by A. A. Milne
“Yes, my son; but be patient a little longer. I see your grandpa has something to say.”
“Something that Walter will be glad to hear, I make no doubt,” remarked Mr. Dinsmore, giving the child a kindly look and smile. “Capt. Raymond and I have had a little chat through the telephone this morning. He invites us all to join the Woodburn family in a sleigh-ride, he is coming for us in an omnibus sleigh; and I accepted for each and every one of you.”
Zoe, Rosie and Walter uttered a simultaneous exclamation of delight, while the others looked well pleased with the arrangement.
“At what hour are we to expect the captain?” asked Mrs. Dinsmore.
“About ten.”
“And where does he propose to take us?” inquired Zoe.
“I presume wherever the ladies of the party decide that they would like to go.”
“Surely, papa, the gentlemen also should have a voice in that,” his daughter said, sending him a bright, affectionate look from behind the coffee-urn, “you at least, in case the question is put to vote.”
“Not I more than the rest of you,” he returned pleasantly. “But I have no doubt we would all enjoy the ride in any direction where the sleighing is good.”
“I think it will prove fine on all the roads,” remarked Edward, “and I presume everybody, would enjoy driving over to Fairview, the Laurels and the Oaks to call on our nearest relatives; perhaps to the Pines and Roselands also, to see the cousins there.”
“That would be nice,” said Zoe, “but don’t you suppose they may be improving the sleighing opportunity as well as ourselves? may be driving over here to call on us?”
“Then, when we meet, the question will be who shall turn round and go back, and who keep on,” laughed Rosie.
“But to avoid such an unpleasant state of affairs we have only to ask and, answer a few questions through the telephone,” said Edward.
“Certainly,” said his grandfather, “and we’ll attend to it the first thing on leaving the table.”
Everybody was interested, and presently all were gathered about the telephone, while Edward, acting as spokesman of the party, called to first one and then another of the households nearly related to themselves.
The answers came promptly, and it was soon evident that all were intending to avail themselves of the somewhat rare opportunity offered by the snow and ice covered roads, none planning to stay at home to receive calls. They would all visit Ion if the ladies there were likely to be in.
“Tell them,” said Grandma Elsie, “to take their drives this morning, come to Ion in time for dinner, and spend the rest of the day and evening here. I shall be much pleased to have them all do so.”
The message went the rounds, everybody accepted the invitation, and Elsie’s orders for the day to cook and housekeeper, were given accordingly.
The Woodburn party arrived in high spirits, a sleigh, containing the Fairview family, driving up at the same time. They had room for one more and wanted “mamma” to occupy it; but the captain and Violet would not resign their claim, and Evelyn and Lulu showed a strong desire to be together; so the former was transferred to the Woodburn sleigh, and Zoe and Edward took the vacant seats in that from Fairview.
The two vehicles kept near together, their occupants, the children especially, were very gay and lively. They talked of last year’s holiday sports, and indulged in pleasing anticipations in regard to what might be in store for them in those now drawing near.
“We had a fine time at the Oaks, hadn’t we, girls?” said Max, addressing Evelyn and Rosie.
“Yes,” they replied, “but a still better one at Woodburn.”
“When are you and Lu going to invite us again?” asked Rosie.
“When papa gives permission,” answered Max, sending a smiling, persuasive glance in his father’s direction.
“It is quite possible you may not have very long to wait for that, Max,” was the kindly indulgent rejoinder from the captain.
“It is Rosie’s turn this year,” remarked Grandma Elsie; “Rosie’s and Walter’s and mine. I want all the young people of the connection— and as many of the older ones as we can make room for— to come to Ion for the Christmas holidays, or at least the greater part of them; we will settle particulars as to the time of coming and going, later on. Captain, I want you and Violet and all your children for the whole time.”
“Thank you, mother; you are most kind, and I do not now see anything in the way of our acceptance of your invitation,” he said; but added with a playful look at Violet, “unless my wife should object.”
“If I should, mamma, you will receive my regrets in due season,” laughed Violet.
The faces of the children were beaming with delight, and their young voices united in a chorus of expressions of pleasure and thanks to Grandma Elsie.
“I am glad you are all pleased with the idea,” she said. “We will try to provide as great a variety of amusements as possible, and shall be glad of any hints or suggestions from old or young in regard to anything new in that line.”
“We will all try to help you, mamma,” Violet said, “and not be jealous or envious if your party should far outshine ours of last year.”
“And we have more than a month to get ready in,” remarked Rosie with satisfaction. “Oh I’m so glad mamma has decided on it in such good season!”
“Hello!” cried Max, glancing back toward an intersecting road which they had just crossed, “Here they come!”
“Who?” asked several voices, while all turned their heads to see for themselves.
“The Oaks, and the Roselands folks,” answered Max, and as he spoke two large sleighs came swiftly up in the rear of their own, their occupants calling out merry greetings, and receiving a return in kind.
The wind had fallen, the cold was not intense, and they were so well protected against it by coats and robes of fur, that they scarcely felt it, and found the ride so thoroughly enjoyable that they kept it up through the whole morning, managing their return so that Ion was reached only a few minutes before the dinner hour.
Ion was a sort of headquarters for the entire connection, and everybody seemed to feel perfectly at home. Grandma Elsie was a most hospitable hostess, and it was a very cheerful, jovial party that surrounded her well-spread table that day.
After dinner, while the older people conversed together in the parlors, the younger ones wandered at will through the house.
The girls were together in a small reception-room, chatting about such matters as particularly interested them— their studies, sports, plans for the purchase or making of Christmas gifts, and what they hoped or desired to receive. “I want jewelry,” said Sidney Dinsmore. “I’d rather have that than anything else. But it must be handsome: a diamond pin or ring, or ear-rings.”
“Mamma says diamonds are quite unsuitable for young girls,” said Rosie. “So I prefer pearls: and I’m rather in hopes she may give me some for Christmas.”
“I’d rather have diamonds anyhow,” persisted Sydney. “See Maud’s new ring, just sent her by a rich old aunt of ours. I’m sure it looks lovely on her finger and shows off the beauty of her hand.”
“Yes, I’ve been admiring it,” said Lulu, “and I thought I’d never seen it before.”
Maud held out her hand with, evident pride and satisfaction, while the others gathered round her eager for a close inspection of the ring.
They all admired it greatly and Maud seemed gratified.
“Yes,” she said, “it certainly is a beauty, and Chess says it must be worth a good deal; that centre stone is quite large, you see, and there are six others in a circle around it.”
“I should think you’d feel very rich,” remarked Lulu; “I’d go fairly wild with delight if I had such an one given me.”
“Well then, why not give your father a hint that you’d like such a Christmas gift from him?” asked Sydney.
“I’m afraid it would cost too much,” said Lulu, “and I wouldn’t want papa to spend mo
re on me than he could well afford.”
“Why, he could afford it well enough!” exclaimed Maud. “Your father is very rich— worth his millions, I heard Cousin Horace say not long ago; and he knows of course.”
Lulu looked much surprised. “Papa never talks of how much money he has,” she said, “and I never supposed it was more than about enough to keep us comfortable; but millions means a great deal doesn’t it?”
“I should say so indeed! more than your mind or mine can grasp the idea of.”
Lulu’s eyes sparkled. “I’m ever so glad for papa!” she said; “he’s just the right person to have a great deal of money, for he will be sure to make the very best use of it.”
“And for a part of it, that will be diamonds for you, won’t it?” laughed Maud.
“I hope the captain will think so by the time she’s grown up,” remarked Rosie, with a pleasant look at Lulu; “or sooner if they come to be thought suitable for girls of her age.”
“That’s nice in you Rosie,” Lulu said, flushing with pleasure, “and I hope you will get your pearls this Christmas.”
“I join in both wishes,” said Evelyn Leland, “and hope everyone of you will receive a Christmas gift quite to her mind: but, oh girls, don’t you think it would be nice to give a good time to the poor people about us?”
“What poor people?” asked Sydney.
“I mean both the whites and the blacks,” explained Evelyn. “There are those Jones children that live not far from Woodburn, for instance: their mother’s dead and the father gets drunk and beats and abuses them, and altogether I’m sure they are very, very forlorn.”
“Oh yes,” cried Lulu, “it would be just splendid to give them a good time!— nice things to eat and to wear, and toys too. I’ll talk to papa about it, and he’ll tell us what to give them and how to give it.”
“And there are a number of other families in the neighborhood probably quite as poor and forlorn,” said Lora Howard. “Oh I think it would be delightful to get them all together somewhere and surprise them with a Christmas tree loaded with nice things! Lets do it, girls. We all have some pocket money, and we can get our fathers and mothers to tell us how to use it to the best advantage, and how to manage the giving.”
“I haven’t a bit more pocket money than I need to buy the presents I wish to give my own particular friends,” objected Sydney.
“It’s nice, and right too, I think, to give tokens of love to our dear ones,” Evelyn said, “but we need not make them very expensive in order to give pleasure;— often they would prefer some simple little thing that is the work of our own hands— and so we would have something left for the poor and needy, whom the Bible teaches us we should care for and relieve to the best of our ability.”
“Yes, I daresay you are right,” returned Sydney, “but I sha’n’t make any rash promises in regard to the matter.”
Chapter 2
In the parlor the older people were conversing on somewhat similar topics: first discussing plans for the entertainment and gratification of their children and other young relatives, during the approaching holidays, then of the needs of the poor of the neighborhood, and how to supply them; after that they talked of the claims of Home and Foreign Missions; the perils threatening their country from illiteracy, anarchy, heathenism, Mormonism, Popery, Infidelity, etc., not omitting the danger from vast wealth accumulating in the hands of individuals and corporations; also they spoke of the heavy responsibility entailed by its possession.
They were patriots and Christians; anxious first of all for the advancement of Christ’s kingdom upon earth, secondly for the welfare and prosperity of the dear land of their birth— the glorious old Union transmitted to us by our revolutionary fathers.
It was a personal question with each one, “How can I best use for the salvation of my country and the world, the time, talents, influence and money God has entrusted to my keeping.”
They acknowledged themselves stewards of God’s bounty, and as such desired to be found faithful; neglecting neither the work nearest at hand nor that in far distant lands where the people sit in great darkness and the region and shadow of death, that on them the “Sun of righteousness might arise with healing in his wings.”
It had been expected that the guests would stay at Ion till bedtime, but a thaw had set in and ice and snow were fast disappearing from the roads; therefore all departed for their homes directly after an early tea.
Lulu was very quiet during the homeward drive; her thoughts were full of Maud’s surprising assertion in regard to her father’s wealth.
“I wonder if it is really so,” she said to herself. “I’m tempted to ask papa; but he might not like it, and I wouldn’t want to do anything to vex or trouble him,— my dear, dear kind father!”
An excellent opportunity for a private chat with him was afforded her shortly after their arrival at home. The little ones were fretful and Violet went to the nursery with them; Max hastened to his own room to finish a composition he was expected to hand to his father the next morning, Gracie, weary with the excitement of the day, and the long morning drive, went directly to her bed, and having seen her in it, and left her there with a loving good night, the captain and Lulu presently found themselves the only occupants of the library.
Taking possession of a large easy chair, “Come and sit on my knee and tell me how you have enjoyed your day,” he said, giving her a fond fatherly smile.
“Very much indeed, papa,” she answered, accepting his invitation, putting her arm round his neck and laying her cheek to his.
His arm was around her waist. He drew her closer, saying softly, “My dear, dear little daughter! I thought you were unusually quiet coming home: is anything amiss with you?”
“Oh, no, papa! I’ve had a lovely time all day long. How kind you were to give us all a holiday and let me go along with the rest of you.”
“Good to myself as well as to you, my darlings; I could have had very little enjoyment leaving you behind.”
“Papa, it’s so nice to have you love me so!” she said, kissing him with ardent affection. “Oh, I do hope I’ll never, never be very naughty again!”
“I hope not, dear child,” he responded, returning her caresses. “I hope you feel ready to resume your studies to-morrow, with diligence and painstaking?”
“Yes, papa, I think I do. It’s almost a week since you have heard me recite; except the Sunday lesson yesterday.”
“Yes,” he said gravely, “it has been something of a loss to you in one way, but I trust a decided gain in another. Well to change the subject, are you pleased with the prospect of spending the holidays at Ion?”
“Yes, papa; I think it will be lovely; almost as nice as having a party of our own, as we did last year.”
“Possibly we may add that— a party here for a day or two— if Grandma Elsie does not use up all the holidays with hers,” he said in a half jesting tone and with a pleasant laugh.
“O papa, do you really think we may?” she cried in delight. “Oh you are just the kindest father!” giving him a hug.
He laughed at that, returning the hug with interest.
“I suppose you and Eva and the rest were laying out plans for Christmas doings this afternoon?” he said inquiringly.
“Yes, papa, we were talking a good deal about games and tableaux, and about the things we could buy or make for gifts to our friends, and what we would like to have given us.”
She paused, half hoping he would ask what she wanted from him, but he did not. He sat silently caressing her hair and cheek with his hand, and seemingly lost in thought.
At length, “Papa,” she asked half hesitatingly, “are you very rich?”
“Rich?” he repeated, coming suddenly out of his reverie and looking smilingly down into her eyes, “yes; I have a sound constitution, excellent health, a delightful home, a wife and five children, each one of whom I esteem worth at least a million to me; I live in a Christian land,” he went on in a graver tone,
“I have the Bible with all its great and precious promises, the hope of a blessed eternity at God’s right hand, and that all my dear ones are traveling heavenward with me; yes, I am a very rich man!”
“Yes, sir; but— I meant have you a great deal of money.”
“Enough to provide all that is necessary for the comfort of my family, and to gratify any reasonable desire on the part of my little girl. What is it you want, my darling?”
“Papa, I’m almost ashamed to tell you,” she said, blushing and hanging her head; “but if I do, and you can’t afford it, won’t you please say so and not feel sorry about it? because I wouldn’t ever want you to spend money on me that you need for yourself or some of the others.”
“I am glad you are thoughtful for others as well as yourself, daughter,” he said kindly; “but don’t hesitate to tell me all that is in your heart. Nothing pleases me better than to have you, and all my dear children do so.”
“Thank you, my dear, dear papa. I don’t mean ever to hide anything from you,” she returned, giving him another hug and kiss, while her eyes sparkled and her cheek flushed with pleasure. “It’s a diamond ring I’d like to have.”
“A diamond ring?” he repeated in surprise. “What would my little girl do with such a thing as that?”
“Wear it, papa. Maud Dinsmore has such beautiful one, that a rich aunt sent her the other day,” she went on eagerly; “there’s a large diamond in the middle and little ones all round it, and it sparkles so, and looks just lovely on her hand! We all admired it ever so much, and I said I’d be wild with delight if I had such an one; then Sydney said, ‘Why not give your father a hint that you’d like one for Christmas?’ and I said I was afraid you couldn’t afford to give me anything that would cost so much; but Maud said I needn’t be, for you were worth millions of money. Can you really afford to give it to me, papa? I’d like it better than anything else if you can, but if you can’t I don’t want it,” she concluded with a sigh, and creeping closer into his embrace.