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Speaker 1: On Christmas Day in the morning, by Grace S. Richmond,

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And all the angels in heaven do sing on Christmas

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Day on Christmas Day, and all the bells in Earth

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do ring on Christmas Day in the morning, Old Son.

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That Christmas Day virtually began a whole year beforehand with

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a red hot letter written by Guy Fernald to his

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younger sister Nan, who had been married to Samuel Burnett

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just two and one half years. The letter was read

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aloud by Missus Burnett to her husband at the breakfast

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table the second day after Christmas. From start to finish,

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it was upon one subject, and it read as follows,

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Dear Nan, it's a confounded, full grown shame that not

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a soul of us all got home for Christmas, except

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yours truly, and he only for a couple of hours.

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What have the blessed old folks done to us that

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we treat them like this? I was invited to the

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Seawells for the first day and went. Of course, you

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know why. We had a ripping time. But along toward

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evening I began to feel worried. I really thought Ralph

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was home. He wrote me that he might swing round

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that way by the holidays, but I knew the rest

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of you were all wrapped up in your own Christmas

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trees and weren't going to get there. Well, I took

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the seven thirty down and walked in on them, sitting

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all alone by the fire by George, just like the

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pictures you see of the birds all flown and that

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sort of thing. I felt gulpish in my throat on

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my honor, I did when I looked at them. Mother

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just gave one gasp and flew into my arms. And

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Dad got up more slowly. He had that darned rheumatism

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worse than ever this winter, and came over, and I

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thought he'd shake my hand off. Well. I sat down

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between them by the fire, and pretty soon I got

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down in the old way on a cushion by Mother

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and let her run her fingers through my hair the

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way she used to do, and nan, I'll be indicted

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for perjury if her hand wasn't trembling. They were so

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glad to see me it made my throat ache. Ralph

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had written he couldn't get round, And of course you'd

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all written and sent them things, jolly things, and they

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appreciated them, but blame it all. They were just dead lonesome,

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and the whole outfit of us within three hundred miles,

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most within thirty. Nan, Next Christmas is going to be different,

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That's all I say. I've got it all planned out.

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The idea popped into my head when I came away

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last night. Not that they had a word of blame.

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Not they They understood all about the children and the

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cold snap and Ed's being under the weather, and Oliver's

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wife's Neuralgia, and Ralph's girl in the west and all that,

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but that didn't make the thing any easier for them.

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As I say, next year, but you'll all hear from

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me then. Meanwhile, run down and see them once or

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twice this winter, will you, Nan. Somehow it struck me

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that they aren't so young as they used to be.

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Splendid winter weather, Margaret Sewell's a peach, but I don't

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seem to make much headway. My best to Sam, your

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affectionate brother. Guy. Gay Nan had felt a slight choking

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in her own throat as she read this letter. We

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really must make an effort to be their Christmas next year, Sam,

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she said to her husband, and Sam assented cheerfully. He

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only wished there were a father and mother somewhere in

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the world for him to go home to. Guy wrote

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the same sort of thing with more or less detail,

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to Edson and Oliver, his married elder brothers, to Ralph,

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his unmarried brother, and to Caroline missus Charles Wetmore, his

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other and elder married sister. He received varied and more

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or less sympathetic responses to the effect that with so

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many little children and such snow drifts as always blocked

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the roads leading toward Northeasterbrook, it really was not strange,

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and of course somebody would go next year. But they

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had all sent the nicest gifts they could find. Didn't

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Guy think mother liked those beautiful Russian sables Ralph sent her,

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And wasn't father pleased with his gold headed cane from Oliver? Surely,

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with such presence pouring in from all the children, father

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and mother, Fernald couldn't feel so awfully neglected gold headed

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cane be hanged. Guy exploded when he read this last

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sentence from the letter of Marian, Oliver's wife. I'll bet

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she put him up to it. If anybody dares give

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me a gold headed cane before I'm ninety five, I'll

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thrash him with it on the spot. He wasn't using

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it either, bless him. He has his old hickory stick,

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and he wouldn't have had that if that abominable rheumatism

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hadn't gripped him so hard. He isn't old enough to

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use a cane, by jolly and all ought to know it.

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If if Marian doesn't, I'm glad I sent him that typewriter.

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He liked that, I know he did, and it'll amuse

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him too, not to make him think he's ready to die.

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Guy was not the fellow to forget anything which had

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taken hold of him, as that pathetic Christmas home coming

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had done. When the year had nearly rolled around, the

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first of December saw him at work getting his plans

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in train. He began with his eldest brother Oliver, because

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he considered missus Oliver the hardest proposition he had to

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tackle in the carrying out of his idea. You see,

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he expounded patiently as they sat and stared at him.

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It isn't that they aren't always awfully glad to see

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the whole outfit, children and all, but it just struck

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me it would do him a lot of good to

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revive old times. I thought, if we could make it

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just as much as possible, like one of the old

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Christmases before anybody got married, hang up the stockings and all,

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you know, it would give them a mighty jolly surprise.

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I planned to have us all creep in in the

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night and go to bed in our old rooms, and

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then in the morning see Missus Oliver looked at him,

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an eager, flush lit his still boyish face. Guy was

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twenty eight, and his blue eyes were very bright. His

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lithe muscular figure bent toward her pleadingly. All his arguments

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were aimed at her. Oliver sat back in his impassive

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way and watched them both. It could not be denied

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that it was Marian's decisions, which usually ruled in matters

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of this sort. It seems to me a very strange plan.

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Was Missus Oliver's comment. When Guy had laid the whole

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thing before her in the most tactful manner he could command,

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she spoke rather coldly. It is not usual to think

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that family should be broken up like the sun Christmas

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Day of old days in the year four families with

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some one gone, a mother or a father, just to

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please to elder people who expect nothing of the sort,

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and who understand just why we can't all get home

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at once. Don't you think you are really asking a

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good deal? Guy kept his temper, though it was hard work.

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It doesn't seem to me, I am, he answered, quite gently,

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it's only for once. I really don't think father and

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mother would care much what sort of presence we brought them,

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if only we came ourselves. Of course, I know I'm

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asking a sacrifice of each family, and it may seem

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almost an insult not to invite the children it all. Yet,

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perhaps next year we'll try gathering of all the clans,

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But just for this year, honestly, I do awfully wish

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you'd give me my way if you'd seen those two

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last Christmas. He broke off, glancing appealingly at Oliver himself,

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To his surprise, that gentleman shifted his pipe to a

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corner of his mouth and put a few pertinent questions

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to his younger brother. Had he thought it all out?

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What time should they arrive there? How early on the

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day after Christmas? Could they get away? Was he positive

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they could all crowd into the house without rousing and

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alarming the pair sure thing, Guy declared quickly. Marietta. Well,

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you know I've had the soft side of her old

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heart ever since I was born. Somehow, I talked it

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all over with her last year, and I'm solid with her.

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All right. She'll work the game. You see. Father's quite

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a bit deaf, now, father deaf? Sure, didn't you know

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it forgotten? But mother'd hear us. No, she wouldn't. Don't

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you know how she trusts everything about the house to

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Marietta since she got that fall. Mother got a fall? Why, yes,

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Guy stared at his brother with some impatience. Don't you

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remember she fell down the back stairs a year ago,

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last October and hurt her knee. Certainly, Oliver his wife,

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and post I wrote for you to tell her how

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sorry we were, but I supposed she'd entirely recovered. She's

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a bit lame and always will be, said Guy, a

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touch of reproach in his voice. Her niece stiffens up

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in the night, and she doesn't get up and go

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prowling about at the least noise the way she used to.

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Marietta won't let her. So if we make a whisper

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of noise, Mariette'll tell her it's the cat or something good. Lord, Yes,

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it can be worked, all right. The only thing that

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worries me is the fear that I can't get all

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of you to take hold of the scheme on my

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word all. He turned quite away from his sister in

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law's critical gaze and faced his brother with something like

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indignation in his frank young eyes. Don't we owe the

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old home anything but a present tied up in tissue

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paper once a year. Marian began to speak. She thought

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Guy was exceeding his rights and talking as if they

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had been at fault. It was not often that elderly

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people had so many children within call, loyal children who

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would do anything within reason. But certainly a man owed

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something to his own family and at Christmas? Why not

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carry out this plan at some other Her husband abruptly

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interrupted her. He took his pipe quite out of his

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mouth and spoke decidedly. Guy, I believe you're right. I'll

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be sorry to desert my own kids, of course, but

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I rather think they can stand it for once. If

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the others fall into line, you may count on me.

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Guy got away, feeling that the worst part of his

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troubles was over. In his younger sister Nan. He hoped

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to find an ardent ally, and he was not disappointed.

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Caroline missus Charles Wetmore also fell in heartily with the plan.

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Ralph from somewhere in the far West wrote that he

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would get home or break a leg edson thought the

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idea rather a foolish one, but was persuaded by Jessica,

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his wife, whom Guy privately declared a trump that he

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must go by all means. And so they all fell

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into line, and there remained for Guy only the working

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out of the details. Miss Fernald Marietta coolly strove with

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all the decision with which she was capable to keep

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her high pitched middle aged voice. In order for you

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get to bed, I most forget him what I was

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to ask you. I s'pose you'll laugh. But Guy, he

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wrote me particular, he wanted you and his father to

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Marietta's rather stern, thin face took on a curious expression

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to hang up your stockings. Miss Fernald paused in the

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doorway of the bedroom opening from the sitting room downstairs.

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She looked back at Marietta with her gentle smile. Guy

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wrote that she asked, then it almost looks as if

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he might be coming himself, doesn't it, Marietta. Well, I

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don't know, as i'd really expect him, Marietta replied, turning

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her face away and busying herself about the hearth. I

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guess what he meant was more in the way of

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a surprise for Christmas present, something that i'll go in

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the stockin'. Maybe it's rather odd he should have written

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you to ask me, mused missus Ernold as she looked

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out the stockings. Marietta considered rapidly, well, I s'pose he

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intended for me to get him on the sly without

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mentioning it to you and put him what he sent.

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But I sort of guessed you might like to fall

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in with his id by hangin em up yourself. Here

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by the chimbly where the children all used to do it.

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Here's the nails, same as they always was. Miss Fernald

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found the stockings and touched her husband on the shoulder

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as he sat unlacing his shoes. Father Guy wrote, he

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wanted us to hang up our stockings, she said, raising

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her voice a little and speaking very distinctly. The elderly

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man beside her looked up, smiling, well, well, he said

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anything to please the boy. It doesn't seem more than

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a year since he was a little fellow hanging up

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his own stocking, does it, mother? The stockings were hung

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in silence. They looked thin and lonely as they dangled

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beside the dying fire. Marietta hastened to make them less lonely. Well,

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she said, in a shamefaced way. The silly boy said,

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I was to hang mine too. Goodness knows what he'll

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find to put into it that'll fit less. It's a poker.

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They smiled kindly at her, wished her good night, and

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went back into their own room. The little episode had

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aroused no suspicions. It was very like guy's affectionate boyishness.

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I presume he'll be down, said missus Fernald, as she

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limped quietly about the room, making ready for bed. Don't

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you remember how he surprised us last year. I'm sorry

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the others can't come, of course, I sent them all

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the invitation, just as usual. I shall all do that,

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but it is pretty snowy weather, and I suppose they

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don't quite like to risk it. Presently, as she was

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putting out the light, she heard Marietta at the door,

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Miss Fernald, Peter Piper's got back in this part of

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the house somehow, and I can't lay hands on him.

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Beats all. How cute that cat is, seems if he

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knows when I'm going to put him out in the

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00:14:23,639 --> 00:14:27,240
wood shed, I don't think likely he'll do no harm.

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But I thought i'd tell you so. If you heard

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00:14:29,679 --> 00:14:32,159
any queer noises in the night, you'd know it was Peter.

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Very well, Marietta. The soft voice came back to the

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00:14:36,519 --> 00:14:39,240
schemer on the other side of the door. Peter will

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00:14:39,279 --> 00:14:42,159
be all right wherever he is. I sha'n't be alarmed

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if I hear him, All right, miss ernuld I just

248
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thought i'd let you know. And the guileful one went

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00:14:49,200 --> 00:14:55,440
grinning away. There was a long silence in the quiet

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00:14:55,440 --> 00:15:02,080
sleeping room. Then out of the darkness came this little colloquy, Emmeline,

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00:15:02,480 --> 00:15:08,200
you aren't going to sleep. I know I'm not. John.

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00:15:08,639 --> 00:15:16,879
I Christmas Eve keeps one awake somehow, it always did. Yes,

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I don't suppose the children realize it all, do they? Oh? No,

254
00:15:24,200 --> 00:15:29,759
oh no, they don't realize. They never will till they're

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00:15:29,759 --> 00:15:34,360
hear themselves. It's all right, I think. I think at

256
00:15:34,440 --> 00:15:38,240
least guy will be down tomorrow, don't you No, I

257
00:15:38,279 --> 00:15:43,120
guess maybe he will. Then, after a short silence, Mother,

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00:15:44,000 --> 00:15:48,559
You've always got me, you know, you know you've always

259
00:15:48,559 --> 00:15:53,080
got me. Dear, Yes, she would not let him hear

260
00:15:53,080 --> 00:15:56,080
the sob in her voice. She crept close and spoke

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00:15:56,200 --> 00:15:59,360
cheerfully in his best ear. And you've always got me,

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00:15:59,600 --> 00:16:05,799
Johnny boy, Thank the Lord, I have so counting their blessings.

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00:16:05,840 --> 00:16:09,480
They fell asleep at last, but even in sleep, one

264
00:16:09,519 --> 00:16:16,519
set of lashes was strangely wet. Christopher jenks, what a drift?

265
00:16:17,440 --> 00:16:22,639
Lucky we weren't two hours later, sh they might hear us, Nan,

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00:16:23,080 --> 00:16:28,120
stop laughing, or I'll drop a snowball down your neck. Here, Carol,

267
00:16:28,320 --> 00:16:31,679
give me your hand. I'll plow you through large bodies.

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00:16:31,679 --> 00:16:34,879
Move slowly, of course, but go elbows first and you'll

269
00:16:34,919 --> 00:16:39,039
get there. Gee, whiz, can't you get that door open?

270
00:16:39,480 --> 00:16:43,600
I'll be frozen fast? A light showed inside the kitchen.

271
00:16:44,159 --> 00:16:47,600
The storm door swung open, propelled by force. From inside.

272
00:16:48,399 --> 00:16:52,879
A cautious voice said low that the Fernald family. A

273
00:16:52,960 --> 00:16:57,279
chorus of whispers came back at Miss Marrietta Coolie, Yes, yes,

274
00:16:57,440 --> 00:17:00,399
let us in we're freezing, you bet with the fer

275
00:17:00,399 --> 00:17:03,759
an old family, every man jack of us, not one missing.

276
00:17:04,880 --> 00:17:09,400
Oh Marietta, you dear old thing, hurry up. This is

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00:17:09,400 --> 00:17:13,960
their side of the house. Sh Carol, Your shushes would

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00:17:14,000 --> 00:17:18,000
wake the dead stumbling over their own feet and bundles.

279
00:17:18,039 --> 00:17:21,400
In the endeavor to be perternaturally quiet, the crew poured

280
00:17:21,400 --> 00:17:25,200
into the warm kitchen, Bearded Oliver, the oldest of the clan,

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00:17:25,720 --> 00:17:29,759
stout edson, Big Ralph, tall and slender Guy, and the

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00:17:29,799 --> 00:17:33,200
two daughters of the house Caroline growing plump and rosy

283
00:17:33,240 --> 00:17:37,240
at thirty, Nan slim and girlish at twenty four. They

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00:17:37,279 --> 00:17:40,880
were all there. Marietta heaved a sigh of content as

285
00:17:40,880 --> 00:17:44,960
she looked them over. Well, I really didn't think you'd

286
00:17:44,960 --> 00:17:48,640
get here, all of you, Thank the Lord you have.

287
00:17:49,400 --> 00:17:52,920
I suppose you're tearin' hungry, beIN past eleven. If you

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00:17:52,960 --> 00:17:55,400
think you can eat quiet as cats, I'll feed you up.

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00:17:55,759 --> 00:17:57,599
But if you're going to make as much rumpus as

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00:17:57,640 --> 00:17:59,640
you did coming round the corner of the woodshed, I'll

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00:17:59,680 --> 00:18:01,599
have to pay you straight off to bed up the

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00:18:01,599 --> 00:18:06,079
back stairs. They pleaded for mercy and hot food. They

293
00:18:06,119 --> 00:18:09,279
got it. Everything that could be had that would diffuse.

294
00:18:09,359 --> 00:18:12,920
No order of cookery through the house, smoking clam broth,

295
00:18:13,279 --> 00:18:16,720
a great pot of baked beans, cold meats, and jellies.

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00:18:17,240 --> 00:18:19,880
They had no reason to complain of their reception. They

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00:18:20,039 --> 00:18:24,160
ate hungrily with the appetites of winter travel. Say, but

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00:18:24,279 --> 00:18:28,519
this is great, exulted Ralph the Stalwart, consuming a huge

299
00:18:28,559 --> 00:18:31,200
wedge of mince pie, with a fine disregard for any

300
00:18:31,240 --> 00:18:35,559
consequences that might overtake him. This alone is worth it.

301
00:18:36,079 --> 00:18:38,960
I haven't eaten such pie in a sentry. What a

302
00:18:39,079 --> 00:18:42,279
jolly place as old kitchen is. Let's have a candy

303
00:18:42,319 --> 00:18:46,319
pull tomorrow. I haven't been home Christmas in Let me see,

304
00:18:46,880 --> 00:18:51,119
by jove, I believe it's six seven, yes, seven years.

305
00:18:51,960 --> 00:18:54,799
Look here, there's been some excuse for me. But what

306
00:18:54,880 --> 00:18:58,599
about you people that live near? He looked accusingly about

307
00:18:59,319 --> 00:19:02,400
Carolyn got up and came around to him. Don't talk

308
00:19:02,440 --> 00:19:05,519
about it tonight, she whispered. We haven't any of us

309
00:19:05,559 --> 00:19:09,240
realized how long it's been. We'll get off to bed now,

310
00:19:09,599 --> 00:19:12,640
guy declared, rising. I can't get over the feeling that

311
00:19:12,680 --> 00:19:15,319
they may catch us down here if either of them

312
00:19:15,359 --> 00:19:19,160
should want some hot water or anything. The dining room

313
00:19:19,200 --> 00:19:22,960
door's bolted, Marietta assured him, But it might be explainin'

314
00:19:22,960 --> 00:19:24,559
if I had to bring em hot water by way

315
00:19:24,559 --> 00:19:28,440
of the parlor. Now go awful careful up them stairs.

316
00:19:28,680 --> 00:19:31,680
They're pretty near over your ma's head. But I don't

317
00:19:31,759 --> 00:19:33,599
dare have you tramped through the settin' room to the

318
00:19:33,599 --> 00:19:38,119
front ones. Now remember that seventh stair creaks like ned.

319
00:19:38,640 --> 00:19:41,000
You've got to step right on the outside edge. If

320
00:19:41,039 --> 00:19:43,799
it's to keep quiet. I don't know, but what you

321
00:19:43,880 --> 00:19:46,759
boys better step right over that seventh stair without touching

322
00:19:46,799 --> 00:19:51,839
foot to it. All right, we'll step Who's going to

323
00:19:51,839 --> 00:19:54,799
fix the bundles? Caroline paused to ask as she started

324
00:19:54,839 --> 00:19:59,640
up the stairs. Marietta guy answered, I've labeled every one,

325
00:19:59,720 --> 00:20:02,920
so be easy. If they hear paper rattle, they'll think

326
00:20:02,960 --> 00:20:05,559
it's the usual presence we've sent on. And if they

327
00:20:05,599 --> 00:20:09,079
come out, they'll see Marietta. So it's all right. Quite now,

328
00:20:09,559 --> 00:20:13,759
remember the seventh stare. They crept up, one by one,

329
00:20:14,000 --> 00:20:17,000
each to his or her old room. There needed to

330
00:20:17,039 --> 00:20:19,759
be no doubling up, for the house was large and

331
00:20:19,839 --> 00:20:22,359
each room had been left precisely as its owner had

332
00:20:22,400 --> 00:20:27,599
left it. It was rather ghostly. This stealing silently about

333
00:20:27,599 --> 00:20:30,880
with candles, and in the necessity for the suppression of speech,

334
00:20:30,960 --> 00:20:34,640
the animation of the party rather suffered eclipse. It was

335
00:20:34,720 --> 00:20:37,319
late and they were beginning to be sleepy, so they

336
00:20:37,359 --> 00:20:41,640
were soon in bed, but somehow, once composed for slumber,

337
00:20:42,160 --> 00:20:46,799
more than one grew wakeful again. Guy, lying staring at

338
00:20:46,839 --> 00:20:49,920
a patch of wintry moonlight on the odd striped paper

339
00:20:50,000 --> 00:20:52,759
of his wall. It had stopped snowing since they had

340
00:20:52,759 --> 00:20:55,119
come into the house, and the clouds had broken away,

341
00:20:55,680 --> 00:20:59,519
leaving a brilliant sky, discovered his door to be softly opening.

342
00:21:00,160 --> 00:21:02,480
The glimmer of a candle flickered through the crack, and

343
00:21:02,559 --> 00:21:06,279
a voice whispered his name. Who is it? He answered

344
00:21:06,319 --> 00:21:11,279
under his breath, it's Nan. May I come in? Of course?

345
00:21:11,480 --> 00:21:16,799
What's up? Nothing? I wanted to talk a minute. She

346
00:21:16,839 --> 00:21:20,559
came noiselessly in wrapped in a wooly scarlet Kimano scarlet,

347
00:21:20,599 --> 00:21:23,960
slippers on her feet, her brown braids hanging down her back.

348
00:21:24,680 --> 00:21:27,440
The frost bloom lately on her cheeks had melted into

349
00:21:27,440 --> 00:21:31,160
a ruddy glow. Her eyes were stars. She set her

350
00:21:31,160 --> 00:21:33,480
candle on the little stand and sat down on the

351
00:21:33,559 --> 00:21:37,079
edge of Guy's bed. He raised himself on his elbow

352
00:21:37,279 --> 00:21:41,680
and lie looking appreciatively at her. This is like old times,

353
00:21:42,079 --> 00:21:45,640
he said, But won't you be cold? Not a bit.

354
00:21:45,920 --> 00:21:49,240
I'm only going to stay a minute anyhow. This thing

355
00:21:49,319 --> 00:21:53,880
is warm as toast. Yes, isn't it like old times?

356
00:21:54,920 --> 00:21:59,319
Got your lessons for tomorrow? She laughed. All but my caesar,

357
00:21:59,759 --> 00:22:03,400
you'll help me with that in the morning, won't you sure?

358
00:22:03,759 --> 00:22:09,200
If you'll make some cushions for my Bob's I will. Guy,

359
00:22:09,519 --> 00:22:15,720
how's Lucy Harper? She's all right? How's Bob Fields? Oh?

360
00:22:16,000 --> 00:22:18,279
I don't care for him now? She tossed her head.

361
00:22:19,240 --> 00:22:22,720
He kept up the play like Dave's strong better? Eh,

362
00:22:23,039 --> 00:22:28,200
he's a softie he isn't. Oh, Guy, I heard you

363
00:22:28,240 --> 00:22:34,119
had a new girl. New girl nothing? Don't care for girls? Yes,

364
00:22:34,279 --> 00:22:38,599
you do, at least I think you do. Her name's Margaret.

365
00:22:40,119 --> 00:22:44,799
The play ceased abruptly. Guy's face changed. Perhaps I do,

366
00:22:45,079 --> 00:22:47,720
he murmured, while his sister watched him in the candlelight.

367
00:22:49,240 --> 00:22:54,000
She won't answer yet, she asked, very gently, Not a word.

368
00:22:55,559 --> 00:22:59,680
You've cared a good while, haven't you, dear? Seems like ages.

369
00:23:00,440 --> 00:23:06,599
Suppose it isn't. No, only two years really caring? Hard,

370
00:23:06,880 --> 00:23:12,079
plenty of time left. He moved his head impatiently. Yes,

371
00:23:12,680 --> 00:23:15,160
if I didn't mind seeing her smile on Tommy Gower,

372
00:23:16,119 --> 00:23:19,160
Dal'll take him just as sweetly as she smiles on me.

373
00:23:20,160 --> 00:23:22,160
If she ever held out the tip of her finger

374
00:23:22,200 --> 00:23:24,839
to me, I'd seize it and hold on to it

375
00:23:24,960 --> 00:23:29,720
for fair. But she doesn't, she won't. And she's going

376
00:23:29,799 --> 00:23:32,279
south next week for the rest of the winter. And

377
00:23:32,359 --> 00:23:36,160
there's a fellow down there in South Carolina where she goes. Oh,

378
00:23:36,440 --> 00:23:40,640
he he's red headed after her like the rest of us.

379
00:23:41,079 --> 00:23:45,599
And well, I'm up against it, good and hard, Nan,

380
00:23:45,880 --> 00:23:50,839
And that's the truth, poor boy. And you gave up

381
00:23:50,839 --> 00:23:53,519
going to see her on Christmas Day and came down

382
00:23:53,519 --> 00:23:57,079
here into the country just to just to get even

383
00:23:57,119 --> 00:23:59,279
with myself for the way I've neglected on these two

384
00:23:59,359 --> 00:24:03,559
years while my heads been so full of her. It

385
00:24:03,680 --> 00:24:07,200
isn't there. After last year. I'd have come home to

386
00:24:07,279 --> 00:24:10,400
day if it had meant I had to lose. Well,

387
00:24:11,359 --> 00:24:15,000
Margaret knows i'm here. I don't know what she thinks.

388
00:24:15,880 --> 00:24:21,480
I don't believe guy boy, she thinks the less of you. Yes,

389
00:24:22,359 --> 00:24:25,480
I must go. It will all come right in the end, dear.

390
00:24:25,680 --> 00:24:30,559
I'm sure of it. No, I don't know how Margaret feels.

391
00:24:31,119 --> 00:24:39,799
Good Night, good night, Christmas morning breaking upon a wintry world,

392
00:24:40,000 --> 00:24:43,640
the star in the east long set outside the house,

393
00:24:43,680 --> 00:24:47,880
a great silence of drift wrapped hill and plain inside,

394
00:24:48,079 --> 00:24:50,759
a crackling fire, upon a wide hearth, and a pair

395
00:24:50,759 --> 00:24:55,240
of elderly people waking to a lonely holiday. Missus Vernald

396
00:24:55,279 --> 00:24:58,000
crept to the door of her room. The injured knee

397
00:24:58,000 --> 00:25:02,079
always made walking difficult. After night it's quiet. She meant

398
00:25:02,079 --> 00:25:04,079
to sit down by the fire, which she had lately

399
00:25:04,119 --> 00:25:08,119
heard Marietta stirring and feeding into activity, and warm herself

400
00:25:08,119 --> 00:25:11,279
at its flame. She remembered with a sad little smile

401
00:25:11,319 --> 00:25:14,279
that she and John had hung their stockings there, and

402
00:25:14,359 --> 00:25:16,599
looked to see what miracle had been wrought in the

403
00:25:16,680 --> 00:25:22,920
night father. Her voice caught in her throat. What was

404
00:25:23,000 --> 00:25:26,640
all this? By some mysterious influence? Her husband learned that

405
00:25:26,720 --> 00:25:29,759
she was calling him, though he had not really heard.

406
00:25:30,519 --> 00:25:32,960
He came to the door and looked at her, then

407
00:25:33,000 --> 00:25:36,000
at the chimney piece where the stockings hung, a long

408
00:25:36,119 --> 00:25:38,599
row of them, as they had not hung since the

409
00:25:38,680 --> 00:25:43,079
children grew up. Stockings of quality, one of brown silk

410
00:25:43,680 --> 00:25:49,039
NaN's a fine gray sock with scarlet clocks. Ralph's all

411
00:25:49,079 --> 00:25:52,319
stuffed to the top, with bundles overflowing upon the chimney

412
00:25:52,319 --> 00:25:59,640
piece and even to the floor below. What's this? What's this? John?

413
00:25:59,759 --> 00:26:04,480
Ernard's voice was puzzled. Whose are these? He limped closer.

414
00:26:05,279 --> 00:26:07,640
He put on his spectacles and stared hard at a

415
00:26:07,640 --> 00:26:12,359
parcel protruding from the sock with the scarlet clocks. Merry

416
00:26:12,440 --> 00:26:19,160
Christmas to Ralph from Nan, he read, to Ralph, from Nan,

417
00:26:19,880 --> 00:26:24,200
he repeated, vaguely. His gaze turned to his wife. His

418
00:26:24,319 --> 00:26:27,519
eyes were wide like a child's. But she was getting

419
00:26:27,559 --> 00:26:29,400
to her feet from the chair into which she had

420
00:26:29,480 --> 00:26:37,640
dropped the children. She was saying, they, they, John, they

421
00:26:37,759 --> 00:26:41,319
must be here. He followed her through the chilly hall

422
00:26:41,359 --> 00:26:45,440
to the front staircase, seldom used now, and up as

423
00:26:45,519 --> 00:26:49,920
rapidly as those slow, stiff joints would allow. Trembling Missus

424
00:26:49,960 --> 00:26:53,000
Vernald pushed open the first door. At the top, A

425
00:26:53,119 --> 00:26:56,319
rumpled brown head raised itself from among the pillows. A

426
00:26:56,400 --> 00:26:59,000
pair of sleepy but affectionate brown eyes smiled back at

427
00:26:59,000 --> 00:27:02,079
the two faces peering in, and a voice brimful of

428
00:27:02,119 --> 00:27:07,480
mirth cried softly Merry Christmas, Memmi and Daddy. They stared

429
00:27:07,519 --> 00:27:11,440
at her, their eyes growing misty. It was their little

430
00:27:11,559 --> 00:27:16,240
daughter Nan, not yet grown up. They could not believe it,

431
00:27:16,920 --> 00:27:19,559
even when they had been to every room, had seen

432
00:27:19,599 --> 00:27:23,359
their big son Ralph still sleeping, his yet youthful face

433
00:27:23,720 --> 00:27:27,279
full of healthy color pillowed on his brawny arm, and

434
00:27:27,400 --> 00:27:29,839
his mother had gently kissed him awake to be half

435
00:27:29,880 --> 00:27:33,480
strangled in his hug. When they had met Edson's hearty

436
00:27:33,559 --> 00:27:36,440
laugh as he fired a pillow at them, carefully so

437
00:27:36,480 --> 00:27:39,279
that his father could catch it. When they had seen

438
00:27:39,279 --> 00:27:41,880
plump pretty Carol putting on her stockings as she sat

439
00:27:41,920 --> 00:27:45,640
on the floor, smiling up at them, Oliver advancing to

440
00:27:45,680 --> 00:27:49,759
meet them in his bathrobe and slippers, Guy holding out

441
00:27:49,799 --> 00:27:53,440
both arms from above his blankets and shouting Merry Christmas,

442
00:27:54,000 --> 00:27:57,039
and how do you like your children? Even then it

443
00:27:57,079 --> 00:28:00,079
was difficult to realize that not one was missing, and

444
00:28:00,119 --> 00:28:04,039
no one else was there. Unconsciously, missus Fernold found herself

445
00:28:04,079 --> 00:28:07,759
looking about for the sons, wise and daughter's husbands and children.

446
00:28:08,720 --> 00:28:12,440
She loved them all yet to have her own, and

447
00:28:12,559 --> 00:28:17,240
no others, just for this one day. It was happiness. Indeed,

448
00:28:18,559 --> 00:28:21,279
when they were all downstairs about the fire. There was

449
00:28:21,319 --> 00:28:25,359
great rejoicing they had Marietta in. Indeed, she had been

450
00:28:25,400 --> 00:28:29,480
hovering continuously in the background to the apparently frightful jeopardy

451
00:28:29,480 --> 00:28:33,440
of the breakfast in preparation upon which nevertheless she had

452
00:28:33,440 --> 00:28:38,039
managed to keep a practiced eye. And were you in it, Marietta,

453
00:28:38,759 --> 00:28:41,319
Mister Fernold said to her, in astonishment when he first

454
00:28:41,359 --> 00:28:44,160
saw her, How in the world did you get all

455
00:28:44,200 --> 00:28:48,160
these people into the house and to bed without waking us?

456
00:28:49,119 --> 00:28:52,480
It was pretty considerable of a ResQue, Marietta replied, with

457
00:28:52,559 --> 00:28:55,519
modest pride, seein as how they was inclined to be

458
00:28:55,599 --> 00:28:58,559
Midland lively. But I kept a hushing 'em up, and

459
00:28:58,680 --> 00:29:00,599
I filled em up so full of it victuals they

460
00:29:00,599 --> 00:29:04,000
couldn't talk. I didn't know there be any eatables left

461
00:29:04,000 --> 00:29:07,440
for to day, she added, which last remark, since she

462
00:29:07,480 --> 00:29:10,200
had been slyly baking for a week, guy thought might

463
00:29:10,240 --> 00:29:14,839
be considered pure bluff. At the breakfast table, while the

464
00:29:14,880 --> 00:29:18,200
eight heads were bent this thanksgiving a rose as the

465
00:29:18,240 --> 00:29:20,920
Master of the house, in a voice not quite steady,

466
00:29:21,400 --> 00:29:25,720
offered it to one unseen thou who camest to us

467
00:29:25,759 --> 00:29:29,599
on that first Christmas Day, we bless THEE for this

468
00:29:29,759 --> 00:29:33,480
good and perfect gift. Thou sendest us to day, but

469
00:29:33,599 --> 00:29:36,960
thou forgettest us not in these later years, but givest

470
00:29:37,000 --> 00:29:39,400
us the greatest joy of our lives, in these our

471
00:29:39,440 --> 00:29:46,640
loyal children. NaN's hand clutched Guy's under the table. Doesn't

472
00:29:46,640 --> 00:29:49,160
that make it worth it? His grasp said to her,

473
00:29:49,799 --> 00:29:53,519
and hers replied with a frantic pressure, indeed it does,

474
00:29:54,039 --> 00:29:58,039
but we don't deserve it. It was late in the afternoon,

475
00:29:58,400 --> 00:30:01,319
a tremendous Christmas dinner was all over and the group

476
00:30:01,400 --> 00:30:04,559
scattered when Guy and his mother sat alone by the fire.

477
00:30:05,680 --> 00:30:07,799
The boys had gone out to the great stock Barn

478
00:30:07,920 --> 00:30:10,200
with their father to talk over with him every detail

479
00:30:10,200 --> 00:30:12,799
of the prosperous business he, with the help of an

480
00:30:12,799 --> 00:30:16,960
invaluable assistant, was yet able to manage. Caroline and Nan

481
00:30:17,079 --> 00:30:20,200
had ostensibly gone with them, but in reality the former

482
00:30:20,279 --> 00:30:22,799
was calling upon an old friend of her childhood, and

483
00:30:22,880 --> 00:30:25,119
the latter had begged a horse and sleigh and driven

484
00:30:25,160 --> 00:30:28,160
merrily away alone upon an errand she would tell no

485
00:30:28,200 --> 00:30:31,920
one but her mother, Missus Fernald, sat in her low

486
00:30:32,039 --> 00:30:34,559
chair at one side of the hearth, her son upon

487
00:30:34,599 --> 00:30:37,920
a cushion at her feet, his hand resting against her knee.

488
00:30:38,680 --> 00:30:41,359
Her slender fingers were gently threading the thick locks of

489
00:30:41,359 --> 00:30:43,680
his hair as she listened while he talked to her

490
00:30:43,720 --> 00:30:47,279
of everything in his life and at last, the one

491
00:30:47,319 --> 00:30:51,759
thing he cared most about. Sometimes I get desperate and

492
00:30:51,839 --> 00:30:53,519
think I may as well give her up for good

493
00:30:53,519 --> 00:31:01,000
and all, he was saying. She's so so elusive. I

494
00:31:01,039 --> 00:31:03,839
don't know any other word for it. I never can

495
00:31:03,880 --> 00:31:07,400
tell how I stand with her. She's going south next week.

496
00:31:08,240 --> 00:31:11,559
I've asked her to answer me before she goes. Somehow

497
00:31:11,559 --> 00:31:13,559
I've clung to the hope that I get my answer

498
00:31:13,559 --> 00:31:16,960
to day. You'll laugh, but I left word with my

499
00:31:17,039 --> 00:31:19,440
office boy to wire me if a note or anything

500
00:31:19,480 --> 00:31:24,920
from her came. It's four o'clock that I haven't heard she.

501
00:31:27,359 --> 00:31:30,079
You see, I can't help thinking it's because she's going

502
00:31:30,119 --> 00:31:36,559
to turn me down and hates to do it. Christmas Day,

503
00:31:38,319 --> 00:31:41,240
he turned suddenly and buried his face in his mother's lap.

504
00:31:41,920 --> 00:31:45,640
His shoulders heaved a little in spite of himself. His

505
00:31:45,720 --> 00:31:48,920
mother's hand caressed his head more tenderly than ever. But

506
00:31:49,599 --> 00:31:52,359
if he could have seen, her eyes were very bright.

507
00:31:54,000 --> 00:31:56,839
They were silent for a long time. Then Suddenly, a

508
00:31:56,920 --> 00:31:59,839
jingle of sleigh bells approached through the falling winter twilight,

509
00:32:00,440 --> 00:32:04,039
drew near and stopped at the door. Guy's mother laid

510
00:32:04,039 --> 00:32:08,599
her hand upon his shoulders. Son. She said, there's some

511
00:32:08,599 --> 00:32:11,640
one stopping now. Perhaps it's the boy with a message

512
00:32:11,640 --> 00:32:15,519
from the station. He was on his feet in an instant.

513
00:32:15,920 --> 00:32:18,319
Her eyes followed him as he rushed away through the hall.

514
00:32:19,400 --> 00:32:22,000
Then she rose and quietly closed the sitting room door

515
00:32:22,039 --> 00:32:26,279
behind him. As Guy flung open the front door, a

516
00:32:26,359 --> 00:32:28,839
tall and slender figure in gray furs and a wide

517
00:32:28,920 --> 00:32:32,400
gray hat was coming up the walk. Eyes, whose glance

518
00:32:32,440 --> 00:32:36,000
had long been his dearest torture, met Guy Fernauld's and

519
00:32:36,119 --> 00:32:39,519
fell lips like there were no others in the world,

520
00:32:39,599 --> 00:32:44,039
smiled tremulously in response to his eager exclamation, and over

521
00:32:44,079 --> 00:32:47,200
the piaguant young face rose an exquisite color which was

522
00:32:47,240 --> 00:32:51,160
not altogether born of the wintry air. The girl, who

523
00:32:51,240 --> 00:32:54,240
for two years had been only elusive, had taken the

524
00:32:54,279 --> 00:32:57,720
significant step of coming to northeaster de Brook in response

525
00:32:57,759 --> 00:33:00,680
to an eloquent telephone message sent that more by Nan.

526
00:33:02,240 --> 00:33:04,920
Holding both her hands fast, Guy led her up into

527
00:33:04,920 --> 00:33:07,319
the house and found himself alone with her in the

528
00:33:07,359 --> 00:33:11,400
shadowy hall. With one gay shout, Nan had driven away

529
00:33:11,440 --> 00:33:15,960
toward the barn. The inner doors were all closed. Blessing

530
00:33:15,960 --> 00:33:19,359
the wondrous sagacity of his womankind. Guy took advantage of

531
00:33:19,400 --> 00:33:24,359
his moment. Nan brought you. I see that. I know

532
00:33:24,440 --> 00:33:27,559
you're very fond of her. But you didn't come wholly

533
00:33:27,599 --> 00:33:34,240
to please her, did you, Margaret? Not wholly? I've been

534
00:33:34,279 --> 00:33:40,960
looking all day for my answer. I Oh, I wonder

535
00:33:41,039 --> 00:33:45,000
if he was gathering courage from her aspect, which, for

536
00:33:45,039 --> 00:33:47,359
the first time in his experience, failed to keep him

537
00:33:47,359 --> 00:33:53,839
at a distance. Dare I think you bring it? She

538
00:33:53,920 --> 00:33:57,400
slowly lifted up her face. I thought it was so

539
00:33:58,160 --> 00:34:01,119
dear of you. She murmured, to come home to your

540
00:34:01,119 --> 00:34:06,319
people instead of staying with me. I thought you deserved

541
00:34:06,880 --> 00:34:14,840
what you say you want. Margaret. You I haven't given

542
00:34:14,880 --> 00:34:23,960
you any Christmas present? Will I do? Will you do? Oh?

543
00:34:24,760 --> 00:34:27,400
It was a great explosive sigh of relief and joy,

544
00:34:27,960 --> 00:34:30,000
and as he gave vent to it, he caught her close.

545
00:34:30,800 --> 00:34:43,360
Will you do, good Lord, I rather think you will Emmeline. Yes, John, dear,

546
00:34:44,280 --> 00:34:51,159
you're not crying? Oh? No, no, no, John, What a

547
00:34:51,199 --> 00:34:55,920
blessing deafness is sometimes the ear cannot detect the delicate tremolo,

548
00:34:56,559 --> 00:34:59,360
which might tell the story too plainly, and in the

549
00:34:59,400 --> 00:35:03,880
darkness of the eye cannot see. It's been a pretty

550
00:35:03,960 --> 00:35:09,400
nice day, hasn't it a beautiful day? I guess there's

551
00:35:09,400 --> 00:35:11,360
no doubt. But the children care a good deal for

552
00:35:11,400 --> 00:35:16,960
the old folks, yet, no doubt at all. Dear. It's

553
00:35:17,000 --> 00:35:19,559
good to think they're all asleep under the roof once more,

554
00:35:19,679 --> 00:35:25,920
isn't it? And one extra one? We like her, don't we? Oh?

555
00:35:26,320 --> 00:35:33,159
Very very much. Yes, guy's done well. I always thought

556
00:35:33,159 --> 00:35:36,559
he'd get her if he hung on. The Fernauld's always

557
00:35:36,599 --> 00:35:39,159
hang on. But Guy's got a mite of a temper.

558
00:35:40,119 --> 00:35:41,800
I didn't know, but he might let it go a

559
00:35:41,800 --> 00:35:46,360
little too soon. Well, it's great to think they all

560
00:35:46,400 --> 00:35:51,960
plan to spend every Christmas Day with us, isn't it, Emeline? Yes, dear,

561
00:35:52,599 --> 00:35:58,400
it's great. Well, I must let you go to sleep.

562
00:35:58,880 --> 00:36:03,679
It's been a big day, and I guess you're tired. Emeline.

563
00:36:03,920 --> 00:36:07,079
We've not only got each other, we've got the children too.

564
00:36:08,079 --> 00:36:14,519
That's a pretty happy thing at our age, isn't it now? Yes? Yes,

565
00:36:17,079 --> 00:36:26,599
good night, Christmas night, Emmeline, Good night. Dear and of

566
00:36:27,000 --> 00:36:30,760
on Christmas Day in the morning by Grace S. Richmond