,880 --> 00:21:03,319 my dear, said the policeman. He had not understood what 344 00:21:03,440 --> 00:21:07,200 Yan said, and in an abstracted way, with his eyes 345 00:21:07,240 --> 00:21:10,279 still fixed on the rook, he bit the pink sweetmeat 346 00:21:10,279 --> 00:21:14,240 in two and swelled half of it a mouthful. Fortunately 347 00:21:14,319 --> 00:21:17,279 Yon did not see this, for the policeman's back was 348 00:21:17,319 --> 00:21:20,119 turned to him. But observing that the man made no 349 00:21:20,160 --> 00:21:23,079 attempt to go forward, he pulled his sleeve for the 350 00:21:23,160 --> 00:21:27,200 second time and again said, foot the bird, I said, sir. 351 00:21:28,039 --> 00:21:31,240 This time the policeman heard, and taking one step forward, 352 00:21:31,640 --> 00:21:33,880 he held the remaining half of the sweetmeat out to 353 00:21:33,960 --> 00:21:37,240 the rook, who, having by this time grown used to 354 00:21:37,319 --> 00:21:41,880 being fed, took the offered dainty greedily. Yan saw the 355 00:21:41,960 --> 00:21:45,319 last pink crumb vanish into the long beak, but he 356 00:21:45,359 --> 00:21:48,279 felt no regret. His heart had been touched by the 357 00:21:48,279 --> 00:21:50,759 suffering of the poor bird, and he was glad to 358 00:21:50,759 --> 00:21:53,480 give what he could to make it forget those painful 359 00:21:53,559 --> 00:21:56,319 days in the tree. So that was the end of 360 00:21:56,359 --> 00:22:00,519 the pink sweetmeat, or not quite the end. The kind 361 00:22:00,559 --> 00:22:03,880 old gentleman to whom Yan had spoken, had noticed the 362 00:22:03,920 --> 00:22:07,440 little transaction with the policeman. He was shrewd as well 363 00:22:07,480 --> 00:22:11,160 as kind. He guessed by Yan's clothes that he was 364 00:22:11,200 --> 00:22:14,039 a working man's son, to whom sweets were not an 365 00:22:14,039 --> 00:22:17,839 every day affair, and the generous act pleased him. So 366 00:22:17,920 --> 00:22:20,920 he put his hand into his pocket, pulled out half 367 00:22:20,920 --> 00:22:25,519 a crown, and, watching his opportunity, dropped it into Yan's pocket, 368 00:22:26,400 --> 00:22:30,319 quite empty now that the sweetmeat was gone. Then with 369 00:22:30,400 --> 00:22:33,720 a little chuckle, he walked away, and Yan had no 370 00:22:33,759 --> 00:22:37,240 suspicion of what had been done to him. Gradually the 371 00:22:37,279 --> 00:22:41,319 crowd dispersed Yan among the rest, walking briskly, for he 372 00:22:41,359 --> 00:22:43,599 wanted to get home and tell his mother the story. 373 00:22:44,400 --> 00:22:47,160 It was not till after supper that he discovered the 374 00:22:47,200 --> 00:22:49,640 half crown, and then it seemed to him like a 375 00:22:49,680 --> 00:22:52,440 sort of dream, as if fairies had been at work 376 00:22:52,839 --> 00:22:55,160 and turned the pink sweetmeat into a bit of sober 377 00:22:56,240 --> 00:22:59,359 That night, the three pairs of stockings had another chance 378 00:22:59,400 --> 00:23:03,000 for conversation. The blue ones and the gray ones lay 379 00:23:03,039 --> 00:23:05,680 close together on the floor of the room where Yon 380 00:23:05,799 --> 00:23:09,519 slept with his brother, and the white ones, which Greta 381 00:23:09,559 --> 00:23:12,759 had carelessly dropped as she jumped into bed, were near 382 00:23:12,880 --> 00:23:15,519 enough the half open door to talk across the sell. 383 00:23:16,279 --> 00:23:19,240 It has been an exciting day, said the white pear. 384 00:23:19,759 --> 00:23:22,799 My girl got a Kebble's Christian Year at her school. 385 00:23:23,240 --> 00:23:25,680 It was the second best prize. It is a good 386 00:23:25,680 --> 00:23:29,440 thing to belong to respectable people who take prizes. Only 387 00:23:29,519 --> 00:23:32,400 one thing was painful to me. She wriggled her toes 388 00:23:32,480 --> 00:23:34,880 so with pleasure that I felt as if I were 389 00:23:34,880 --> 00:23:38,160 coming to an end in one of my points. Well, 390 00:23:38,200 --> 00:23:42,079 you probably are, remarked the big gray. Yes, now that 391 00:23:42,160 --> 00:23:45,480 I examine, I can see the place one stitch has 392 00:23:45,480 --> 00:23:49,400 parted already, and there is quite a thin spot. You know, 393 00:23:49,720 --> 00:23:52,039 I always predicted that you would be in the rag 394 00:23:52,079 --> 00:23:56,839 bag before you knew it. Oh, don't say such dreadful things, 395 00:23:57,400 --> 00:24:01,279 pleaded the little blues. This is the wenchwoman, I am sure, 396 00:24:01,759 --> 00:24:04,559 and make her last. What did your girl do with 397 00:24:04,640 --> 00:24:08,960 her sweetmeat? Eat it up directly? Of course? What else 398 00:24:08,960 --> 00:24:13,720 should one do with a sweetmeat? Snapped the white pair crossly. Oh, dear, 399 00:24:14,079 --> 00:24:19,400 my toe feels dreadfully ever since you said that quite neuuralgic. Oh, 400 00:24:19,440 --> 00:24:22,720 my boy was not so foolish as to eat his sweetmeat, 401 00:24:23,039 --> 00:24:26,720 said the big gray stockings. Only girls act in that way, 402 00:24:27,319 --> 00:24:31,440 without regard to anything but their greedy appetites. He traded 403 00:24:31,440 --> 00:24:34,079 his with another boy, and he got a pocket knife 404 00:24:34,079 --> 00:24:39,200 for it, three screws and a harmonica. There was the knife, new, 405 00:24:39,720 --> 00:24:44,119 asked the Blue. Could the harmonica play any music? Demanded 406 00:24:44,119 --> 00:24:48,799 the White. No, the harmonica is out of order inside somehow, 407 00:24:48,920 --> 00:24:51,680 But perhaps my boy can mend it. And the knife 408 00:24:51,680 --> 00:24:55,279 isn't new, quite old. In fact, its blade is broken 409 00:24:55,400 --> 00:24:58,799 at the end. Still it's a knife, and Wilhelm thinks 410 00:24:58,839 --> 00:25:01,319 he can tread it off for something. House And now 411 00:25:01,400 --> 00:25:05,160 for your adventures. What did your boy do with his sweetmeat, 412 00:25:05,160 --> 00:25:09,039 little Blues? Did he eat it or trade it? It 413 00:25:09,160 --> 00:25:14,480 is eaten, replied the Blue Stockings, cautiously eaten. Then of 414 00:25:14,599 --> 00:25:17,960 course he ate it. Why don't you speak out if 415 00:25:17,960 --> 00:25:22,160 he ate it? Say so? If he didn't, who did, well, 416 00:25:22,839 --> 00:25:25,680 nobody ate the whole of it, and my boy didn't 417 00:25:25,720 --> 00:25:29,920 eat any It was divided between two persons, or rather 418 00:25:30,359 --> 00:25:35,000 between one person and and a thing that is not 419 00:25:35,079 --> 00:25:38,880 a person. Bless me, what are you talking about? I 420 00:25:39,000 --> 00:25:42,599 never heard anything so absurd in my life. Persons and 421 00:25:42,720 --> 00:25:45,440 things that are not persons, said the white pear, what 422 00:25:45,599 --> 00:25:49,279 do you mean, Yes, what do you mean? What is 423 00:25:49,319 --> 00:25:51,279 the use of beating about the bush in this way? 424 00:25:51,839 --> 00:25:56,359 Remonstrated the big gray pear, who did eat the sweetmeat? Say, plainly, 425 00:25:57,480 --> 00:26:00,480 half of it was eaten by a policeman and the 426 00:26:00,559 --> 00:26:04,160 other half by a rook, replied the little blues in 427 00:26:04,160 --> 00:26:09,240 a meek voice. O, roared the gray stockings, while the 428 00:26:09,279 --> 00:26:12,599 white pair joined in with a shrill giggle. That beats 429 00:26:12,640 --> 00:26:16,079 all half by a policeman and half by a rook. 430 00:26:16,640 --> 00:26:20,240 A fine way to dispose of a Christmas sweetmeat. Your 431 00:26:20,319 --> 00:26:24,400 boy must be a fool, little Blues, Not a fool 432 00:26:24,440 --> 00:26:28,640 at all, said the blue pear indignantly. Now just listen 433 00:26:28,720 --> 00:26:32,000 to me. Your girl ate hers up at once and 434 00:26:32,160 --> 00:26:35,880 forgot it. Your boy traded his away, And what has 435 00:26:35,920 --> 00:26:39,519 he got? A broken knife and a harmonica that can't 436 00:26:39,519 --> 00:26:43,480 play music. I don't call those worth having. My boy 437 00:26:43,599 --> 00:26:47,160 enjoyed his sweetmeat all day. He had more pleasure in 438 00:26:47,200 --> 00:26:49,519 giving it away than if he had eaten it ten 439 00:26:49,599 --> 00:26:53,279 times over. Besides, he got half a crown for it. 440 00:26:53,880 --> 00:26:56,839 An old gentleman slipped it into his pocket because he 441 00:26:56,960 --> 00:26:59,720 was pleased with his kind heart. I saw him do 442 00:26:59,799 --> 00:27:05,680 it half a crown. Ejaculated the white pear with amazement. Well, 443 00:27:05,720 --> 00:27:10,079 that is something like, admitted the big gray stockings. Your 444 00:27:10,160 --> 00:27:12,960 boy did the best of the three, I admit. The 445 00:27:13,000 --> 00:27:17,319 little blue said no more. Presently the others fell asleep, 446 00:27:17,720 --> 00:27:20,720 But she lay and watched Yon as he rested peacefully 447 00:27:20,759 --> 00:27:24,559 beside his brother, with his wonderful treasure, the silver coin 448 00:27:24,960 --> 00:27:28,400 clasped tight in his hand. He smiled in his sleep, 449 00:27:28,640 --> 00:27:32,039 as though his dreams were pleasant. Even if he had 450 00:27:32,079 --> 00:27:35,079 no half crown, still he would have done the best, 451 00:27:35,519 --> 00:27:39,440 she whispered to herself. At last, then the clock struck twelve, 452 00:27:40,079 --> 00:27:44,720 and the day after Christmas was begun. And Of the 453 00:27:44,799 --> 00:27:49,160 Pink Sweet Meat by Susan Coolidge