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Speaker 1: Sydney Martin's Christmas by Pansy, Chapter one. It makes no

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difference what I do ho home, he said, as he

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looked drearily out of the window. If a fellow could

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only be at home to day, what is the use

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of having Christmas come? If a body has nowhere to

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go and nothing to do, and nobody cares what he does.

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It makes no difference where I go or what I do.

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I'd just as lief be at the store as anywhere.

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It was dreary for a boy of fourteen, only twenty

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miles from a nice country home, but it was a

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poor home, no money to spare for holiday visits. So

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the boy, who was received as clerk into the large

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store on the corner, the largest in town, because the

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merchant and his father had been friends in their long

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ago boyhood, was trying to be a brave boy and

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spend his holiday alone. But it was dull work. It

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was so new and sad a thing to feel that

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it made no difference to any one what he did.

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The town clock struck nine, only nine o'clock, Sydney said,

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and he thought that he did not know what to

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do with the day. He went out, however, and began

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to take an aimless walk up the street, nearly opposite

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Judge Porter's handsome home, that large house built in foreign

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style and the pride of the town. For that and

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other reasons, he stopped suddenly and listened music, clear and sweet.

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It rose on the air, Glory to God in the

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highest and on earth, peace, good will to men. Sydney

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went on around the corner with a curious face. Who

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would be outdoors singing on Christmas morning? The minute he

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got a view of the side gateway. The riddle was plain, ho,

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he said, And then he laughed. I do say if

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them Shemways haven't come out in full force exactly as

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they used to do in Germany. And there they are

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singing the Christmas Carol. I wonder if they think they

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will get Christmas greeting as they said the children did

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in the old country. What a droll looking set they are.

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The carol is real pretty though, this he added, as

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the sweet chords began again, Glory to God in Just

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at that very point they stopped. Every voice, and little Gretchen,

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the youngest of the group, gave a little squeal that

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did not belong to the carol. It was plain that

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something had frightened them. Sydney crossed over to them. Just

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inside of the gate had appeared Old Bows, the great

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house dog, and he was not a lover of their music,

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to judge by the low growls with which he greeted it.

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Don't be afraid, said Sydney, coming promptly into view. I

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know Old Bows, and he knows me. He is an

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ill mannered scamp, but he won't hurt you so long

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as I am around. You. Sing away, and I will

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stand guard and sing. They did like larks, and earned

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a penny all around, and plenty of little cakes. The

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porters had spent a winter in Germany. They knew how

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to treat the little singers. Sydney, not being so well

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wrapped as the singers, shivered a little as he walked away,

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his promise fulfilled, he had to be content with a

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hearty thank you given in broken English, and a grateful

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smile in little Gretchen's eyes. Chapter two. I was walking

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down by the pond. The Christmas Carol had taken up

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quite a little of the morning. Sydney felt glad of that.

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The faster the morning went, the better. He put his

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hands in his pockets and whistled to keep himself company,

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and tramped cheerily on. Just where he was going he

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did not know, and it made no difference where he went.

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You will remember he met a great many people whom

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he knew, and a great many that he didn't know,

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but none of them had anything to do with him.

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Just across the town bridge there was a boy, and

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though Sidney knew no more about him than that he

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was doctor Eldred's son, and went to the academy and

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sat across the room from him at Sunday School. He

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seemed like a friend to the lonely fellow, and he

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stopped to look at him and wonder how it would

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seem if they were good friends. Young Eldred was in

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some perplexity. He had his sled and stood holding the rope,

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while miss Eta Eldred, curled nicely on the seat, wrapped

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in furs, appeared to be waiting for some decision. I

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suppose I have just got to go home first, the

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boy was saying in disappointed tones, as Sydney crossed over

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for a nearer look at one who had a sister

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near by to enjoy. How are you, Eldred said cordially

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to Sydney. He was not a proud boy, though he

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had a good deal to be proud of. Are you

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going down to see the skating? There's to be a

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great time. Two fellows are going to have a trial

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of speed, and the one who gets beaten is to

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give an oyster supper to us fellows in the evening.

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I hadn't heard of it, said Sydney with interest. When

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is it to be? Why? It was to be at

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twelve o'clock, But I hear since I came out that

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the time is changed to eleven. It will be long

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after that before I can get there, for it is

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ten now, and I've got to go all the way

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home with Etta. She sprained her foot, you see, and

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mother is not willing to have her walk. I'll draw

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her home if she will let me. Sydney said this

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as heartily, as though it would be a great favor.

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Young Eldred caught the words joyfully, why will you? That

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is real kind of you, Eda? You wouldn't mind for

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this once, would you? And Eda shook the feather in

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her cap and said decidedly, oh no, not at all.

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If he would just as soon, But you will miss

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the race yourself. You know it is a long walk

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down home. This was Eldred's afterthought. Oh, I shouldn't mind that,

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Sydney said he had not known a thing about it,

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so he wouldn't really be missing it. And so it

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came to pass that he shouldered the satchel of books

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that were being taken from the academy for the vacation,

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and had just been gone after and taking the reins

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in his own hands, waited only to see the doctor's

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son join a party of boys who were waiting for him,

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and then he and Edda started a full mile over

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the crispy snow with a merry young girl who occasionally

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came to the store to buy bright ribbons and was

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always kind and pleasant. This was a nicer Christmas than

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he had imagined, and so he told himself with a

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pleased face, as he walked back the long mile alone,

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having taken his charge to the very door, delivered the

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books to her care, and himself put away the sledge

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in the carriage house. Eda had thanked him heartily and

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given him a pocketful of splendid apples. Besides, and better

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than all the rest, the morning was quite gone, actually,

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nearly twelve o'clock this he said aloud in glee as

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he came to the main street once more and caught

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sight of the moon faced clock keeping guard in the

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church steeple. Chapter three. I was at mister Seymour's. He

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had just one thing to do that day that had

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a little touch of business about it, and all the

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dignity of an appointment. That was to take a smooth

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and beautifully polished wooden top that he had made down

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to mister Chester Seymour's on Seymour Avenue and be there

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at one o'clock. Precisely there was to be a simple

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little Christmas tree shown off at that house at that hour.

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The tree was for the benefit of mister Seymour's half

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dozen little nephews and nieces, who were clustered around him,

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and the little lame boy who lived with them was

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to be counted in this. Lame boy was a pet

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of Sydney's. He looked like a certain little boy at

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home who slept with Sydney when he was there, and

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whose company was sorely missed. The top had been made

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for him in spare moments, and since the thought came

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to Sydney, the moments had been so spare that he

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had walked around to mister Seymour's the night before to

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ask if the top came at nine o'clock the next morning,

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would it be in time for the tree? Then and

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there mister Seymour had rejoiced his heart by a promise

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that if he could bring it at precisely one o'clock,

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it should be hung at once, and he should have

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a peep at the tree. This program was carried out,

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and the tree was heartily admired by Sydney. There was

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nothing on it for him. Nobody had thought of that,

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but he had expected nothing, so as he would have said,

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he hadn't missed anything. Could you go home by way

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of mister Stewart's, my boy, mister Seymour had said, as he,

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having enjoyed Lame Nettie's delight over his top, was about

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to go. Could you well go home by way of

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mister Stewart's and leave a note there for me? Or

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will it take you too far out of your way?

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It is quite a distance round, yes, sir, said Sydney promptly, No, sir,

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it is not too far. I like the walk, and

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I haven't had a single thing to do. This is

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a holiday you know, mister Seymour had smiled and thanked

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him and given him the note, and hoped he would

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have a merry Christmas, and went back to his dining

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room and his turkey. There was not to be any

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turkey at Sydney's boarding house, but though they were poor,

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in the farmhouse twenty miles away, they raised turkeys and

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always had one for Christmas. Sydney knew the smell and

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whifted up like a breath of home as he turned

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from mister Seymour's hall. Chapter four. I might as well

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go that way, mister Stewart, exactly in the opposite direction

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from Sydney's boarding house. So how mister Seymour could have

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said go round that way home? I am sure. I

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don't know. Our boy Sydney was getting just a trifle

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tired of long walks, but they seemed to be exactly

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in his line on this Christmas holiday, so he trudged

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briskly on, trying not to think of home any more

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than he could help his note delivered. He stood a

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moment in thought. Should he go home around Pike's Hill

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or take a short cut across it? I might as

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well go one way as another, he said aloud, what

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is the difference? I guess I'll take the hill that

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will bring me home in time for my dinner. So

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up the steep hill he climbed, getting out of the

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way of half a dozen coasters as they rushed gaily

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down one though didn't rush down. Instead, he pitched over

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on his bed. Sydney was the only boy who was

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not half way down the hill or just starting on

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that journey, and Sydney went at once to him. He

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was groaning a little, and in trying to get up,

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groaned some more and fell back. That nasty sled of mine,

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he exclaimed, as Sydney bent over him. It has got

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a loose runner. I told Jimmy it would be the

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death of me. Help me up, can't you. I've hurt

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my foot or broke it or something. It twisted right

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under me. Where do you live, Sydney said, tugging with

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all his might, and succeeded in seating him on his sled,

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just as some of the riders came puffing up to

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see if it was anything more serious than a tumble.

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I live on Pine Street, and how I am ever

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to get there is more than I know, And he

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groaned as he hit one foot against the other. Can't

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some of your friends draw you there, Sydney said, Looking

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at the boys standing round, he shook his head. They

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aren't my friends, he said, I never saw them before.

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They are from the upper village, and they have got

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to meet the sleigh they came with at two o'clock.

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They'll be likely to do it, won't They this with

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a smile. As the clock in the town chimed too,

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and every boy suddenly took to his heels. Sydney drew

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in his breath. He was just tired of walks, and

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this was not so interesting a Sprain, as he had

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helped home earlier in the day. But of course the

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boy couldn't be left sitting there, so he spoke quickly.

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I'll draw you home. Sit as steady as you can,

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and I won't jolt more than I can help. And

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away they went down Pike's Hill and off toward Prime Street,

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a quarter of a mile away. You're a real good boy,

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said the Sprain boy's mother, as he delivered her son

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safely into her hands. Tommy won't forget you in a hurry,

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I guess, and Sydney walked away, rubbing his hands and

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feeling that he would not be likely to forget Tommy,

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he was such a heavy fellow. Chapter five, The sum

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of it all. Just as Sydney was eating a cold

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dinner an hour after the proper time, the senior and

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junior partners at the corner store shook their heads as

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they looked at each other, both being very grave. It

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looks dark, said the younger man. It does, that's a fact,

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said the elder. But then I can't seem to believe

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that he took it. I have always thought him the

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very soul of honesty. But how else can we explain it?

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And here both seemed to grow sadder. The end of

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it was that a summons came to Sydney before he

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had touched his doughnut. He took it in his hand

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and made all haste to the store, wondering much as

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he was ordered to the private office. There has been

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said work going on here to day, Sydney began the

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senior partner, as soon as the door was closed. I

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left a twenty dollar bill in my desk last night,

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and my partner saw it here this morning at nine o'clock.

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This afternoon, at three it was not here. Now you know,

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you are the only clerk in town to day. Sydney

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looked from one to the other for a moment in

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startled wonder, as if to ask what all that, however

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sad it was, could have to do with him. Then

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he began to understand. He was a quick witted boy

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and a just one. He did not fall into a rage,

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as boys in stories do, for it occurred to him

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that these men had only known him four months, and

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there couldn't seem to be anybody else who could have

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taken the money, so it seemed natural enough to suspect him.

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His voice, though very earnest, was not angry. It looks

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as bad as possible, mister Barnes, But I truly know

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nothing about it. That is easy to say, mister Barnes answered, coldly,

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and thinking in his sensible brain that it was very

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strange if the boy was innocent, that he was not indignant.

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The question is, can you give an account of yourself

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between the hours of nine and three today? Where have

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you been and what have you been about? Sydney's face

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gloomed over, and he sighed heavily. I have been wandering

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along and going nowhere in particular, and doing nothing at all.

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For all I can prove to you, I may have

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spent the twenty dollar bill twenty times, only I haven't

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done it. There was a listener to all this, sitting

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quiet in his chair. This was the senior partner's son,

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a young lawyer. He was looking searchingly at the earnest

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faced boy. Have you any idea where you were at

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nine o'clock? He asked? Suddenly, Yes, sir, I was standing

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at the window, looking out and wondering what to do

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with myself. The town clock struck, and I counted and thought,

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what an awful long day there was? What then I

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went right straight out and walked up the street as

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far as Judge Porters. What stopped you there? Why? The

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little mways that came to our Sunday school were out

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singing Christmas carols, just as they did in Germany, and

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they got afraid of Bow's the Judge's dog, And I'm

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not afraid of him. So I stopped and took care

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of them till they were through. Go on, What did

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you do then, do you know? Yes, sir, I went

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on across the town bridge, and from there I went

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to doctor Eldred's on Stone Street. What took you there. Why?

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As I was walking down by the pond, fred Eldred

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stood there with his sled and his sister. She was

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on the sled. She can't walk, she has a sprained ankle.

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And Eldred wanted to go to the skating race. So

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I took his sister home just so. That took considerable time,

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didn't it, Yes, sir, it was twenty minutes of twelve

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by the town clock when I came back. Then did

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you go to dinner? No, sir, we don't have dinner

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on Christmas until two o'clock. That is the way we

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keep the holiday. Sydney said this with a gleam of

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mischief in his handsome eyes. Having a clear conscience, he

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could not help seeing the funny side of things. Very well,

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tell me what came next. Next? I had an errand

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at mister Seymour's. What mister Seymour's on Seymour Avenue? What

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took you there? And the keen eyes looked at him steadily. Why.

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I had a top that I made for Lame Nettie,

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and I didn't get it done until to day, and

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mister Seymour said I might come around at one o'clock

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exactly and have a peep at the tree. Did you

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have it? Yes, sir, and it looked fine. So this

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was one o'clock. Then you went home? I suppose, no, sir.

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Mister Seymour asked me to take a note to mister

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Stewart's at the corner just below Pike's Hill, and I

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went straight there after that. I hope you had a

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chance to go home, No, sir, said Sydney, beginning to

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be amazed at his own story. I went up Pike's

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Hill to go across lots and a boy had just

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tumbled over. They were riding downhill like mad, and he's

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brained his foot. So I helped him up and drew

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him home. Who was he? His name is Smith, Tommy Smith.

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He lives on Prime Street below the Old Market. Were

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you the only boy there was to do for him, yes, sir.

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The other fellows were strangers to him, so was I

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for that matter. But they had come from the upper

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village for a sleigh ride, and they were to be

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at some point downtown at two o'clock to go back.

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They were late too. The clock struck while we were

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getting Tommy Smith on the sled, and the fellows all

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ran like tops and from Tommy Smith. I earnestly hope

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you went home. I did, sir, said Sydney, and his

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face was in a broad smile. The young lawyer turned

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to the two men who had listened in breathless attention.

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I'll take the case, he said, with pleasure. It is

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the most complete alibi I have heard this many a day.

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And the young man has been practicing all day on

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the Christmas carols that he began the morning with peace

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on earth, good will to men. There has certainly been

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much good will put into this day. It is a

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complete chain. The senior partner said heartily, my boy, I

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will go to every one of those parties whose names

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you have given, and if their statements agree with yours,

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it will settle the question of the bill. Whoever has

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it it can't have been you, and they will agree,

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of course, Sydney said heartily, because it is so, and

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what else can they say. There is no need of

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going to them, said the junior partner. It is all right,

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And Sydney, as he went back to his boarding house,

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went thoughtfully over the day and was much struck with

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the fact that something at every turn had marked the

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time for him. It did make a difference which way

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I went and what I did. After all, he said gratefully,

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and of Sidney Martin's Christmas by Pansy