The Big Book of Christmas

by Anton Chekhov

  * * *

  "I know you would!" and Ruth spoke so earnestly that Randal was both touched and startled, fearing he had ventured too far in a mood of unwonted sentiment, born of the romance of the hour and the sweet frankness of his companion.

  * * *

  "Then you don't think it would be rash for some sweet woman to take me in hand and make me happy, since fame is a failure?"

  * * *

  "Oh, no; it would be easy work if she loved you. I know some one--if I only dared to tell her name."

  * * *

  "Upon my soul, this is cool," and Randal looked down, wondering if the audacious lady on his arm could be shy Ruth.

  * * *

  If he had seen the malicious merriment in her eyes he would have been more humiliated still, but they were modestly averted, and the face under the little hat was full of a soft agitation rather dangerous even to a man of the world.

  * * *

  "She is a captivating little creature, but it is too soon for anything but a mild flirtation. I must delay further innocent revelations or I shall do something rash."

  * * *

  While making this excellent resolution Randal had been pressing the hand upon his arm and gently pacing down the dimly lighted hall with the sound of music in his ears, Ruth's sweetest roses in his button-hole, and a loving little girl beside him, as he thought.

  * * *

  "You shall tell me by and by when we are in town. I am sure you will come, and meanwhile don't forget me."

  * * *

  "I am going in the spring, but I shall not be with Sophie," answered Ruth, in a whisper.

  * * *

  "With whom then? I shall long to see you."

  * * *

  "With my husband. I am to be married in May."

  * * *

  "The deuce you are!" escaped Randal, as he stopped short to stare at his companion, sure she was not in earnest.

  * * *

  But she was, for as he looked the sound of steps coming up the back stairs made her whole face flush and brighten with the unmistakable glow of happy love, and she completed Randal's astonishment by running into the arms of the young minister, saying with an irrepressible laugh, "Oh, John, why didn't you come before?"

  * * *

  The court gentleman was all right in a moment, and the coolest of the three as he offered his congratulations and gracefully retired, leaving the lovers to enjoy the tryst he had delayed. But as he went down stairs his brows were knit, and he slapped the broad railing smartly with his cocked hat as if some irritation must find vent in a more energetic way than merely saying, "Confound the little baggage!" under his breath.

  * * *

  Such an amazing supper came from Aunt Plumy's big pantry that the city guests could not eat for laughing at the queer dishes circulating through the rooms, and copiously partaken of by the hearty young folks.

  * * *

  Doughnuts and cheese, pie and pickles, cider and tea, baked beans and custards, cake and cold turkey, bread and butter, plum pudding and French bonbons, Sophie's contribution.

  * * *

  "May I offer you the native delicacies, and share your plate? Both are very good, but the china has run short, and after such vigorous exercise as you have had you must need refreshment. I'm sure I do!" said Randal, bowing before Emily with a great blue platter laden with two doughnuts, two wedges of pumpkin pie and two spoons.

  * * *

  The smile with which she welcomed him, the alacrity with which she made room beside her and seemed to enjoy the supper he brought, was so soothing to his ruffled spirit that he soon began to feel that there is no friend like an old friend, that it would not be difficult to name a sweet woman who would take him in hand and would make him happy if he cared to ask her, and he began to think he would by and by, it was so pleasant to sit in that green corner with waves of crimson brocade flowing over his feet, and a fine face softening beautifully under his eyes.

  * * *

  The supper was not romantic, but the situation was, and Emily found that pie ambrosial food eaten with the man she loved, whose eyes talked more eloquently than the tongue just then busy with a doughnut. Ruth kept away, but glanced at them as she served her company, and her own happy experience helped her to see that all was going well in that quarter. Saul and Sophie emerged from the back entry with shining countenances, but carefully avoided each other for the rest of the evening. No one observed this but Aunt Plumy from the recesses of her pantry, and she folded her hands as if well content, as she murmured fervently over a pan full of crullers, "Bless the dears! Now I can die happy."

  * * *

  Every one thought Sophie's old-fashioned dress immensely becoming, and several of his former men said to Saul with blunt admiration, "Major, you look to-night as you used to after we'd gained a big battle."

  * * *

  "I feel as if I had," answered the splendid Major, with eyes much brighter than his buttons, and a heart under them infinitely prouder than when he was promoted on the field of honor, for his Waterloo was won.

  * * *

  There was more dancing, followed by games, in which Aunt Plumy shone pre-eminent, for the supper was off her mind and she could enjoy herself. There were shouts of merriment as the blithe old lady twirled the platter, hunted the squirrel, and went to Jerusalem like a girl of sixteen; her cap in a ruinous condition, and every seam of the purple dress straining like sails in a gale. It was great fun, but at midnight it came to an end, and the young folks, still bubbling over with innocent jollity, went jingling away along the snowy hills, unanimously pronouncing Mrs. Basset's party the best of the season.

  * * *

  "Never had such a good time in my life!" exclaimed Sophie, as the family stood together in the kitchen where the candles among the wreaths were going out, and the floor was strewn with wrecks of past joy.

  * * *

  "I'm proper glad, dear. Now you all go to bed and lay as late as you like to-morrow. I'm so kinder worked up I couldn't sleep, so Saul and me will put things to rights without a mite of noise to disturb you;" and Aunt Plumy sent them off with a smile that was a benediction, Sophie thought.

  * * *

  "The dear old soul speaks as if midnight was an unheard-of hour for Christians to be up. What would she say if she knew how we seldom go to bed till dawn in the ball season? I'm so wide awake I've half a mind to pack a little. Randal must go at two, he says, and we shall want his escort," said Emily, as the girls laid away their brocades in the press in Sophie's room.

  * * *

  "I'm not going. Aunt can't spare me, and there is nothing to go for yet," answered Sophie, beginning to take the white chrysanthemums out of her pretty hair.

  * * *

  "My dear child, you will die of ennui up here. Very nice for a week or so, but frightful for a winter. We are going to be very gay, and cannot get on without you," cried Emily dismayed at the suggestion.

  * * *

  "You will have to, for I'm not coming. I am very happy here, and so tired of the frivolous life I lead in town, that I have decided to try a better one," and Sophie's mirror reflected a face full of the sweetest content.

  * * *

  "Have you lost your mind? experienced religion? or any other dreadful thing? You always were odd, but this last freak is the strangest of all. What will your guardian say, and the world?" added Emily in the awe-stricken tone of one who stood in fear of the omnipotent Mrs. Grundy.

  * * *

  "Guardy will be glad to be rid of me, and I don't care that for the world," cried Sophie, snapping her fingers with a joyful sort of recklessness which completed Emily's bewilderment.

  * * *

  "But Mr. Hammond? Are you going to throw away millions, lose your chance of making the best match in the city, and driving the girls of our set out of their wits with envy?"

  * * *

  Sophie laughed at her friend's despairing cry, and turning round said quietly,--

  * * *


  "I wrote to Mr. Hammond last night, and this evening received my reward for being an honest girl. Saul and I are to be married in the spring when Ruth is."

  * * *

  Emily fell prone upon the bed as if the announcement was too much for her, but was up again in an instant to declare with prophetic solemnity,--

  * * *

  "I knew something was going on, but hoped to get you away before you were lost. Sophie, you will repent. Be warned, and forget this sad delusion."

  * * *

  "Too late for that. The pang I suffered yesterday when I thought Saul was dead showed me how well I loved him. To-night he asked me to stay, and no power in the world can part us. Oh! Emily, it is all so sweet, so beautiful, that everything is possible, and I know I shall be happy in this dear old home, full of love and peace and honest hearts. I only hope you may find as true and tender a man to live for as my Saul."

  * * *

  Sophie's face was more eloquent than her fervent words, and Emily beautifully illustrated the inconsistency of her sex by suddenly embracing her friend, with the incoherent exclamation, "I think I have, dear! Your brave Saul is worth a dozen old Hammonds, and I do believe you are right."

  * * *

  It is unnecessary to tell how, as if drawn by the irresistible magic of sympathy, Ruth and her mother crept in one by one to join the midnight conference and add their smiles and tears, tender hopes and proud delight to the joys of that memorable hour. Nor how Saul, unable to sleep, mounted guard below, and meeting Randal prowling down to soothe his nerves with a surreptitious cigar found it impossible to help confiding to his attentive ear the happiness that would break bounds and overflow in unusual eloquence.

  * * *

  Peace fell upon the old house at last, and all slept as if some magic herb had touched their eyelids, bringing blissful dreams and a glad awakening.

  * * *

  "Can't we persuade you to come with us, Miss Sophie?" asked Randal next day, as they made their adieux.

  * * *

  "I'm under orders now, and dare not disobey my superior officer," answered Sophie, handing her Major his driving gloves, with a look which plainly showed that she had joined the great army of devoted women who enlist for life and ask no pay but love.

  * * *

  "I shall depend on being invited to your wedding, then, and yours, too, Miss Ruth," added Randal, shaking hands with "the little baggage," as if he had quite forgiven her mockery and forgotten his own brief lapse into sentiment.

  * * *

  Before she could reply Aunt Plumy said, in a tone of calm conviction, that made them all laugh, and some of them look conscious,--

  * * *

  "Spring is a good time for weddin's, and I shouldn't wonder ef there was quite a number."

  * * *

  "Nor I;" and Saul and Sophie smiled at one another as they saw how carefully Randal arranged Emily's wraps.

  * * *

  Then with kisses, thanks and all the good wishes that happy hearts could imagine, the guests drove away, to remember long and gratefully that pleasant country Christmas.

  A Song for a Christmas Tree

  Louisa May Alcott

  A Song for a Christmas Tree

  Cold and wintry is the sky,

  Bitter winds go whistling by,

  Orchard boughs are bare and dry,

  Yet here stands a fruitful tree.

  Household fairies kind and dear,

  With loving magic none need fear,

  Bade it rise and blossom here,

  Little friends, for you and me.

  * * *

  Come and gather as they fall,

  Shining gifts for great and small;

  Santa Claus remembers all

  When he comes with goodies piled.

  Corn and candy, apples red,

  Sugar horses, gingerbread,

  Babies who are never fed,

  Are hanging here for every child.

  * * *

  Shake the boughs and down they come,

  Better fruit than peach or plum,

  'T is our little harvest home;

  For though frosts the flowers kill,

  Though birds depart and squirrels sleep,

  Though snows may gather cold and deep,

  Little folk their sunshine keep,

  And mother-love makes summer still.

  * * *

  Gathered in a smiling ring,

  Lightly dance and gayly sing,

  Still at heart remembering

  The sweet story all should know,

  Of the little Child whose birth

  Has made this day throughout the earth

  A festival for childish mirth,

  Since that first Christmas long ago.

  Cousin Tribulation's Story

  Louisa May Alcott

  Cousin Tribulation's Story

  Dear Merrys:--As a subject appropriate to the season, I want to tell you about a New Year's breakfast which I had when I was a little girl. What do you think it was? A slice of dry bread and an apple. This is how it happened, and it is a true story, every word.

  * * *

  As we came down to breakfast that morning, with very shiny faces and spandy clean aprons, we found father alone in the dining-room.

  * * *

  "Happy New Year, papa! Where is mother?" we cried.

  * * *

  "A little boy came begging and said they were starving at home, so your mother went to see and--ah, here she is."

  * * *

  As papa spoke, in came mamma, looking very cold, rather sad, and very much excited.

  * * *

  "Children, don't begin till you hear what I have to say," she cried; and we sat staring at her, with the breakfast untouched before us.

  * * *

  "Not far away from here, lies a poor woman with a little new-born baby. Six children are huddled into one bed to keep from freezing, for they have no fire. There is nothing to eat over there; and the oldest boy came here to tell me they were starving this bitter cold day. My little girls, will you give them your breakfast, as a New Year's gift?"

  * * *

  We sat silent a minute, and looked at the nice, hot porridge, creamy milk, and good bread and butter; for we were brought up like English children, and never drank tea or coffee, or ate anything but porridge for our breakfast.

  * * *

  "I wish we'd eaten it up," thought I, for I was rather a selfish child, and very hungry.

  * * *

  "I'm so glad you come before we began," said Nan, cheerfully.

  * * *

  "May I go and help carry it to the poor, little children?" asked Beth, who had the tenderest heart that ever beat under a pinafore.

  * * *

  "I can carry the lassy pot," said little May, proudly giving the thing she loved best.

  * * *

  "And I shall take all the porridge," I burst in, heartily ashamed of my first feeling.

  * * *

  "You shall put on your things and help me, and when we come back, we'll get something to eat," said mother, beginning to pile the bread and butter into a big basket.

  * * *

  We were soon ready, and the procession set out. First, papa, with a basket of wood on one arm and coal on the other; mamma next, with a bundle of warm things and the teapot; Nan and I carried a pail of hot porridge between us, and each a pitcher of milk; Beth brought some cold meat, May the "lassy pot," and her old hood and boots; and Betsey, the girl, brought up the rear with a bag of potatoes and some meal.

  * * *

  Fortunately it was early, and we went along back streets, so few people saw us, and no one laughed at the funny party.

  * * *

  What a poor, bare, miserable place it was, to be sure,--broken windows, no fire, ragged clothes, wailing baby, sick mother, and a pile of pale, hungry children cuddled under one quilt, trying to keep warm. How the big eyes stared and the blue lips smiled as we came in!

  * * *


  "Ah, mein Gott! it is the good angels that come to us!" cried the poor woman, with tears of joy.