The Big Book of Christmas

by Anton Chekhov

"Hey, Captain of the enemy!" shouted Chuck from the other fort, "are you ready?"

  * * *

  "All ready," came the answer. "Fire!"

  * * *

  A storm of snowballs flew through the air and Reddy barely had time to duck his head as they whizzed by.

  * * *

  "Looks as though they had plenty of balls, too," exclaimed Toad, hastily picking up an armful and running outside to get within closer range.

  * * *

  "I don't think so," protested Herbie. "I could see all of them working on the fort. We have lots more, I'm sure."

  * * *

  "Well," cried the Captain, "let everybody take a pile of snowballs and we'll run out together and maybe we can drive them from their fort."

  * * *

  Each boy carried as many as he could in one arm, this leaving the other one free to throw with.

  * * *

  "We'll have to make a quick run for it and throw just as fast and hard as we can," said Herbie, as Toad, who had at that moment returned to the fort in a great hurry, his hat covered with snow, exclaimed:

  * * *

  "They got me, but I hit two or three of them!"

  * * *

  "All ready!" shouted the Captain, and the others, following close on his heels, dashed out.

  * * *

  Such a hail of snowballs met them that they halted for a moment, then dashed onward right up to the enemy's fort.

  * * *

  "Don't waste any ammunition until you get close," ordered Reddy, and his company obeyed. "Now let her fly," he directed, as they surrounded the fort.

  * * *

  The boys threw with a will and were vigorously answered by the defenders of the fort, and for a time it was hard to see which side would win. Finally, after the ammunition of the attacking force was used up, Captain Reddy ordered a retreat back to their own fort.

  * * *

  "I have a better plan this time," he announced after they were safely inside. "When we charge again, two of you fellows must keep running back to our own fort so as to bring us supplies of snowballs. Then we can keep up a much longer fight and when anyone gets tired throwing," he added, "he can change places with one of the fellows that have been carrying the balls."

  * * *

  At this moment, Herbie, who had been on the lookout, suddenly cried:

  * * *

  "They're coming to charge us."

  * * *

  "Get ready to give it to them," ordered the Captain and each boy, snatching up an armful of snowballs, prepared to repel the attack.

  * * *

  "Fire!" Reddy shouted, as the enemy drew near, and when they met that rain of balls it didn't take them long to get back to the cover of their own fort.

  * * *

  "That was great!" cried Herbie. "Come on, let us charge this time before they have a chance to get ready for us."

  * * *

  "Hey, I'm the Captain," insisted Reddy. "Nobody gives any orders but me," and he pulled his woolen cap well down over his ears in preparation for the coming attack.

  * * *

  "Well, hurry up and give them, then!" shouted Toad. "I'm all loaded up."

  * * *

  "Charge, charge on!" shouted Reddy, starting out on the run with the others close upon his heels, and after a few minutes of hard fighting they had forced their way to the walls of the fort.

  * * *

  The balls were flying so thick and so fast, from both sides, that it looked like a snow storm of enormous flakes shooting in all directions.

  * * *

  The boys carrying balls to supply the invaders were kept busy, but before long it was noticed that there were fewer coming from inside the fort.

  * * *

  "They've used up all they have," shouted Toad. "Let's get closer."

  * * *

  "Close in," cried Captain Reddy, "and aim well!"

  * * *

  In another minute you could plainly tell that each of the enemy, after throwing one snowball, had to stop long enough to make another one and this was the time for which Captain Reddy had been waiting.

  * * *

  "Charge the walls!" he ordered, and with wild cries the boys dashed forward.

  * * *

  Up over the walls they went and once inside the victory was easily won for the boys inside the fort were empty handed and couldn't defend themselves.

  * * *

  "We win, we win!" exclaimed Toad, throwing his hat into the air. "Three cheers for Captain Reddy!"

  * * *

  "Hurrah!" shouted all the boys.

  Chuck's Rude Awakening

  The day before Christmas dawned bright and cold. Mother Brown, who had been up early, made some wonderful Christmas pies and a pudding before Toad and Chuck were awake.

  It was eight o'clock before Toad opened one eye.

  "What's the use of getting up," he thought, "I'm so warm and comfortable here in bed. My, but something smells awfully good. Wonder if it's breakfast."

  Suddenly he sat up straight in bed.

  "Look at that lazy thing," he declared. "Bet he'd sleep until noon if I'd let him, and with all we have to do to-day."

  Chuck continued to snore peacefully.

  "But I won't--I'll have some fun," thought Toad, as quietly, with as little noise as possible, he crept from his bed to the basin in one corner of the room. It took him only a few seconds to wet a large sponge with cold water, then, creeping very carefully back to the foot of Chuck's bed, he took careful aim.

  The sponge flew through the air true to its mark and landed "kersplash" on Chuck's tousled brown head.

  "W-w-w-what's the matter?" spluttered Chuck, sitting up and blinking his eyes. Then, as he felt the water trickling down his cheeks and caught sight of Toad, doubled up with laughter, he jumped out of bed and, running across the room, he pushed Toad flat on his back on the bed and sat upon his chest.

  "Let me up," pleaded Toad. "I couldn't help it, you looked so sweet."

  "What'll you give me if I do?" laughed Chuck. "You've got to pay for that smart trick before I let you up."

  "Nothing!" gasped Toad, trying very hard to free himself.

  "Oho!" laughed Chuck. "You won't, eh? Well," he added, "I don't mind sitting here all day. I'm real comfortable."

  At this moment there came a knock at the door and before either of the boys could answer Father Brown entered.

  "What's up?" he inquired.

  "Toad hit me in the face with a wet sponge while I was asleep," explained Chuck, "and he's going to give me something for it."

  "Then why are you sitting on him?" asked Father.

  "Because he says he won't," replied Chuck with a grin.

  "I suppose you'll have to pay up Thomas," laughed Father. "Anyway, I hope you'll both be down to breakfast soon," he added--"before all the cakes are gone. I've a terrible appetite this morning," and with these words he left the room.

  "Do you give up now?" asked Chuck.

  "No, sir," persisted Toad.

  "Remember what he said about the cakes. They'll be hot ones with lots of maple syrup," teased Chuck.

  "Well, you're missing them, too," retorted Toad.

  "I guess I'll let you off this time," relented Chuck, "but if you ever do it again," he threatened, "I'll hold you down for a week, cakes or no cakes."

  "You'd starve to death in that time," argued Toad, with a laugh as he commenced to hurry into his clothing.

  The boys were seated at the table, a half hour later, and had just eaten the last of the griddle cakes, when Reddy's whistle was heard. Toad, jumping up from the table, ran over to the window and beckoned to Reddy to come into the house.

  "What are you going to do this morning?" was Reddy's first remark as he entered the room.

  "We're going for Christmas greens and Dad's going to cut our tree from away up on the hillside," Toad told him, "and," he added, "we're going to take one of the horses with us to drag it home."

  "Oh, that's g
reat!" replied Reddy. "Do you start soon?"

  "Don't you want to go, too?" asked Chuck. "And maybe we can get Fat and Herbie, too," he added.

  "If such a crowd goes, and everybody gathers greens," laughed Toad, "what will we ever do with all of them?"

  Mother Brown answered him from the doorway.

  "Why not take some of them to the church? I'm sure the ladies who are trimming it will be glad to use all that you can give them."

  "That's a splendid idea," declared Father Brown, rising from his seat by the fireplace. "Come, boys, bundle up well, because it's going to be a cold drive."

  "I'll run ahead to get the others," called Chuck as he hurried from the room.

  The Adventure in the Snow

  "I'm glad we brought the sleigh," Father Brown remarked, as they were driving along at a fair pace, a little later, "as we never could have gotten through with a wagon in this deep snow."

  They were now starting up the hill and the horse's feet sank deeply into the snow drifts, although his load was not heavy, as the boys took turns walking, so that only two of them were riding at a time.

  "When we reach the first clearing," Father proposed, "we'll cut the greens and then leave them in a pile by the roadside, for it is likely we shall have to go up still higher before we can find the tree we want."

  After going on a few yards more he shouted:

  "Here's the place; all hands to work!" and the boys started in with a will, bringing to the roadside great heaps of boughs and woodvines, some of them covered with red berries and others with grey.

  Within a short time they had gathered a large pile of the greens, so they decided it was time to start out to find the tree.

  "The tree must be full and the top perfect," declared Father Brown, "so keep your eyes open for it."

  "What's the matter with that one?" demanded Toad, pointing to a big fir some distance away.

  "Nothing at all the matter with it," laughed Chuck, "only the house is too small to hold it."

  "There's a nice one," called out Herbie, pointing to the one he meant.

  "Yes, that's a beauty," agreed Father Brown, "and easy to get at, too."

  After clearing away the smaller branches near the ground, by chopping them off with the axe, Father Brown then started to work on the trunk of the tree.

  "Wouldn't it be nice," suggested Fat, "if we didn't have to cut it down at all,--just trim it outside? It would save so much time and trouble."

  "Oh, yes, that would be great," agreed Reddy. "We'd just sit around on the snow eating ice cream and look at the tree," and he gave a hearty laugh in which all the others joined.

  * * *

  "Well, I'll bet they do it in Greenland and Iceland," persisted Fat, "so why couldn't we?"

  "Because we don't wear white Polar bear clothes," laughed Chuck.

  "There she comes,--she's falling!" cried the boys.

  "Stay where you are until it's down," called Father Brown to the boys.

  There was a sharp creak and a swish of branches as the tree came down, and the boys now rushed over to help tie up the branches.

  When that part of the work was finished, Reddy sang out:

  "All together! Lift her on the sled. One, two, three!" and up it went.

  "Nobody gets a ride home," called out Chuck, "because the greens have to go on top of the tree."

  "Oh!" wailed Fat, "if I can't ride I'll roll down. I hate to walk."

  By the time they had reached the fields the worst part of the trip was over.

  "We'll cut over to the road that runs past the church," said Father Brown, "and leave some of the greens there," at which the horse was headed in that direction.

  As they came to the road they saw a short distance from them an object in the snow and as they drew nearer it proved to be a little fellow, deep in a snow drift. His hands were blue with the cold and as Father Brown picked him up in his arms he tried to speak, but couldn't.

  "I know who he is," volunteered Herbie. "He's Patsy O'Reilly, and he lives over there," pointing to a small house up the road. "His brother Mike goes to school with me," he continued.

  "I'll carry him home," said Father, "as you boys are able to handle things all right now," saying which, he started off to the little house with Patsy in his arms.

  Chuck, to whom Father Brown had handed the reins now started to drive the horse toward home.

  When the boys arrived at the church and had carried in the greens, the ladies were delighted, and one of them even tried to kiss Reddy, but he hurried away just in time.

  Toad's Unselfishness

  When they reached home Chuck drove the sleigh up to the side door, where the boys quickly unloaded the greens. They then lifted the tree to the piazza and when this had been done Chuck drove the horse to the stable.

  "Let's go in and get our hands warm before we take in the greens," suggested Toad, and soon they were all laughing and talking before the great fire in the library.

  Fat had just asked the others if they remembered the day Mr. Brown had told them about the Indians that used to live in the woods where they found the tree, when a man's voice was heard from the hall.

  "It's going to be a sad Christmas for them, I'm afraid, for both parents are ill and the three helpless children are waiting for Santa Claus to come," the boys heard Father Brown say.

  "How sad," was Mrs. Brown's answer, as they both went into the kitchen and the boys could hear no more.

  "They must be talking about the O'Reillys," commented Fat. "Mike's a friend of mine and I'm sorry he isn't going to have any Christmas."

  "So am I," echoed Herbie, after a short silence.

  Chuck said he'd hate to awaken Christmas morning and not find any presents.

  "Guess I've been mighty selfish wanting so many things," he thought.

  Toad and Reddy, who had moved away from the other boys, were talking together in low, excited whispers. Then, when the others went to the window to look at the green outside, they slipped from the room and hurried down the hall to the kitchen.

  "Mother," called Toad from the doorway, "may we speak to you for a minute?"

  Mother Brown handed the bowl in which she had been stirring something to the cook and crossed the room toward the boys, saying as she did so:

  "I can only spare a few minutes to-day, Thomas, for I am very busy."

  "But, Mother," exclaimed Toad, "we have a great idea!"

  "It's a Christmas surprise party," chimed in Reddy, "for the O'Reillys," and together the two boys went on to tell Mrs. Brown of their plans.

  "If we could just have the horse and sleigh to get around in," ventured Toad. "Do you think Father would allow us to hitch old Meg to the big sleigh?"

  "It's a wonderful idea," agreed Mother Brown. "Suppose you ask him. But how about presents for the three children? Have you thought of that?"

  "If it were only after Christmas we could give away some of our new things," sighed Toad.

  "But would you give them away?" asked his mother. "Supposing you were going to get a sled,--the kind you have been wanting," and she paused to hear Toad's answer.

  He thought very hard for a moment, then answered:

  "Yes, because I always get a lot of things and it might be the only present Mike would get."

  "Well," remarked his mother, "I have bought you a sled, and you may give it to him."

  Reddy looked at Toad, as Mother Brown turned toward the kitchen.

  "Are you sorry now that you said 'yes'?" he asked.

  "No, I'm not," returned Toad.

  "Well, I'll ask Mother to let me give them something new of mine, too," declared Reddy consolingly, putting his arm about Toad's shoulder.

  The Boys Plan a Surprise

  At two o'clock the sleigh was ready, for Father Brown had willingly given the boys permission to use it that afternoon. It was planned to have Chuck drive, for Toad, Reddy, Fat and Herbie expected to be too busy calling at the different houses to gather the presents which they hoped to collect for th
e O'Reillys.

  * * *

  "Let's stop at Bailey's first," suggested Fat, "as we're sure to get something there."

  * * *

  "Who'll go to the door?" questioned Herbie.

  * * *

  "All go," answered Chuck. "That's the best way." So in a group they rang the bell and waited, Chuck remaining in the sleigh.

  * * *

  No one came in answer to their ring.

  * * *

  "All out," sighed Fat; but Toad gave the bell another pull.

  * * *

  "Bet they're all in the kitchen baking things and didn't hear it," he remarked.

  * * *

  "There's someone coming now," whispered Reddy, and as the door opened:

  * * *

  "Good afternoon," said all the boys in chorus.

  * * *

  "Mercy upon us, where did you all come from?" exclaimed Mrs. Bailey, and, as Toad held forth a card that Father Brown had printed for them, she asked:

  * * *