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+ <title>
+ The Project Gutenberg eBook of On Christmas Day in the Morning, by Grace S. Richmond
+ </title>
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+<pre>
+
+Project Gutenberg's On Christmas Day in the Morning, by Grace S. Richmond
+
+This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with
+almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or
+re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included
+with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org
+
+
+Title: On Christmas Day in the Morning
+
+Author: Grace S. Richmond
+
+Illustrator: Charles M. Relyea
+
+Release Date: December 26, 2006 [EBook #20187]
+
+Language: English
+
+Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1
+
+*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK ON CHRISTMAS DAY IN THE MORNING ***
+
+
+
+
+Produced by Juliet Sutherland, Sankar Viswanathan, and the
+Online Distributed Proofreading Team at http://www.pgdp.net
+
+
+
+
+
+
+</pre>
+
+
+
+<div class="figcenter"><img class="img1" src="images/image_01.jpg" alt="Cover Page" width="600" height="442" /></div>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;">
+<img class="img1" src="images/image_02.jpg" width="500" height="795" alt="Title Page" /></div>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"><a name="pic_1" id="pic_1"></a>
+<img src="images/image_03.jpg" width="500" height="706" alt="&quot;&#39;I HAVEN&#39;T GIVEN YOU ANY CHRISTMAS PRESENT. WILL&mdash;I&mdash;DO?&#39;&quot;" title="&quot;&#39;I HAVEN&#39;T GIVEN YOU ANY CHRISTMAS PRESENT. WILL&mdash;I&mdash;DO?&#39;&quot;" />
+<span class="caption">&quot;&#39;I HAVEN&#39;T GIVEN YOU ANY CHRISTMAS PRESENT. WILL&mdash;I&mdash;DO?&#39;&quot;</span>
+</div>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+
+
+
+
+<h1>On<br />
+Christmas Day<br />
+in the Morning</h1>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h3><i>By</i></h3>
+<h2>GRACE S. RICHMOND</h2>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h3>Illustrated by</h3>
+<h2>CHARLES M. RELYEA</h2>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<h4><span class="smcap">Garden City</span>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;<span class="smcap">New York</span></h4>
+<h3>DOUBLEDAY, PAGE &amp; COMPANY</h3>
+<h3>MCMXI</h3>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<p>&nbsp;</p>
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;">
+<img src="images/image_04.jpg" width="600" height="143" alt="Decorative Image" />
+</div>
+
+<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1905, by<br />
+The Ridgway-Thayer Company</span></p>
+<p class="center"><span class="smcap">Copyright, 1908, by<br />
+Doubleday, Page &amp; Company</span></p>
+
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 200px;">
+<img src="images/image_05.jpg" width="200" height="88" alt="Decorative Image" />
+</div>
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 600px;">
+<img src="images/image_06.jpg" width="600" height="146" alt="Decorative Image" />
+
+</div>
+<h2>Illustrations</h2>
+
+
+
+<table summary="Illustrations">
+<tr><td><a href="#pic_1">"'I haven't given you any Christmas present. Will&mdash;I&mdash;do?'"</a></td><td class="tocpg"><i><a href="#pic_1">Frontispiece</a></i></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td></td><td class="tocpg f1">PAGE</td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td><a href="#pic_2">"Stumbling over their own feet and bundles ... the crew poured
+into the warm kitchen"</a></td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_20">20</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td><a href="#pic_3">"'The children!' she was saying.
+'They&mdash;they&mdash;John&mdash;they must be <i>here</i>'"</a></td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_28">28</a></td>
+</tr>
+<tr><td><a href="#pic_4">"'Merry Christmas, mammy and daddy!'"</a></td><td class="tocpg"><a href="#Page_34">34</a></td>
+</tr>
+</table>
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h2>On Christmas Day in the Morning</h2>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_3" id="Page_3">[3]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="poem"><div class="stanza">
+<span class="i0">And all the angels in heaven do sing,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">On Christmas Day, on Christmas Day;<br /></span>
+<span class="i0">And all the bells on earth do ring,<br /></span>
+<span class="i2">On Christmas Day in the morning.<br /></span>
+</div></div>
+
+<p class="sig">&mdash;<span class="smcap">Old Song.</span></p>
+
+
+<p>That Christmas Day virtually began a whole year beforehand, with a
+red-hot letter written by Guy Fernald to his younger sister, Nan, who
+had been married to Samuel Burnett just two and one-half years. The
+letter was read aloud by Mrs. Burnett to her husband at the breakfast
+table, the second day after Christmas. From start to finish<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_4" id="Page_4">[4]</a></span> it was
+upon one subject, and it read as follows:</p>
+
+<p class="sig1"><span class="smcap">Dear Nan</span>:</p>
+
+<div class="blockquot"><p>It's a confounded, full-grown shame that not a soul of us
+all got home for Christmas&mdash;except yours truly, and he only
+for a couple of hours. What have the blessed old folks done
+to us that we treat them like this? I was invited to the
+Sewalls' for the day, and went, of course&mdash;you know why. We
+had a ripping time, but along toward evening I began to feel
+worried. I really thought Ralph was home&mdash;he wrote me that
+he might swing round that way by the holidays&mdash;but I knew
+the rest of you were all wrapped up in your own Christmas
+trees and weren't going to get there.</p>
+
+<p>Well, I took the seven-thirty down and walked in on them.
+Sitting all alone by the fire, by George, just like the
+pictures you see of "The Birds All Flown," and that sort of
+thing. I felt gulpish in my throat, on my honour I did, when
+I looked at them. Mother just gave one gasp and flew into my
+arms, and Dad got up more slowly&mdash;he has that darned
+rheumatism worse than ever this winter&mdash;and came over and I
+thought he'd shake my hand off. Well&mdash;I sat down between
+them by the fire, and pretty soon I got down in the old way
+on a cushion by mother, and let her run her fingers through
+my hair, the way she used to&mdash;and Nan, I'll be indicted for
+perjury if her hand<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span> wasn't trembly. They were so glad to
+see me it made my throat ache.</p>
+
+<p>Ralph had written he couldn't get round, and of course you'd
+all written and sent them things&mdash;jolly things, and they
+appreciated them. But&mdash;blame it all&mdash;they were just dead
+lonesome&mdash;and the whole outfit of us within three hundred
+miles, most within thirty!</p>
+
+<p>Nan&mdash;next Christmas it's going to be different. That's all I
+say. I've got it all planned out. The idea popped into my
+head when I came away last night. Not that they had a word
+of blame&mdash;not they. They understood all about the children,
+and the cold snap, and Ed's being under the weather, and
+Oliver's wife's neuralgia, and Ralph's girl in the West, and
+all that. But that didn't make the thing any easier for
+them. As I say, next year&mdash;But you'll all hear from me then.
+Meanwhile&mdash;run down and see them once or twice this winter,
+will you, Nan? Somehow it struck me they aren't so young
+as&mdash;they used to be.</p>
+
+<p>Splendid winter weather. Margaret Sewall's a peach, but I
+don't seem to make much headway. My best to Sam.</p></div>
+
+<p class="sig2">Your affectionate brother,</p>
+
+<p class="sig3"><span class="smcap">Guy</span>.</p>
+
+<p>Gay Nan had felt a slight choking in her own throat as she read this
+letter. "We really must make an<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> effort to be there Christmas next
+year, Sam," she said to her husband, and Sam assented cheerfully. He
+only wished there were a father and mother somewhere in the world for
+him to go home to.</p>
+
+<p>Guy wrote the same sort of thing, with more or less detail, to Edson
+and Oliver, his married elder brothers; to Ralph, his unmarried
+brother; and to Carolyn&mdash;Mrs. Charles Wetmore, his other&mdash;and
+elder&mdash;married sister. He received varied and more or less sympathetic
+responses, to the effect that with so many little children, and such
+snowdrifts as always blocked the roads leading toward North Estabrook,
+it really was not strange&mdash;and of course somebody would go next year.
+But they had all sent the nicest gifts they could find. Didn't Guy
+think mother liked those beautiful Russian sables Ralph sent her? And
+wasn't father pleased with his gold-headed cane from Oliver?<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> Surely
+with such presents pouring in from all the children, Father and Mother
+Fernald couldn't feel so awfully neglected.</p>
+
+<p>"Gold-headed cane be hanged!" Guy exploded when he read this last
+sentence from the letter of Marian, Oliver's wife. "I'll bet she put
+him up to it. If anybody dares give me a gold-headed cane before I'm
+ninety-five I'll thrash him with it on the spot. He wasn't using it,
+either&mdash;bless him. He had his old hickory stick, and he wouldn't have
+had that if that abominable rheumatism hadn't gripped him so hard. He
+isn't old enough to use a cane, by jolly, and Ol ought to know it, if
+Marian doesn't. I'm glad I sent him that typewriter. He liked that, I
+know he did, and it'll amuse him, too&mdash;not make him think he's ready
+to die!"</p>
+
+<p>Guy was not the fellow to forget anything which had taken hold of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> him
+as that pathetic Christmas home-coming had done. When the year had
+nearly rolled around, the first of December saw him at work getting
+his plans in train. He began with his eldest brother, Oliver, because
+he considered Mrs. Oliver the hardest proposition he had to tackle in
+the carrying out of his idea.</p>
+
+<p>"You see," he expounded patiently, as they sat and stared at him, "it
+isn't that they aren't always awfully glad to see the whole outfit,
+children and all, but it just struck me it would do 'em a lot of good
+to revive old times. I thought if we could make it just as much as
+possible like one of the old Christmases before anybody got
+married&mdash;hang up the stockings and all, you know&mdash;it would give them a
+mighty jolly surprise. I plan to have us all creep in in the night and
+go to bed in our old rooms. And then in the morning&mdash;See?"</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Oliver looked at him. An<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> eager flush lit his still boyish
+face&mdash;Guy was twenty-eight&mdash;and his blue eyes were very bright. His
+lithe, muscular figure bent toward her pleadingly; all his arguments
+were aimed at her. Oliver sat back in his impassive way and watched
+them both. It could not be denied that it was Marian's decisions which
+usually ruled in matters of this sort.</p>
+
+<p>"It seems to me a very strange plan," was Mrs. Oliver's comment, when
+Guy had laid the whole thing before her in the most tactful manner he
+could command. She spoke rather coldly. "It is not usual to think that
+families should be broken up like this on Christmas Day, of all days
+in the year. Four families, with somebody gone&mdash;a mother or a
+father&mdash;just to please two elderly people who expect nothing of the
+sort, and who understand just why we can't all get home at once. Don't
+you think you are really asking a good deal?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Guy kept his temper, though it was hard work. "It doesn't seem to me I
+am," he answered quite gently. "It's only for once. I really don't
+think father and mother would care much what sort of presents we
+brought them, if we only came ourselves. Of course, I know I'm asking
+a sacrifice of each family, and it may seem almost an insult not to
+invite the children and all, yet&mdash;perhaps next year we'll try a
+gathering of all the clans. But just for this year&mdash;honestly&mdash;I do
+awfully wish you'd give me my way. If you'd seen those two last
+Christmas&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>He broke off, glancing appealingly at Oliver himself. To his surprise,
+that gentleman shifted his pipe to the corner of his mouth and put a
+few pertinent questions to his younger brother. Had he thought it all
+out? What time should they arrive there? How early on the day after
+Christmas could they get away? Was he positive<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span> they could all crowd
+into the house without rousing and alarming the pair?</p>
+
+<p>"Sure thing," Guy declared, quickly. "Marietta&mdash;well, you know I've
+had the soft side of her old heart ever since I was born, somehow. I
+talked it all over with her last year, and I'm solid with her, all
+right. She'll work the game. You see, father's quite a bit deaf now&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Father deaf?"</p>
+
+<p>"Sure. Didn't you know it?"</p>
+
+<p>"Forgotten. But mother'd hear us."</p>
+
+<p>"No, she wouldn't. Don't you know how she trusts everything about the
+house to Marietta since she got that fall&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Mother get a fall?"</p>
+
+<p>"Why, <i>yes</i>!" Guy stared at his brother with some impatience. "Don't
+you remember she fell down the back stairs a year ago last October,
+and hurt her knee?"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"Certainly, Oliver," his wife interposed. "I wrote for you to tell her
+how sorry we were. But I supposed she had entirely recovered."</p>
+
+<p>"She's a little bit lame, and always will be," said Guy, a touch of
+reproach in his tone. "Her knee stiffens up in the night, and she
+doesn't get up and go prowling about at the least noise, the way she
+used to. Marietta won't let her. So if we make a whisper of noise
+Marietta'll tell her it's the cat or something. Good Lord! yes&mdash;it can
+be worked all right. The only thing that worries me is the fear that I
+can't get you all to take hold of the scheme. On my word, Ol,"&mdash;he
+turned quite away from his sister-in-law's critical gaze and faced his
+brother with something like indignation in his frank young
+eyes&mdash;"don't we owe the old home anything but a present tied up in
+tissue paper once a year?"</p>
+
+<p>Marian began to speak. She<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> thought Guy was exceeding his rights in
+talking as if they had been at fault. It was not often that elderly
+people had so many children within call&mdash;loyal children who would do
+anything within reason. But certainly a man owed something to his own
+family. And at Christmas! Why not carry out this plan at some other&mdash;</p>
+
+<p>Her husband abruptly interrupted her. He took his pipe quite out of
+his mouth and spoke decidedly.</p>
+
+<p>"Guy, I believe you're right. I'll be sorry to desert my own kids, of
+course, but I rather think they can stand it for once. If the others
+fall into line, you may count on me."</p>
+
+<p>Guy got away, feeling that the worst of his troubles was over. In his
+younger sister, Nan, he hoped to find an ardent ally and he was not
+disappointed. Carolyn&mdash;Mrs. Charles Wetmore&mdash;also fell in heartily
+with the plan. Ralph, from somewhere in the far West, wrote<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> that he
+would get home or break a leg. Edson thought the idea rather a foolish
+one, but was persuaded by Jessica, his wife&mdash;whom Guy privately
+declared a trump&mdash;that he must go by all means. And so they all fell
+into line, and there remained for Guy only the working out of the
+details.</p>
+
+<hr style='width: 45%;' />
+
+<p>"Mis' Fernald"&mdash;Marietta Cooley strove with all the decision of which
+she was capable to keep her high-pitched, middle-aged voice in
+order&mdash;"'fore you get to bed I'm most forgettin' what I was to ask
+you. I s'pose you'll laugh, but Guy&mdash;he wrote me partic'lar he wanted
+you and his father to"&mdash;Marietta's rather stern, thin face took on a
+curious expression&mdash;"to hang up your stockin's."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Fernald paused in the door-way of the bedroom opening from the
+sitting-room downstairs. She<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> looked back at Marietta with her gentle
+smile.</p>
+
+<p>"Guy wrote that?" she asked. "Then&mdash;it almost looks as if he might be
+coming himself, doesn't it, Marietta?"</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I don't know's I'd really expect him," Marietta replied,
+turning her face away and busying herself about the hearth. "I guess
+what he meant was more in the way of a surprise for a Christmas
+present&mdash;something that'll go into a stockin', maybe."</p>
+
+<p>"It's rather odd he should have written you to ask me," mused Mrs.
+Fernald, as she looked out the stockings.</p>
+
+<p>Marietta considered rapidly. "Well, I s'pose he intended for me to get
+'em on the sly without mentionin' it to you, an' put in what he sent,
+but I sort of guessed you might like to fall in with his idee by
+hangin' 'em up yourself, here by the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span> chimbley, where the children all
+used to do it. Here's the nails, same as they always was."</p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Fernald found the stockings, and touched her husband on the
+shoulder, as he sat unlacing his shoes. "Father, Guy wrote he wanted
+us to hang up our stockings," she said, raising her voice a little and
+speaking very distinctly. The elderly man beside her looked up,
+smiling.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, well," he said, "anything to please the boy. It doesn't seem
+more than a year since he was a little fellow hanging up his own
+stocking, does it, mother?"</p>
+
+<p>The stockings were hung in silence. They looked thin and lonely as
+they dangled beside the dying fire. Marietta hastened to make them
+less lonely. "Well," she said, in a shame-faced way, "the silly boy
+said I was to hang mine, too. Goodness knows what he'll find to put
+into it that'll fit, 'less it's a poker."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>They smiled kindly at her, wished her good night, and went back into
+their own room. The little episode had aroused no suspicions. It was
+very like Guy's affectionate boyishness.</p>
+
+<p>"I presume he'll be down," said Mrs. Fernald, as she limped quietly
+about the room, making ready for bed. "Don't you remember how he
+surprised us last year? I'm sorry the others can't come. Of course, I
+sent them all the invitation, just as usual&mdash;I shall always do
+that&mdash;but it <i>is</i> pretty snowy weather, and I suppose they don't quite
+like to risk it."</p>
+
+<p>Presently, as she was putting out the light, she heard Marietta at the
+door.</p>
+
+<p>"Mis' Fernald, Peter Piper's got back in this part o' the house,
+somehow, and I can't lay hands on him. Beats all how cute that cat is.
+Seem's if he knows when I'm goin' to put<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> him out in the wood-shed. I
+don't think likely he'll do no harm, but I thought I'd tell you, so 'f
+you heard any queer noises in the night you'd know it was Peter."</p>
+
+<p>"Very well, Marietta"&mdash;the soft voice came back to the schemer on the
+other side of the door. "Peter will be all right, wherever he is. I
+shan't be alarmed if I hear him."</p>
+
+<p>"All right, Mis' Fernald; I just thought I'd let you know," and the
+guileful one went grinning away.</p>
+
+<hr style='width: 45%;' />
+
+<p><i>There was a long silence in the quiet sleeping-room. Then, out of the
+darkness, came this little colloquy:</i></p>
+
+<p><i>"Emeline, you aren't getting to sleep."</i></p>
+
+<p><i>"I&mdash;know I'm not, John. I&mdash;Christmas Eve keeps one awake, somehow. It
+always did."</i></p>
+
+<p><i>"Yes.... I don't suppose the children realise at all, do they?"</i></p>
+
+<p><i>"Oh, no&mdash;oh, no! They don't realise&mdash;they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> never will, till&mdash;they're
+here themselves. It's all right. I think&mdash;I think at least Guy will be
+down to-morrow, don't you?"</i></p>
+
+<p><i>"I guess maybe he will." Then, after a short silence. "Mother&mdash;you've
+got me, you know. You know&mdash;you've always got me, dear."</i></p>
+
+<p><i>"Yes." She would not let him hear the sob in her voice. She crept
+close, and spoke cheerfully in his best ear. "And you've got me,
+Johnny Boy!"</i></p>
+
+<p><i>"Thank the Lord, I have!"</i></p>
+
+<p><i>So, counting their blessings, they fell asleep at last. But, even in
+sleep, one set of lashes was strangely wet.</i></p>
+
+<hr style='width: 45%;' />
+
+<p>"Christopher Jinks, what a drift!"</p>
+
+<p>"Lucky we weren't two hours later."</p>
+
+<p>"<i>Sh-h</i>&mdash;they might hear us."</p>
+
+<p>"Nan, stop laughing, or I'll drop a snowball down your neck!"<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"><a name="pic_2" id="pic_2"></a>
+<img src="images/image_07.jpg" width="500" height="705" alt="&quot;STUMBLING OVER THEIR OWN FEET AND BUNDLES ... THE CREW POURED INTO THE WARM KITCHEN&quot;" title="&quot;STUMBLING OVER THEIR OWN FEET AND BUNDLES ... THE CREW POURED INTO THE WARM KITCHEN&quot;" />
+<span class="caption">&quot;STUMBLING OVER THEIR OWN FEET AND BUNDLES ... THE CREW POURED INTO THE WARM KITCHEN&quot;</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Here, Carol, give me your hand. I'll plough you through. Large bodies
+move slowly, of course, but go elbows first and you'll get there."</p>
+
+<p>"Gee <i>whiz</i>! Can't you get that door open? I'll bet it's frozen fast."</p>
+
+<p>A light showed inside the kitchen. The storm-door swung open,
+propelled by force from inside. A cautious voice said low: "That the
+Fernald family?"</p>
+
+<p>A chorus of whispers came back at Miss Marietta Cooley:</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, yes&mdash;let us in, we're freezing."</p>
+
+<p>"You bet we're the Fernald family&mdash;every man-Jack of us&mdash;not one
+missing."</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, Marietta&mdash;you dear old thing!"</p>
+
+<p>"Hurry up&mdash;this is their side of the house."</p>
+
+<p>"<i>Sh-h-h</i>&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Carol, your <i>sh-h-ishes</i> would wake the dead!"</p>
+
+
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Stumbling over their own feet and bundles in the endeavour to be
+preternaturally quiet, the crew poured into the warm kitchen. Bearded
+Oliver, oldest of the clan; stout Edson, big Ralph, tall and slender
+Guy&mdash;and the two daughters of the house, Carolyn, growing plump and
+rosy at thirty; Nan, slim and girlish at twenty-four&mdash;they were all
+there. Marietta heaved a sigh of content as she looked them over.</p>
+
+<p>"Well, I didn't really think you'd get here&mdash;all of you. Thank the
+Lord, you have. I s'pose you're tearin' hungry, bein' past 'leven. If
+you think you can eat quiet as cats, I'll feed you up, but if you're
+goin' to make as much rumpus as you did comin' round the corner o' the
+wood-shed I'll have to pack you straight off to bed up the back
+stairs."</p>
+
+<p>They pleaded for mercy and hot food. They got it&mdash;everything that
+could be had that would diffuse no<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> odour of cookery through the
+house. Smoking clam-broth, a great pot of baked beans, cold meats, and
+jellies&mdash;they had no reason to complain of their reception. They ate
+hungrily with the appetites of winter travel.</p>
+
+<p>"Say, but this is great," exulted Ralph, the stalwart, consuming a
+huge wedge of mince pie with a fine disregard for any consequences
+that might overtake him. "This alone is worth it. I haven't eaten such
+pie in a century. What a jolly place this old kitchen is! Let's have a
+candy-pull to-morrow. I haven't been home Christmas in&mdash;let me see&mdash;by
+Jove, I believe it's six&mdash;seven&mdash;yes, seven years. Look here: there's
+been some excuse for me, but what about you people that live near?"</p>
+
+<p>He looked accusingly about. Carolyn got up and came around to him.
+"Don't talk about it to-night," she whispered. "We haven't any of us
+realised how long it's been."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"We'll get off to bed now," Guy declared, rising. "I can't get over
+the feeling that they may catch us down here. If either of them should
+want some hot water or anything&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"The dining-room door's bolted," Marietta assured him, "but it might
+need explainin' if I had to bring 'em hot water by way of the parlour.
+Now, go awful careful up them stairs. They're pretty near over your
+ma's head, but I don't dare have you tramp through the settin'-room to
+the front ones. Now, remember that seventh stair creaks like
+Ned&mdash;you've got to step right on the outside edge of it to keep it
+quiet. I don't know but what you boys better step right up over that
+seventh stair without touchin' foot to it."</p>
+
+<p>"All right&mdash;we'll step!"</p>
+
+<p>"Who's going to fix the bundles?" Carolyn paused to ask as she started
+up the stairs.</p>
+
+<p>"Marietta," Guy answered. "I've<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span> labeled every one, so it'll be easy.
+If they hear paper rattle, they'll think it's the usual presents we've
+sent on, and if they come out they'll see Marietta, so it's all right.
+Quiet, now. Remember the seventh stair!"</p>
+
+<p>They crept up, one by one, each to his or her old room. There needed
+to be no "doubling up," for the house was large, and each room had
+been left precisely as its owner had left it. It was rather ghostly,
+this stealing silently about with candles, and in the necessity for
+the suppression of speech the animation of the party rather suffered
+eclipse. It was late, and they were beginning to be sleepy, so they
+were soon in bed. But, somehow, once composed for slumber, more than
+one grew wakeful again.</p>
+
+<p>Guy, lying staring at a patch of wintry moonlight on the odd striped
+paper of his wall&mdash;it had stopped snowing since they had come into the
+house, and the clouds had broken<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> away, leaving a brilliant
+sky&mdash;discovered his door to be softly opening. The glimmer of a candle
+filtered through the crack, a voice whispered his name.</p>
+
+<p>"Who is it?" he answered under his breath.</p>
+
+<p>"It's Nan. May I come in?"</p>
+
+<p>"Of course. What's up?"</p>
+
+<p>"Nothing. I wanted to talk a minute." She came noiselessly in, wrapped
+in a woolly scarlet kimono, scarlet slippers on her feet, her brown
+braids hanging down her back. The frost-bloom lately on her cheeks had
+melted into a ruddy glow, her eyes were stars. She set her candle on
+the little stand, and sat down on the edge of Guy's bed. He raised
+himself on his elbow and lay looking appreciatively at her.</p>
+
+<p>"This is like old times," he said. "But won't you be cold?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not a bit. I'm only going to stay a minute. Anyhow, this thing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span> is
+warm as toast.... Yes, isn't it like old times?"</p>
+
+<p>"Got your lessons for to-morrow?"</p>
+
+<p>She laughed. "All but my C&aelig;sar. You'll help me with that, in the
+morning, won't you?"</p>
+
+<p>"Sure&mdash;if you'll make some cushions for my bobs."</p>
+
+<p>"I will. Guy&mdash;how's Lucy Harper?"</p>
+
+<p>"She's all right. How's Bob Fields?"</p>
+
+<p>"Oh, I don't care for him, now!" She tossed her head.</p>
+
+<p>He kept up the play. "Like Dave Strong better, huh? He's a softy."</p>
+
+<p>"He isn't. Oh, Guy&mdash;I heard you had a new girl."</p>
+
+<p>"New girl nothing. Don't care for girls."</p>
+
+<p>"Yes, you do. At least I think you do. Her name's&mdash;Margaret."</p>
+
+<p>The play ceased abruptly. Guy's face changed. "Perhaps I do," he<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span>
+murmured, while his sister watched him in the candle-light.</p>
+
+<p>"She won't answer yet?" she asked very gently.</p>
+
+<p>"Not a word."</p>
+
+<p>"You've cared a good while, haven't you, dear?"</p>
+
+<p>"Seems like ages. Suppose it isn't."</p>
+
+<p>"No&mdash;only two years, really caring hard. Plenty of time left."</p>
+
+<p>He moved his head impatiently. "Yes, if I didn't mind seeing her smile
+on Tommy Gower&mdash;de'il take him&mdash;just as sweetly as she smiles on me.
+If she ever held out the tip of her finger to me, I'd seize it and
+hold on to it for fair. But she doesn't. She won't. And she's going
+South next week for the rest of the winter, and there's a fellow down
+there in South Carolina where she goes&mdash;oh, he&mdash;he's red-headed after
+her, like the rest of us. And, well&mdash;I'm up against it good and hard,
+Nan, and that's the truth."<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"><a name="pic_3" id="pic_3"></a>
+<img src="images/image_08.jpg" width="500" height="706" alt="&quot;&#39;THE CHILDREN!&#39; SHE WAS SAYING. &#39;THEY&mdash;THEY&mdash;JOHN&mdash;THEY MUST BE HERE!&#39;&quot;" title="&quot;&#39;THE CHILDREN!&#39; SHE WAS SAYING. &#39;THEY&mdash;THEY&mdash;JOHN&mdash;THEY MUST BE HERE!&#39;&quot;" />
+<span class="caption">&quot;&#39;THE CHILDREN!&#39; SHE WAS SAYING. &#39;THEY&mdash;THEY&mdash;JOHN&mdash;THEY MUST BE HERE!&#39;&quot;</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>"Poor boy. And you gave up going to see her on Christmas Day, and came
+down here into the country just to&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"Just to get even with myself for the way I've neglected 'em these two
+years while my head's been so full of&mdash;her. It isn't fair. After last
+year I'd have come home to-day if it had meant I had to
+lose&mdash;well&mdash;Margaret knows I'm here. I don't know what she thinks."</p>
+
+<p>"I don't believe, Guy, boy, she thinks the less of you. Yes&mdash;I must
+go. It will all come right in the end, dear&mdash;I'm sure of it. No, I
+don't know how Margaret feels&mdash;Good night&mdash;good night!"</p>
+
+<hr style='width: 45%;' />
+
+<p>Christmas morning, breaking upon a wintry world&mdash;the Star in the East
+long set. Outside the house a great silence of drift-wrapped hill and
+plain;&mdash;inside, a crackling fire upon a wide hearth, and a pair of
+elderly people waking to a lonely holiday.</p>
+
+
+
+<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>Mrs. Fernald crept to the door of her room&mdash;the injured knee always
+made walking difficult after a night's quiet. She meant to sit down by
+the fire which she had lately heard Marietta stirring and feeding into
+activity, and warm herself at its flame. She remembered with a sad
+little smile that she and John had hung their stockings there, and
+looked to see what miracle had been wrought in the night.</p>
+
+<p>"<i>Father</i>!"&mdash;Her voice caught in her throat.... What was all this?...
+By some mysterious influence her husband learned that she was calling
+him, though he had not really heard. He came to the door and looked at
+her, then at the chimneypiece where the stockings hung&mdash;a long row of
+them, as they had not hung since the children grew up&mdash;stockings of
+quality: one of brown silk, Nan's; a fine<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span> gray sock with scarlet
+clocks, Ralph's,&mdash;all stuffed to the top, with bundles overflowing
+upon the chimneypiece and even to the floor below.</p>
+
+<p>"What's this&mdash;what's this?" John Fernald's voice was puzzled. "Whose
+are these?" He limped closer. He put on his spectacles and stared hard
+at a parcel protruding from the sock with the scarlet clocks.</p>
+
+<p>"'<i>Merry Christmas to Ralph from Nan</i>,'" he read. "'To Ralph from
+Nan,'" he repeated vaguely. His gaze turned to his wife. His eyes were
+wide like a child's. But she was getting to her feet, from the chair
+into which she had dropped.</p>
+
+<p>"The children!" she was saying. "They&mdash;they&mdash;John&mdash;they must be
+<i>here</i>!"</p>
+
+<p>He followed her through the chilly hall to the front staircase, seldom
+used now, and up&mdash;as rapidly as those slow, stiff joints would allow.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span>
+Trembling, Mrs. Fernald pushed open the first door at the top.</p>
+
+<p>A rumpled brown head raised itself from among the pillows, a pair of
+sleepy but affectionate brown eyes smiled back at the two faces
+peering in, and a voice brimful of mirth cried softly: "Merry
+Christmas, mammy and daddy!" They stared at her, their eyes growing
+misty. <i>It was their little daughter Nan, not yet grown up!</i></p>
+
+<p>They could not believe it. Even when they had been to every room;&mdash;had
+seen their big son Ralph, still sleeping, his yet youthful face, full
+of healthy colour, pillowed on his brawny arm, and his mother had
+gently kissed him awake to be half-strangled in his hug;&mdash;when they
+had met Edson's hearty laugh as he fired a pillow at them&mdash;carefully,
+so that his father could catch it;&mdash;when they had seen plump pretty
+Carol pulling on her stockings as she<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> sat on the floor smiling up at
+them;&mdash;Oliver, advancing to meet them in his bath-robe and
+slippers;&mdash;Guy, holding out both arms from above his blankets, and
+shouting "Merry Christmas!&mdash;and how do you like your children?"&mdash;even
+then it was difficult to realise that not one was missing&mdash;and that no
+one else was there. Unconsciously Mrs. Fernald found herself looking
+about for the sons' wives and daughters' husbands and children. She
+loved them all;&mdash;yet&mdash;to have her own, and no others, just for this
+one day&mdash;it was happiness indeed.</p>
+
+<p>When they were all downstairs, about the fire, there was great
+rejoicing. They had Marietta in; indeed, she had been hovering
+continuously in the background, to the apparently frightful jeopardy
+of the breakfast in preparation, upon which, nevertheless, she had
+managed to keep a practised eye.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>"And you were in it, Marietta?" Mr. Fernald said to her in
+astonishment, when he first saw her. "How in the world did you get all
+these people into the house and to bed without waking us?"</p>
+
+<p>"It was pretty consid'able of a resk," Marietta replied, with modest
+pride, "'seein' as how they was inclined to be middlin' lively. But I
+kep' a-hushin' 'em up, and I filled 'em up so full of victuals they
+couldn't talk. I didn't know's there'd be any eatables left for
+to-day," she added&mdash;which last remark, since she had been slyly baking
+for a week, Guy thought might be considered pure bluff.</p>
+
+<p>At the breakfast table, while the eight heads were bent, this
+thanksgiving arose, as the master of the house, in a voice not quite
+steady, offered it to One Unseen:</p>
+
+<p><i>Thou who camest to us on that first Christmas Day, we bless Thee for<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span>
+this good and perfect gift Thou sendest us to-day, that Thou
+forgettest us not in these later years, but givest us the greatest joy
+of our lives in these our loyal children.</i></p>
+
+<div class="figcenter" style="width: 500px;"><a name="pic_4" id="pic_4"></a>
+<img src="images/image_09.jpg" width="500" height="681" alt="&quot;&#39;MERRY CHRISTMAS, MAMMY AND DADDY!&#39;&quot;" title="&quot;&#39;MERRY CHRISTMAS, MAMMY AND DADDY!&#39;&quot;" />
+<span class="caption">&quot;&#39;MERRY CHRISTMAS, MAMMY AND DADDY!&#39;&quot;</span>
+</div>
+
+<p>Nan's hand clutched Guy's under the table. "Doesn't that make it worth
+it?" his grasp said to her, and hers replied with a frantic pressure,
+"Indeed it does, but we don't deserve it."</p>
+
+<p>... It was late in the afternoon, a tremendous Christmas dinner well
+over, and the group scattered, when Guy and his mother sat alone by
+the fire. The "boys" had gone out to the great stock barn with their
+father to talk over with him every detail of the prosperous business
+he, with the help of an invaluable assistant, was yet able to manage.
+Carolyn and Nan had ostensibly gone with them, but in reality the
+former was calling upon an old friend of her childhood, and the latter
+had begged <span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span>a horse and sleigh and driven merrily away alone upon an
+errand she would tell no one but her mother.</p>
+
+
+
+<p>Mrs. Fernald sat in her low chair at the side of the hearth, her son
+upon a cushion at her feet, his head resting against her knee. Her
+slender fingers were gently threading the thick locks of his hair, as
+she listened while he talked to her of everything in his life, and, at
+last, of the one thing he cared most about.</p>
+
+<p>"Sometimes I get desperate and think I may as well give her up for
+good and all," he was saying. "She's so&mdash;so&mdash;<i>elusive</i>&mdash;I don't know
+any other word for it. I never can tell how I stand with her. She's
+going South next week. I've asked her to answer me before she goes.
+Somehow I've clung to the hope that I'd get my answer to-day. You'll
+laugh, but I left word with my office-boy to wire me if a note or
+anything from her came. It's four o'clock, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> I haven't heard.
+She&mdash;you see, I can't help thinking it's because she's going to&mdash;turn
+me down&mdash;and&mdash;hates to do it&mdash;Christmas Day!"</p>
+
+<p>He turned suddenly and buried his face in his mother's lap; his
+shoulders heaved a little in spite of himself. His mother's hand
+caressed his head more tenderly than ever, but, if he could have seen,
+her eyes were very bright.</p>
+
+<p>They were silent for a long time. Then suddenly a jingle of sleigh
+bells approached through the falling winter twilight, drew near, and
+stopped at the door. Guy's mother laid her hands upon his shoulders.
+"Son," she said, "there's some one stopping now. Perhaps it's the boy
+with a message from the station."</p>
+
+<p>He was on his feet in an instant. Her eyes followed him as he rushed
+away through the hall. Then she rose and quietly closed the
+sitting-room door behind him.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span></p>
+
+<p>As Guy flung open the front door, a tall and slender figure in gray
+furs and a wide gray hat was coming up the walk. Eyes whose glance had
+long been his dearest torture met Guy Fernald's and fell. Lips like
+which there were no others in the world smiled tremulously in response
+to his eager exclamation. And over the piquant young face rose an
+exquisite colour which was not altogether born of the wintry air. The
+girl who for two years had been only "elusive" had taken the
+significant step of coming to North Estabrook in response to an
+eloquent telephone message sent that morning by Nan.</p>
+
+<p>Holding both her hands fast, Guy led her up into the house&mdash;and found
+himself alone with her in the shadowy hall. With one gay shout Nan had
+driven away toward the barn. The inner doors were all closed. Blessing
+the wondrous saga<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span>city of his womankind, Guy took advantage of his
+moment.</p>
+
+<p>"Nan brought you&mdash;I see that. I know you're very fond of her, but&mdash;you
+didn't come wholly to please her, did you&mdash;Margaret?"</p>
+
+<p>"Not wholly."</p>
+
+<p>"I've been looking all day for my answer. I&mdash;oh&mdash;I wonder if&mdash;" he was
+gathering courage from her aspect, which for the first time in his
+experience failed to keep him at a distance&mdash;"<i>dare</i> I think
+you&mdash;<i>bring it</i>?"</p>
+
+<p>She slowly lifted her face. "I thought it was so&mdash;so dear of you," she
+murmured, "to come home to your people instead of&mdash;staying with me. I
+thought you deserved&mdash;what you say&mdash;you want&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"<i>Margaret</i>&mdash;you&mdash;"</p>
+
+<p>"I haven't given you any Christmas present. Will&mdash;I&mdash;do?"</p>
+
+<p>"Will <i>you</i> do!... <i>Oh</i>!"&mdash;It was a great explosive sigh of relief<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span>
+and joy, and as he gave vent to it he caught her close.
+"Will&mdash;<i>you</i>&mdash;do!... Good Lord!... I rather <i>think you will</i>!"</p>
+
+<hr style='width: 45%;' />
+
+<p><i>"Emeline&mdash;"</i></p>
+
+<p><i>"Yes, John dear?"</i></p>
+
+<p><i>"You're not&mdash;crying?"</i></p>
+
+<p><i>"Oh, no&mdash;no, no, John!" What a blessing deafness is sometimes! The
+ear cannot detect the delicate tremolo which might tell the story too
+plainly. And in the darkness of night, the eye cannot see.</i></p>
+
+<p><i>"It's been a pretty nice day, hasn't it?"</i></p>
+
+<p><i>"A beautiful day!"</i></p>
+
+<p><i>"I guess there's no doubt but the children care a good deal for the
+old folks yet."</i></p>
+
+<p><i>"No doubt at all, dear."</i></p>
+
+<p><i>"It's good to think they're all asleep under the roof once more,
+isn't it?&mdash;And one extra one. We like her, don't we?"</i><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span></p>
+
+<p><i>"Oh, very, very much!"</i></p>
+
+<p><i>"Yes, Guy's done well. I always thought he'd get her, if he hung on.
+The Fernalds always hang on, but Guy's got a mite of a temper&mdash;I
+didn't know but he might let go a little too soon. Well&mdash;it's great to
+think they all plan to spend every Christmas Day with us, isn't it,
+Emeline?"</i></p>
+
+<p><i>"Yes, dear&mdash;it's&mdash;great."</i></p>
+
+<p><i>"Well&mdash;I must let you go to sleep. It's been a big day, and I guess
+you're tired. Emeline, we've not only got each other&mdash;we've got the
+children too. That's a pretty happy thing at our age, isn't it, now?"</i></p>
+
+<p><i>"Yes&mdash;yes."</i></p>
+
+<p><i>"Good night&mdash;Christmas Night, Emeline."</i></p>
+
+<p><i>"Good night, dear."</i></p>
+
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+<h3>By the Same Author</h3>
+
+<ul>
+<li>The Second Violin</li>
+<li>The Indifference of Juliet</li>
+<li>With Juliet in England</li>
+<li>Round the Corner in Gay Street</li>
+</ul>
+
+
+<p class="center">Also many short stories for children
+</p>
+<hr style="width: 65%;" />
+
+
+
+
+
+
+
+<pre>
+
+
+
+
+
+End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of On Christmas Day in the Morning, by
+Grace S. Richmond
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+</pre>
+
+</body>
+</html>
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