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diff --git a/.gitattributes b/.gitattributes new file mode 100644 index 0000000..6833f05 --- /dev/null +++ b/.gitattributes @@ -0,0 +1,3 @@ +* text=auto +*.txt text +*.md text diff --git a/20200-h.zip b/20200-h.zip Binary files differnew file mode 100644 index 0000000..d4c791e --- /dev/null +++ b/20200-h.zip diff --git a/20200-h/20200-h.htm b/20200-h/20200-h.htm new file mode 100644 index 0000000..5149783 --- /dev/null +++ b/20200-h/20200-h.htm @@ -0,0 +1,1363 @@ +<!DOCTYPE html PUBLIC "-//W3C//DTD XHTML 1.0 Strict//EN" + "http://www.w3.org/TR/xhtml1/DTD/xhtml1-strict.dtd"> + +<html xmlns="http://www.w3.org/1999/xhtml"> + <head> + <meta http-equiv="Content-Type" content="text/html;charset=iso-8859-1" /> + <title> + The Project Gutenberg eBook of Christmas, A Happy Time by Miss Mant + </title> + <style type="text/css"> +/*<![CDATA[ XML blockout */ +<!-- + p { margin-top: .75em; + text-align: justify; + margin-bottom: .75em; + } + h1,h2,h3,h4,h5,h6 { + text-align: center; /* all headings centered */ + clear: both; + } + hr { width: 33%; + margin-top: 2em; + margin-bottom: 2em; + margin-left: auto; + margin-right: auto; + clear: both; + } + a[name] { position:absolute; } + a:link {color:#0000ff; background-color:#FFFFFF; + text-decoration:none; } + a:visited {color:#0000ff; background-color:#FFFFFF; + text-decoration:none; } + a:hover { color:#ff0000; background-color:#FFFFFF; } + + + .tr {margin-left: 10%; margin-right: 10%; margin-top: 5%; margin-bottom: 5%; padding: 2em; background-color: #f6f2f2; color: black; border: solid black 1px;} + .img1 {border-color:#000000; border-style:solid; border-width:thin; } + .sig { margin-left:60%; } + .sig1 { margin-left:5%; } + .sig2 { margin-left:70%; } + ul { list-style-type: none; margin-left:10em; } + li { padding-bottom:0.25em; padding-top:0.25em; } + + body{margin-left: 10%; + margin-right: 10%; + } + + .pagenum { /* uncomment the next line for invisible page numbers */ + /* visibility: hidden; */ + position: absolute; + left: 92%; + font-size: smaller; + text-align: right; + font-style:normal; + } /* page numbers */ + + + .blockquot{margin-left: 5%; margin-right: 10%;} + + + .center {text-align: center;} + .smcap {font-variant: small-caps;} + + + .caption {font-weight: bold; + font-size: smaller; + } + + // --> + /* XML end ]]>*/ + </style> + </head> +<body> + + +<pre> + +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Christmas, A Happy Time, by Miss Mant + +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: Christmas, A Happy Time + A Tale, Calculated for the Amusement and Instruction of Young Persons + +Author: Miss Mant + +Release Date: December 27, 2006 [EBook #20200] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHRISTMAS, A HAPPY TIME *** + + + + +Produced by Sigal Alon, Sankar Viswanathan, and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced +from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American +Libraries.) + + + + + + +</pre> + + + + + +<div class="center"><img class="img1" src="images/image_03.jpg" alt="Cover Page" width="400" height="693" /></div> + +<p> </p> +<div class="center"> +<img src="images/image_01.jpg" alt=""They both turned pale when they saw the dog almost immediately disappear under the ice."" width="500" height="686" /><br /> +<span class="caption">"They both turned pale when they saw the dog almost immediately disappear under the ice." see <a href="#Page_36">page 36</a>.</span></div> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> + +<h1>CHRISTMAS,</h1> + +<h2>A HAPPY TIME:</h2> + +<h2>A Tale,</h2> + +<h4>CALCULATED FOR</h4> + +<h3>THE AMUSEMENT AND INSTRUCTION</h3> + +<h4>OF</h4> + +<h2>YOUNG PERSONS.</h2> +<p> </p> +<h2>BY MISS MANT.</h2> +<p> </p> +<p> </p> +<h3>LONDON:</h3> + +<h3>T. ALLMAN, 42, HOLBORN HILL,</h3> + +<h3>1832. </h3> + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> + +<p><span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_5" id="Page_5">[5]</a></span></p> +<h2>CHRISTMAS,</h2> + +<h3>A HAPPY TIME.</h3> + + +<p>Harriet and Elizabeth Mortimer were two very pretty, and generally +speaking, very good little girls. Their kind papa and mamma had taken +a great deal of pains that they should be good, and it was very seldom +that they vexed them by being otherwise. A very happy time was now +expected in the family at Beech Grove, by the arrival of John and +Frederick Mortimer from school: it was within a few days of Christmas; +and as the sisters and brothers had never, till the last few months, +been separated, their meeting<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_6" id="Page_6">[6]</a></span> together again was looked forward to +with general and lively pleasure.</p> + +<p>'Do you see anything of the stage, Elizabeth?' said Harriet to her +sister, who had been running down to the end of the plantation to peep +over the gate, and listen if she could hear the approach of wheels.</p> + +<p>'No: there is nothing in sight,' replied Elizabeth, whose teeth +chattered from the cold, while her hands were so benumbed, she could +scarcely close the gate, which she had ventured to open about half an +inch.</p> + +<p>'They will never come,' said Harriet; 'but you should not open the +gate, you know papa and mamma both told us we should not do that. And<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_7" id="Page_7">[7]</a></span> +how cold you are! you are all over in a shiver. Come let us have a run +round, and that will warm you. Remember mamma begged of us not to +stand still in this sharp cutting wind.'</p> + +<p>'Yes, so she did,' replied Elizabeth; 'and indeed it is very, very +cold, down at that corner. And they will not come any the sooner for +our standing there.'</p> + +<p>And according to Harriet's proposal, the two little girls began to run +round the grounds, which put them in a complete glow; and Elizabeth's +fingers very soon ceased to ache with cold.</p> + +<p>As they passed the green house, they saw the gardener matting up some +myrtles on the outside; and Elizabeth<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_8" id="Page_8">[8]</a></span> stopped, to enquire at what +time the coach was likely to pass.</p> + +<p>'I look for it every minute, Miss,' replied the man; 'and that's the +reason I keep about here, that I may be handy to help the young +gentlemen out, and bring in the boxes and that. I look for them to be +much grown, Miss, for 'tis a fine bit now since we have seen them. I +don't know what Master John will say about his myrtle that he used to +be so proud of, for I am afraid its dead. But hark ye, Miss—sure +that's wheels.—Yes, and there comes a coach too.'</p> + +<p>And away posted the gardener, and both the little girls after him.</p> + +<p>It was a coach; and it was a very<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_9" id="Page_9">[9]</a></span> noisy one, or at least the +passengers were very noisy. Such a blowing of horns, and hallooing and +huzzaing. But the coach went by without stopping at the gate; and +although the gardener ran after it, and endeavoured to speak with the +coachman, his voice was drowned in the multitude of little voices +within and without the coach; and he was obliged to return, +disappointed himself, to the disappointed young ladies, who stood +anxiously looking out, within the gate.</p> + +<p>Before there was time to express any regret, another coach appeared in +sight, and this might be the coach so much longed for. This also +approached with shouting and blowing of horns; again the gardener put +himself forward<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_10" id="Page_10">[10]</a></span> and this time the coach seemed to draw down towards +the gate. Harriet even fancied she saw her dear brother John looking +out of one of the windows. But again she was disappointed. The +coachman, though he drew to the side of the road, scarcely allowed his +horses to stop; and flinging the servant a letter, which he took from +his waistcoat pocket, again he flourished his whip, and again the +coach passed on.</p> + +<p>'A letter for your papa, Miss,' said the gardener, picking it up and +offering it to the young ladies: 'Shall I take it to James to carry +in?'</p> + +<p>'No; I will—I will,' exclaimed both the little girls at once. +Elizabeth, though the youngest, generally contri<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_11" id="Page_11">[11]</a></span>ved to be forwardest; +and seizing upon the letter, as the gardener held it between his +finger and thumb, she scampered away, followed by Harriet, and they +both arrived almost breathless in the drawing-room.</p> + +<p>'The coaches are both past, papa,' said Harriet, 'without John and +Frederick'; and as soon as the information had been given, she burst +into tears.</p> + +<p>'But here is a letter, which will tell about it, I dare say, papa,' +added Elizabeth. 'To John Mortimer, Esq. Beech Grove,' she continued, +reading the direction, as she presented the letter. 'It is John's +writing, papa.'</p> + +<p>Mrs. Mortimer looked uneasy; and Mr. Mortimer broke the seal of the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_12" id="Page_12">[12]</a></span> +letter with some little alarm.</p> + +<p>'It is all well,' said the kind father, almost directly; 'nothing to +apprehend, my love,' added he, as he handed the letter across to his +wife.</p> + +<p>The letter was as follows:—</p> + +<p class="sig1"><span class="smcap">My Dear Papa</span>,</p> + +<p class="blockquot">No room for us in either of the coaches—inside or out. Mr. Brown is +going to send us in a post chaise, with two other boys.</p> + +<p class="sig">Your affectionate and dutiful Son,</p> + +<p class="sig2">JOHN MORTIMER.</p> + +<p>'Our pleasure is only delayed for a few hours,' said Mr. Mortimer, as +he put an arm round the neck of each of<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_13" id="Page_13">[13]</a></span> his little girls. 'They will +be here in the course of a short time, no doubt, and have you got +every thing ready to receive them?'</p> + +<p>'Oh yes, papa, quite ready,' replied Elizabeth, who was slipping her +neck from under her father's arm, with the intention of again +returning to the bottom of the shrubbery. Harriet directly followed +her towards the door.</p> + +<p>'And where now my little girls,' said Mrs. Mortimer; 'not to the +shrubbery again this evening?'</p> + +<p>'We <i>were</i> going, mamma,' replied Elizabeth: 'had you rather we should +not?'</p> + +<p>'I had,' answered Mrs. Mortimer;<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_14" id="Page_14">[14]</a></span> you have been out nearly two hours, +and the air is now very sharp and cold; the sun is set, and in a short +time it will be quite dusk. You can watch the road from the play-room +window; and I think it very likely your brothers will not be here +before quite night.'</p> + +<p>Both the little girls would have preferred another run in the +shrubbery, and another peep over the gate at the end of it: but they +were accustomed to know, that their mother's judgment was better than +their own; and without a murmur, therefore they repaired to the +school-room.</p> + +<p>'Oh! there they are,—there they are,' said Elizabeth, before she had +scarcely reached the window: 'It must<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_15" id="Page_15">[15]</a></span> be my brothers,—I am sure it +was a post-chaise.'</p> + +<p>'Where—where?' said Harriet, jumping up upon the window seat, and +straining her eyes to catch a sight of the desired object.</p> + +<p>'I cannot see it now,' replied Elizabeth, 'it is gone behind the elm +trees by the side of the road: we shall see it again, presently. Do +go, dear Harriet, and ask mamma if we may go down and meet them.'</p> + +<p>'But I do not know they are coming,' said Harriet: 'do dear Elizabeth +tell me where you saw them. I do not think you could have seen them: +and if you did, they must be a great way off.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_16" id="Page_16">[16]</a></span></p> + +<p>'Oh there—there, Harriet, cannot you see them now?' said Elizabeth, +putting her arm round her sister's neck; 'There,—just by the mill, +this side of the elms. Now they are gone again.'</p> + +<p>'Yes, I see them,' replied Harriet; 'and now they are come out again +from behind old Jackson's cottage. Oh, now I see them very plain.—I +can almost make them both out.'</p> + +<p>'Oh, I can make them <i>quite</i> out,' said Elizabeth; 'and they have got +a horn, too, and are blowing away: and John is shaking his +handkerchief. Oh, I wish we might go down and meet them.'</p> + +<p>And both the children began jumping about in an ecstasy of joy. At +this<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_17" id="Page_17">[17]</a></span> moment Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer entered the play-room. 'They are +coming, papa,—they are coming, mamma,' said Harriet and Elizabeth +both together. Mrs. Mortimer had thrown a large cloak and hood over +her, and Mr. Mortimer had his hat in his hand.</p> + +<p>'We were coming to fetch you to meet them,' said Mr. Mortimer.—'Come, +make haste, or they will be here before we can be out of the house; +for the young gentlemen travel rapidly with their four horses.'</p> + +<p>Harriet and Elizabeth hastened after their father and mother, who were +preparing to lead the way to the shrubbery, but before they were out +of the hall door, the post chaise and four was rattling down the +avenue and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_18" id="Page_18">[18]</a></span> in a few minutes the two lads were pressed to the hearts +of their beloved parents and their affectionate sisters.</p> + +<p>As the two other youths who accompanied the Mortimers were eager to +pursue their journey, the chaise was soon on its return down the +avenue: and John and Frederick, who with all their happiness, could +not help finding out that they were very cold and hungry, were glad to +be summoned to the dining-room, and to feel the warm carpet, and see +the blazing fire, and the smoking meat upon the table. Between eating +and talking there was a great deal to do; the former, however, it was +most necessary to attend to for a short time; and when their hunger +was satisfied, and they drew with their father and mother, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_19" id="Page_19">[19]</a></span> +Elizabeth and Harriet, round the cheerful and enlivening fire, and a +more happy party perhaps could hardly be imagined. Before the boys +went to school, each of the children had low stools of their own, +which it had always been their delight to sit upon, when summoned to +the dining-room after dinner; for at that time they had been +accustomed to have their own dinner in the nursery. Now, however, they +were to be indulged by dining with their parents, when the family +dinner hour was moderately early, and there was no large party at +table; and on the present occasion the same little stools which had +been such favourites formerly were now brought again into use. The +girls had almost feared proposing them, as they knew not<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_20" id="Page_20">[20]</a></span> what changes +the <i>boy's school</i> might have occasioned in their brother's habits; +but no sooner was the cloth removed and the grace said, than the +active little Frederick flew to the sideboard, and took possession of +his old and favourite seat. John followed his example; those of the +two little girls were already standing by the two corners of the +chimney-piece, and Frederick between mamma and Elizabeth, and John +between papa and Harriet, very soon settled themselves and made the +family circle complete. Into the middle of this circle a favourite +little terrier now leaped, and began his gambols, while the old pet +Tibby the cat, which the children had all been accustomed to carry +about from infants, came rubbing her sides against<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_21" id="Page_21">[21]</a></span> the young +strangers, and began purring to be taken notice of.</p> + +<p>As the day had closed long before the dinner had disappeared, the boys +could only hear all there was to be heard to-night, about any +alterations or improvements which had taken place since their +absence;—what success their sisters had met with, in keeping up their +stock of rabbits and poultry;—whether the ice-house had been yet +filled;—how went on old Neddy the donkey, if he was yet too old to be +ridden;—whether the myrtles were alive, and their own gardens had +been full of flowers; and a variety of other inquiries, extremely +interesting to them, and which would have doubtless been made by many +of my young readers on similar occasions as those<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_22" id="Page_22">[22]</a></span> on which we are +writing. Harriet and Elizabeth were equally glad to reply to all their +brothers' questions, and they had a great many to ask in return. +Whether they liked school as well as home,—whether they always had +meat and pudding, & as much as they liked of both;—what plays they +played at, and if they had good-natured companions. There was an +abundance to say upon all these subjects; and then Mr. and Mrs. +Mortimer had their inquiries to make about books and classes, and +sums, and school hours, and play hours and going to bed, and getting +up, so that the tongues all ran very nimbly; and doubtless there +remained plenty more to say, when at length little Frederick's words +began to lengthen themselves as he uttered them, and his eyes were +with difficulty strained open.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_23" id="Page_23">[23]</a></span></p> + +<p>Mr. Mortimer gave him a pat, and asked him how early he had been up in +the morning? He had scarcely been in bed the whole night; he had since +performed a journey of near seventy miles, and as he was not yet seven +years of age, it was not to be wondered at that sleep should thus be +striving to get the better even of his feelings of joy and happiness, +John, who was only two years older than his brother did not shew much +less symptoms of fatigue; and Mrs. Mortimer proposed having the tea +immediately, that the boys might get to bed. This plan was instantly +agreed to, their heads were soon snug on their pillows; and in the +morning they both awoke in high health and joyous spirits.</p> + +<p>It was now that Mr. and Mrs. Mor<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_24" id="Page_24">[24]</a></span>timer could see how much their dear +boys were grown, and how well they were looking. John triumphantly +stood beside his sister Harriet, who was a year older than himself, +and told her he should be very soon taller than she was; and Frederick +had actually out-stripped the little Elizabeth, who told one more year +than he did. The girls however were reconciled to this acquired +superiority of stature, by discovering that papa was a great deal +taller than mamma, though they were both exactly the same age; and +Frederick concluded the whole dissertation, by adding that to be sure, +<i>men</i> ought be taller than women.</p> + +<p>'It does not much signify what are your heights, my dear children,' +said Mr. Mortimer, affectionately gazing<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_25" id="Page_25">[25]</a></span> upon the whole group, 'if +you are but good and amiable. I should be very glad to see my young +Fred a brave grenadier,' added the fond father placing his hand upon +the head of his young son: 'but I shall be much better pleased to see +him a good man. But now who is for a walk?—the morning is bright and +fair, and those who do not mind the cold, away for your great coats +and hats, and I will take a walk with you to the ice-house, and see if +the men are beginning to fill it.'</p> + +<p>It was not necessary to repeat this invitation, and towards the +ice-house the party immediately proceeded. As they passed through the +park they went by a sheet of water, on which du<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_26" id="Page_26">[26]</a></span>ring the summer, had +been a boat, but which now was caked over with ice, and had every +appearance of being hard enough to bear the weight of a man with his +skates on. John and Frederick were both running to the edge: and had +not their father been with them would have immediately ventured on an +amusement, hardy and bracing when followed with prudence, but which +requires the caution of experience, not to be carelessly indulged in.</p> + +<p>'Wait till to-morrow, boys,' said Mr. Mortimer, 'the ice is not strong +enough to bear you to-day. In another four and twenty hours, I think +it will be safe, should the frost continue, and I have directed James +to prepare my skates.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_27" id="Page_27">[27]</a></span></p> + +<p>The boys both desisted, for they had been very early taught to submit +to the opinion of their father: but Frederick could not help saying, +'I think it <i>would</i> bear, papa:' and feeling more disappointment than +his looks perhaps expressed.</p> + +<p>'We can very well wait another day, Frederick,' said John, as he saw +his brother's disappointment on walking on.</p> + +<p>'Perhaps the frost may be broken then,' replied Frederick; but he soon +found other amusement, and bounded over the stile into the lane, +before the rest of the party had scarcely lost sight of the sheet of +water in the park.</p> + +<p>'Oh, here are the men with a load,'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_28" id="Page_28">[28]</a></span> said Frederick, as his father +came in sight, 'fine thick ice, papa—oh, so thick, I am sure it must +be hard enough to slide where that thick ice comes from.'</p> + +<p>'That ice is taken from a mere hole,' replied Mr. Mortimer: 'from that +dirty little patch of water by the side of yonder hedge—do you see? +It is very shallow, and is therefore soon encrusted: but even before +it was cut by the pickaxe, it would not have been smooth enough to +have slidden upon, and now you see it is all in pieces, and you might +as well try to slide on a heap of stones.'</p> + +<p>By this time all the party had crossed the stile, and were proceeding +along the lane.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_29" id="Page_29">[29]</a></span></p> + +<p>'I wonder you do not have the ice-house filled from the water in the +park papa' said Harriet. 'This is such dirty, nasty-looking stuff.'</p> + +<p>'You have before seen in what manner the ice-house is filled,' replied +Mr. Mortimer; 'that the ice is all broken, almost pounded to pieces, +and then stored below ground; and I have also told you that it is +never eaten, and it signifies little whether it is entirely pure or +not. The house will be rendered as cold by this ice, as by that from +the park, and that is all which is necessary. And it would be a pity +to spoil the appearance of the other, unless it were necessary; +particularly as John and Frederick and myself hope to have same good +slides upon it during the holidays.'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_30" id="Page_30">[30]</a></span></p> + +<p>Having stopped to ask a few questions of the men employed in conveying +the ice from the pond, Mr. Mortimer now proceeded with his children to +a farm-house not very far distant, where they all met a very hearty +welcome, and where the boys' attention was arrested by two little grey +ponies, which were in the meadow adjoining the farm yard.</p> + +<p>'Well—what do you think of them,' said Mr. Mortimer. They were +pronounced beautiful by both the boys, and their father then told them +they had been purchased for their use, and that of their sisters; but +that they would not be fit to be ridden till the summer. He designed +to have them properly broken in by the next holidays, and the boys +were delighted with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_31" id="Page_31">[31]</a></span> the prospect of riding them on their next return +from school.</p> + +<p>'If the young gentlemen would like a ride this Christmas, Sir,' said +the kind farmer, 'my Thomas's poney is a nice quiet little fellow, and +Tom would be proud to lend him.' John and Frederick looked at each +other, and at their father, but at length John suggested, that as only +one could ride at a time they had better put off their rides till the +summer; and Harriet and Elizabeth were both pleased that such was the +decision.</p> + +<p>The next visit was to the parsonage, where many a round happy +countenance greeted the return of the young Mortimers: and while Mr. +Mortimer was engaged in conversation with the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_32" id="Page_32">[32]</a></span> excellent pastor of the +village, Mr. Wexford, the young people were introduced into the +play-room of the little Wexfords. Mr. Wexford made a petition that the +young people should spend the day together: but as it was the first of +the Mortimers being at home, their father declined it for them, at the +same time promising that they should have the indulgence in a short +time: and also expressing a hope that the Wexfords would return the +visit at Beech Grove.</p> + +<p>At that time of the year there was little to be seen out of doors, but +one curiosity the Wexfords described, to which they were very anxious +to introduce their young friends: and this was a little group of robin +red-breasts which had been hatched in their sum<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_33" id="Page_33">[33]</a></span>mer-house, and which +now took shelter there every night, and were regularly fed by the +family.</p> + +<p>'The gardener says they do not do us much good,' said Maria Wexford, +as they approached the summer house; 'but I do not like that they +should be destroyed.'</p> + +<p>'Oh no, I could not have them destroyed,' replied Harriet Mortimer, +'even if they spoiled my flowers, they are such pretty creatures. But +where are John and Frederick?'</p> + +<p>John and Frederick had scampered off with the young Wexfords, and +presently returned with a pan of bread crumbs, which they had begged +from the cook, and which they now hoped to see the red-breasts eat.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_34" id="Page_34">[34]</a></span></p> + +<p>But the little creatures were alarmed at seeing so many visitors; or +the sun enticed them to extend their flight beyond the green house; +for on the entrance of the boys, they all took wing and flew away.</p> + +<p>'I am sorry we frightened them,' said Harriet.</p> + +<p>'Do you not think they will ever come back again?' asked Elizabeth.</p> + +<p>'Oh yes, they will be back in the evening or before,' replied Maria +Wexford; 'they often fly out in the day-time when it is fine. But +perhaps you would like to run round the garden; you will be cold +standing still.'</p> + +<p>The party was preparing for a race<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_35" id="Page_35">[35]</a></span> when Mr. Mortimer appeared to +summon that part of it which belonged to him; and, having arranged a +day with Mr. Wexford, for the families to meet at Beech Grove, Mr. +Mortimer and his children returned towards the park.</p> + +<p>As they approached the sheet of water, which Frederick again surveyed +with a longing eye, they perceived that Mr. Wexford's large +Newfoundland dog had followed them from the parsonage, and the boys +directly began throwing stones and sticks before them for the animal +to run after and bring back to them.</p> + +<p>This dog was particularly fond of the water, and John having thrown a +stick to the edge of it, it had slipped<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_36" id="Page_36">[36]</a></span> over the side and the fine +animal immediately sprang after it. The boys for an instant were both +inclined to smile at the animal's finding footing, when he had +expected to sink in the water, but they both turned pale, and looked +at their father, when they almost immediately saw him disappear under +the ice. It had been so partially frozen that the weight of the dog in +plunging, had broken it, and he had sunk to rise no more. Mr +Mortimer's heart sickened as he contemplated what might have been the +case had his own children ventured on the ice, and he blessed God that +their dispositions were such, as to make them obedient to his wishes. +Every means were taken for the recovery of the dog, and after some +hours he was extricated from the ice; but he was perfectly dead,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_37" id="Page_37">[37]</a></span> +and apparently had been so some time.</p> + +<div class="center"><img src="images/image_02.jpg" alt=""they are coming papa, they are coming mamma."" width="500" height="722" /><br /> + <span class="caption">"They are coming papa, they are coming mamma." see <a href="#Page_17">page 17</a>.</span></div> + +<p>As Mr. Mortimer and his children continued their walk towards the +house, they heard a shrill shouting from the direction of the +village;—it seemed like the shouting of young voices, and was +evidently that of joyfulness. The attention of the children was +immediately attracted towards it, and Mr. Mortimer indulged them by +moving in its direction. John and Frederick were very soon out of +sight, and in a few minutes they returned to relate the cause of the +acclamations they had heard. They proceeded from the children of the +parish school, who had just been dismissed by their master and +mistress, and were to be treated<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_38" id="Page_38">[38]</a></span> with a week's holiday. +Hurra—hurra—cried all the little noisy fellows, as Mr. Mortimer came +up; while the squeaking voices of the little girls joined in the cry, +at the same time as they jumped, and danced, and frisked about happy +and joyous as little birds. The young Mortimers hastened towards the +gate, and as they opened it, the young crowd gave them another hurra; +and two or three of the biggest of the boys approached, and making +their village nods to the squire, at the same time touching their +hats, they offered their Christmas pieces for exhibition. Mr. Mortimer +gave these little lads sixpence each, and calling to the gardener to +get him a few shillings' worth of halfpence from the village shop, he +bade the happy group of children stop a few minutes near the<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_39" id="Page_39">[39]</a></span> gate. +This they were most glad to do, and on the return of the gardener, +John and Frederick, commissioned by their father, gave each of the +little girls two-pence, and Harriet and Elizabeth had the same +pleasing commission to execute towards the boys. All was joy and +hilarity; and when Mr. Mortimer told them that on Christmas-day they +were to come to his house, to have some beef and plum-pudding, all the +little happy countenances shone with delight.</p> + +<p>'And now run on, and get home,' said Mr. Mortimer: 'for your parents +will be waiting for you at their dinners. And take care you do not get +into any mischief in the course of the next week: and if you go out to +slide mind that the ice is well hardened<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_40" id="Page_40">[40]</a></span> before you venture on it. +And a merry Christmas to you all.'</p> + +<p>'Merry Christmas to <i>you</i>, Sir,' replied the biggest boy, who was a +very well-spoken lad, and looked as happy, though he made less noise +than the rest. 'Merry Christmas—Merry Christmas,' was echoed from a +number of little voices around him; and with another joyous shout, the +motley group proceeded onwards through the village.</p> + +<p>Mr. Mortimer now left his children, and proceeded also through the +village where he had himself business to transact. The children went +into the house to get their luncheon of bread and jam, and after the +girls had rested themselves, their mother promised to take a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_41" id="Page_41">[41]</a></span> stroll +with them and their brothers round the garden and through the +green-houses. At this time of year there was little to see; but still +what little there was, was worth seeing, and a stroll with mamma was +always a treat.</p> + +<p>'What piles of shirts and round frocks! mamma,' said John, while they +were eating their luncheon. 'And what numbers of frocks! why, you +might set up a shop almost.'</p> + +<p>'Cannot you guess what these frocks and shirts are all for?' said +Harriet.</p> + +<p>'I can,' said the quick little Frederick. 'They are for the children +we saw in the lane just now; and they<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_42" id="Page_42">[42]</a></span> are to have them against +Christmas.'</p> + +<p>'You are right, Frederick,' replied his mother; 'and I have been +taking the opportunity of this holiday of your sisters, to look them +over and parcel them out.'</p> + +<p>Just now the door opened, and a housemaid appeared with a large basket +of shoes and stockings, and another with women's gowns and men's +frocks.</p> + +<p>'How pleased all the poor people will be, mamma!' said Elizabeth, +taking up a gown from the basket; 'it is rather coarse cloth though, I +think, mamma.'</p> + +<p>'It would be very coarse for you to wear, Elizabeth,' replied Mrs. +Mortimer, 'because you are born in a<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_43" id="Page_43">[43]</a></span> state of affluence, and +therefore it is becoming that you should be drest according to the +fortune of your papa. But to give fine garments to the poor would be +no kindness to them, nor a fit manner of shewing our benevolence +towards them.'</p> + +<p>'I think papa is very good and kind, do not you, mamma?' said Harriet, +looking very steadfastly at her mother.</p> + +<p>'Your father has a great pleasure in benefiting any one it is in his +power to serve, and is as you observe, Harriet, one of the kindest of +men. But he does no more than his duty, and this he would himself tell +you, in being a vigilant guardian over the necessities of his poor +neighbours.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_44" id="Page_44">[44]</a></span> Providence has placed a large fortune at his disposal; +and one end of its being given, was, that he might clothe the naked +and feed the hungry. Christmas would not be a time of much rejoicing +to the poor, were not the rich to assist them in making it so: and I +hope all my dear children, while they are enjoying themselves with +every comfort and indulgence around them, will be rendered happier by +reflecting that the inhabitants of every cottage in the village are +rejoicing at the same time.'</p> + +<p>'We shall not have a party on Christmas-day, shall we, mamma?' asked +John.</p> + +<p>'None, excepting our own family,<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_45" id="Page_45">[45]</a></span> John,' replied Mrs. Mortimer. 'I +hope both your uncles will be with us, and your grandpapa and +grandmamma have promised to come over from Cannon Hill. The Mortimers +from Haversly too I expect, and these I think will complete our circle +'round the Christmas fire.</p> + +<p>'Oh, I hope grandpapa will come,' said Frederick, 'because he has +always such a number of battles and fighting stories to tell, and he +is so droll besides.'</p> + +<p>'And I am sure I hope uncle Philip will come,' said Elizabeth; 'for he +is so fond of play, and jumping me up to the ceiling.'</p> + +<p>'I think you are getting almost too<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_46" id="Page_46">[46]</a></span> big for this play,' said Mrs. +Mortimer; 'and so uncle Philip would feel in his arms, I believe, were +he to attempt to jump you now.'</p> + +<p>'We shall all dine with you then, mamma, shall we not?' said +Elizabeth; 'if there is no other company. You know they are relations, +and are all fond of us children.'</p> + +<p>'You shall all dine in the room, certainly,' said Mrs. Mortimer; 'but +if the four young Mortimers come, I think some of you will be obliged +to dine at the side table, but that none of you will mind.'</p> + +<p>'Oh, we do not mind that at all, mamma,' said Harriet; 'but we had +rather not have any of the Mortimers with<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_47" id="Page_47">[47]</a></span> us, for they are so rude +and noisy, and papa always thinks that we make the noise; and I am +sure it is always their fault, though we cannot help laughing at +them.'</p> + +<p>'You see, in the instance of your cousins, Harriet,' said Mrs. +Mortimer, 'the disadvantage of never having any restraint put on +little girl's educations. I myself have seen that they occasionally +are boisterous and overbearing in their manners; but the fault is not +their own. And, if you remember, one day when they were with us, +without their own father and mother, they were as orderly and +well-behaved as possible.—But will you never have finished your +luncheon, Frederick?'</p> + +<p>'I was so hungry, mamma,' replied<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_48" id="Page_48">[48]</a></span> the little boy; 'but I have done +now: and now shall we go out again?'</p> + +<p>'Did you call on nurse this morning?' said Mrs. Mortimer.</p> + +<p>'No, mamma, I quite forgot her,' replied Frederick; 'but we will go +now shall we, John, while mamma finishes sorting the things?'</p> + +<p>'You must never forget her, my dear boy,' replied the tender mother; +'for without her care of you, when your own mother was too weak to +attend to you, you would not have been the stout active boy you now +are.'</p> + +<p>'I hope you have a nice gown and petticoat for nurse, mamma?' said +Frederick.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_49" id="Page_49">[49]</a></span></p> + +<p>'She has not been forgotten,' replied Mrs. Mortimer; 'and you shall +have the pleasure of carrying the bundle prepared for her yourself. +There it is:—the cotton gown, and stuff petticoat, the shoes, +stockings, and apron, lying together at the corner of the table.'</p> + +<p>Frederick, with a little of his mother's assistance, soon made these +separate articles into a bundle; and the two boys set off for Nurse +Winscomb's cottage.</p> + +<p>The stroll round the garden did not take place on that day; for the +boys met their father returning from the cottage of the nurse, and he +took them with him to call on a gentleman residing about two miles +distant, and<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_50" id="Page_50">[50]</a></span> whose family were to be invited, with a few others, to +meet together in the Christmas week. The young people were to be +indulged with a little dance; and although neither John nor Frederick +knew much about dancing, they were pleased at the idea of joining with +those who did, and already began to talk over the little young ladies +of the neighbourhood, and to settle with whom they would, and with +whom they would not dance.</p> + +<p>They came home quite tired, and only in time to have their dress +changed before dinner. Harriet and Elizabeth thought they had been +absent a long while, and on their return into the drawing-room, were +ready with their smiling countenances to receive these dear boys.<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_51" id="Page_51">[51]</a></span></p> + +<p>The next morning after breakfast, Mr. Mortimer employed a few hours in +examining his boys in the improvements they had made during the last +half-year; for he had wisely resolved, for the comfort of the whole +family, that the entire day was not to be given up to play. During +this time, Harriet and Elizabeth were occupied with their mamma; and +after this as the day continued bright, though cold, it was determined +to put into effect the proposed stroll of yesterday. And first to the +farm-yard, where the poultry-maid supplied them with corn: and with +this enticement, the fowls and ducks were called together and +numbered, and the various beauties of both enumerated. This speckled +hen had been such a good mother, and a good handful of grain was +tossed to her;—then<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_52" id="Page_52">[52]</a></span> the beautiful little bantam had been nursed in a +stocking, and was so tame that it would come and eat out of the +hand;—then there was the fine old cock that crowed so loud he might +be heard all over the parish, and a handful was thrown to him;—then +there was the young one which the old one drove about so, that it +could get nothing to eat;—Harriet made his necessities her care: but +it was useless to throw him any: for the old cock would not allow him +to come near the grain.</p> + +<p>'Nasty greedy fellow,' said Elizabeth, 'I am sure there is enough for +all, but the young cock cannot get a morsel.'</p> + +<p>'I believe we must get rid of him,' observed Mrs. Mortimer; 'for it +is<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_53" id="Page_53">[53]</a></span> miserable to see him driven about so.'</p> + +<p>'He is to be killed next, Madam,' answered the poultry-maid, who now +approached with two fowls hanging from her hands, from which drops of +blood were falling.</p> + +<p>Mrs. Mortimer moved away with the children: for she saw that Harriet +turned pale at the sight of the blood.</p> + +<p>'I cannot think how Jane can kill the fowls, mamma,' said Elizabeth; +'I am sure I could not, if we never had any at all.'</p> + +<p>'I should be very sorry if you could, my dear little girl, for there +is no necessity for your doing it; and without conquering your +feelings of ten<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_54" id="Page_54">[54]</a></span>derness, you never could acquire the resolution to do +it. In Jane's situation it was necessary for her to habituate herself +to an employment which devolves to her as the rearer of the poultry: +but I assure you it was a long time before she could first bring +herself to deprive those creatures of life which she had been +accustomed to look after and feed. And even now I believe when she can +meet with the gardener or groom, she most generally employs them.'</p> + +<p>'Are there no ducks, mamma?' said Frederick: 'we used to have such a +number.'</p> + +<p>'There is your old favourite drake just stopping under the gate,' +replied Mrs. Mortimer: 'and we will follow<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_55" id="Page_55">[55]</a></span> him into the field, for it +is rather cold standing still.'</p> + +<p>They then went into the field, and after that came round to the +green-house, where the gardener was very busily employed in gathering +some beautiful grapes.</p> + +<p>'How nice and warm it is here,' said several of the children, on +entering the house. The gardener then approached to ask the young +gentlemen how they did, and to tell them how much they were grown, and +to say that he hoped they would like the grapes. John and Frederick +answered all the old man's questions with kindness and civility; and +as the young party were leaving the green-house, he asked them +whe<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_56" id="Page_56">[56]</a></span>ther they should not want some flowers and evergreens against +their little dance?</p> + +<p>'Oh yes, if you please, gardener,' was the ready and quick +answer:—'we may, mamma, may we not?' said Harriet, looking up at her +mother before she gave her reply.</p> + +<p>'The gardener may give you what he can spare,' replied Mrs. Mortimer. +'And gardener,' added she, looking back towards the green-house, +'desire your grandson to go into the copses, and bring home a little +cart of holly, that we may have the kitchen well ornamented, when the +tenantry come to their dinner.'</p> + +<p>'He shall be sure to do it, ma'am,'<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_57" id="Page_57">[57]</a></span> replied the gardener. 'I look we +shall have a merry Christmas, and I do like to see the room well +dressed up.'</p> + +<p>As Tom, the gardener's grandson, was a steady, well-behaved lad, Mrs. +Mortimer allowed John and Frederick to accompany him to the copses, in +search of the holly. Harriet and Elizabeth would, no doubt, very much +have liked to belong to the party also, but they were easily convinced +of the propriety of their not doing so, and were therefore satisfied +to see their brothers drive off with Tom Harding, and return in two or +three hours afterwards, walking by the side of the little vehicle, +which then appeared a moving shrub of red-berried holly.</p> + +<p>On Christmas-day the expected par<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_58" id="Page_58">[58]</a></span>ty met round the hospitable +dinner-table of Mr. Mortimer, having all of them arrived on the +preceding day at the grove, excepting the other branch of the Mortimer +family, who attended their own parish church in the morning, and did +not arrive till the hour of dinner.</p> + +<p>The children of the village school, all in their new clothes, and with +a sprig of holly in their bosoms and button holes, walked from the +church to the Grove; and there partook, as they had been invited to +do, of beef and pudding, and good home-brewed beer. The young +Mortimers waited upon them at dinner, and before they left the Lodge, +presented them each with a plumb cake; and Mrs. Mortimer gave them +each an amusing little book<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_59" id="Page_59">[59]</a></span> to read to themselves and their parents, +who had not like themselves possessed the advantages of learning to +read.</p> + +<p>The family dinner party went off as happily as that in the kitchen. +The young Mortimers all sat together at the side table, and their +papa, had not once occasion to call them out for being noisy, though +they were merry and cheerful enough. It was certainly true, as Harriet +had said, that her cousins would be noisy; on this day, however, being +dispersed amongst the party at the large table, they were very orderly +and well-behaved; and after dinner, when the young people had had +taken as much fruit as was good for them, they retired into their +play<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_60" id="Page_60">[60]</a></span>-room together: they sat round the blazing fire there provided for +them, very comfortably and happily, and without one word of dissension +till they were again called back for tea into the drawing room.</p> + +<p>The next day was the day appointed for the dinner of the tenantry, and +busy indeed were the young Mortimers, in dressing up the Hall, and +making it look smart and lively. A very large party assembled here to +enjoy the squire's hospitable table, at which he himself presided; and +the day after this, the labouring cottagers and their wives met in the +same room at one o'clock, round a table well covered with meat pies, +legs of mutton, roast beef, potatoes, and plum pudding. They brought +with them those of their<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_61" id="Page_61">[61]</a></span> children, who were too young to be in the +school: and, on this occasion, all the new round frocks, and cotton +gowns were exhibited. Little Frederick led his nurse up to the head of +the table, and was very attentive to her; and whenever her plate was +empty, he took care that it should not remain long so.</p> + +<p>This party went off as happily as the last; and two days after was to +take place the little dance, so anxiously looked forward to, not only +by the Mortimers, but by all the young people in the neighbourhood. +The Wexfords came very early in the morning, to assist their young +friends in preparing the ball-room: and the gardener had taken good +care to provide plenty of shrubs and flowers, for the necessary<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_62" id="Page_62">[62]</a></span> +decoration. Mrs. Mortimer lent her assistance where it was required, +and she was only fearful that the children would tire themselves +before the pleasure of the evening commenced; for Mr. Mortimer had now +pronounced the sheet of water in the park sufficiently frozen to bear +any weight that might be ventured on it; and he had given several +village lads permission to slide there, and prepare it for the use of +his own boys. He now called upon both his own lads, and the young +Wexfords, to join him, and for John he had provided a pair of skates. +John met with a great many tumbles, to the amusement, not only of +himself, but of his companions; but he had no serious bruises, and +soon jumped up and laughed at his own awkwardness. Frederick longed to +try the skates out<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_63" id="Page_63">[63]</a></span>. Mr. Mortimer thought him too little to venture +upon them, so that he was obliged to be satisfied with sliding. And +very prettily he did slide, and very much did Elizabeth wish to slide +with him; for she was indeed a merry little girl, besides being always +desirous of doing every thing which she saw her brother Frederick +engaged in. But mamma thought it not a very fit amusement for little +girls; so Elizabeth joined Harriet and the Miss Wexfords in a run +round the park, all of them occasionally returning to the ice, to see +how the skaters and sliders went on.</p> + +<p>The hour of dinner was a very early one on this day, for the evening +party was to be an early one. The young people, with their papas and +mammas<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_64" id="Page_64">[64]</a></span> began to assemble at a very unfashionable hour, as early +indeed as seven o'clock, and by eight they were all dancing away very +merrily. Dancing was kept up with great spirit till towards eleven, +when there was a summons to supper. Another hour was spent in taking +refreshments, and during this time there was much merriment, and many +jokes passing round, as well amongst the elder part of the assembly, +as in that with which we are more particularly interested. Soon after +twelve the party began to separate;—all had appeared to be very well +satisfied with the pleasure they had been enjoying;—every one seemed +in high good-humour and glee; and all the young visitors, as well as +the four Mortimers, joined in acknowledging that the dance had gone +off very well<span class='pagenum'><a name="Page_65" id="Page_65">[65]</a></span> indeed; and in pronouncing that certainly 'Christmas +was a very happy time.'</p> + + +<h3>FINIS.</h3> + + + +<hr style="width: 65%;" /> +<h2><a name="NEW_AND_INTERESTING_WORKS" id="NEW_AND_INTERESTING_WORKS"></a>NEW AND INTERESTING WORKS</h2> + +<h3>PUBLISHED BY <br /> +T. ALLMAN. 42, HOLBORN HILL.</h3> + + +<p class="center">One Shilling each, embellished with Copper-plates,</p> +<ul> +<li><span class="smcap">Christmas a Happy Time.</span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">The Little Blue Bag; or, A Visit to the Bazaar.</span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">Poor Old Peggy; or, The Discovery.</span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">[**] and George, or, The Game at Cricket.</span></li> +<li><span class="smcap">A Boat to Richmond; or, The Excursion. Harry the Peasant</span>.</li> +</ul> + + +<p class="center">UNIFORM WITH [**] CATECHISMS,</p> + +<p class="center">Price [**]</p> + +<h2>"WHY AND BECAUSE,"</h2> + +<p class="center"><i>Sixth Edition</i>,</p> + +<p class="center">Consisting of Entertaining Philosophical</p> + +<p class="center"><i>QUESTIONS and ANSWERS</i>.</p> + +<p class="center">on subjects relating to</p> + +<h3>AIR, WATER, LIGHT, and FIRE,</h3> + +<p class="center">Intended for the use of Schools, and for Youth of both sexes.</p> + +<h3>By W. S. KENNY.</h3> + +<div class="blockquot"><p>"This is a little book, designed for the use of young people, +but which many of mature age may also peruse with great +advantage, for it abounds in useful and pleasant +information."—<i>Examiner.</i></p></div> + +<p class="center">Also by the same author, <i>Price 9d.</i></p> + +<h2>The Grammatical Omnibus,</h2> + +<p class="blockquot">being a methodical arrangement of the Improprieties frequent in +Writing and Conversation, with Corrections for attaining to purity and +elegance of expression.</p> + +<div class="tr">** - The words printed here could not be deciphered because of a blot of ink.</div> + + + + + + + + +<pre> + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Christmas, A Happy Time, by Miss Mant + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHRISTMAS, A HAPPY TIME *** + +***** This file should be named 20200-h.htm or 20200-h.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/2/0/20200/ + +Produced by Sigal Alon, Sankar Viswanathan, and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced +from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American +Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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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: Christmas, A Happy Time + A Tale, Calculated for the Amusement and Instruction of Young Persons + +Author: Miss Mant + +Release Date: December 27, 2006 [EBook #20200] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ASCII + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHRISTMAS, A HAPPY TIME *** + + + + +Produced by Sigal Alon, Sankar Viswanathan, and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced +from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American +Libraries.) + + + + + + + + + + [Illustration: "They both turned pale when they saw the dog almost + immediately disappear under the ice."] + + + CHRISTMAS, + + A HAPPY TIME: + + A Tale, + + CALCULATED FOR + + THE AMUSEMENT AND INSTRUCTION + + OF + + YOUNG PERSONS. + + + + BY MISS MANT. + + + + + LONDON: + + T. ALLMAN, 42, HOLBORN HILL, + + 1832. + + * * * * * + + + + +CHRISTMAS, + +A HAPPY TIME. + + +Harriet and Elizabeth Mortimer were two very pretty, and generally +speaking, very good little girls. Their kind papa and mamma had taken +a great deal of pains that they should be good, and it was very seldom +that they vexed them by being otherwise. A very happy time was now +expected in the family at Beech Grove, by the arrival of John and +Frederick Mortimer from school: it was within a few days of Christmas; +and as the sisters and brothers had never, till the last few months, +been separated, their meeting together again was looked forward to +with general and lively pleasure. + +'Do you see anything of the stage, Elizabeth?' said Harriet to her +sister, who had been running down to the end of the plantation to peep +over the gate, and listen if she could hear the approach of wheels. + +'No: there is nothing in sight,' replied Elizabeth, whose teeth +chattered from the cold, while her hands were so benumbed, she could +scarcely close the gate, which she had ventured to open about half an +inch. + +'They will never come,' said Harriet; 'but you should not open the +gate, you know papa and mamma both told us we should not do that. And +how cold you are! you are all over in a shiver. Come let us have a run +round, and that will warm you. Remember mamma begged of us not to +stand still in this sharp cutting wind.' + +'Yes, so she did,' replied Elizabeth; 'and indeed it is very, very +cold, down at that corner. And they will not come any the sooner for +our standing there.' + +And according to Harriet's proposal, the two little girls began to run +round the grounds, which put them in a complete glow; and Elizabeth's +fingers very soon ceased to ache with cold. + +As they passed the green house, they saw the gardener matting up some +myrtles on the outside; and Elizabeth stopped, to enquire at what +time the coach was likely to pass. + +'I look for it every minute, Miss,' replied the man; 'and that's the +reason I keep about here, that I may be handy to help the young +gentlemen out, and bring in the boxes and that. I look for them to be +much grown, Miss, for 'tis a fine bit now since we have seen them. I +don't know what Master John will say about his myrtle that he used to +be so proud of, for I am afraid its dead. But hark ye, Miss--sure +that's wheels.--Yes, and there comes a coach too.' + +And away posted the gardener, and both the little girls after him. + +It was a coach; and it was a very noisy one, or at least the +passengers were very noisy. Such a blowing of horns, and hallooing and +huzzaing. But the coach went by without stopping at the gate; and +although the gardener ran after it, and endeavoured to speak with the +coachman, his voice was drowned in the multitude of little voices +within and without the coach; and he was obliged to return, +disappointed himself, to the disappointed young ladies, who stood +anxiously looking out, within the gate. + +Before there was time to express any regret, another coach appeared in +sight, and this might be the coach so much longed for. This also +approached with shouting and blowing of horns; again the gardener put +himself forward and this time the coach seemed to draw down towards +the gate. Harriet even fancied she saw her dear brother John looking +out of one of the windows. But again she was disappointed. The +coachman, though he drew to the side of the road, scarcely allowed his +horses to stop; and flinging the servant a letter, which he took from +his waistcoat pocket, again he flourished his whip, and again the +coach passed on. + +'A letter for your papa, Miss,' said the gardener, picking it up and +offering it to the young ladies: 'Shall I take it to James to carry +in?' + +'No; I will--I will,' exclaimed both the little girls at once. +Elizabeth, though the youngest, generally contrived to be forwardest; +and seizing upon the letter, as the gardener held it between his +finger and thumb, she scampered away, followed by Harriet, and they +both arrived almost breathless in the drawing-room. + +'The coaches are both past, papa,' said Harriet, 'without John and +Frederick'; and as soon as the information had been given, she burst +into tears. + +'But here is a letter, which will tell about it, I dare say, papa,' +added Elizabeth. 'To John Mortimer, Esq. Beech Grove,' she continued, +reading the direction, as she presented the letter. 'It is John's +writing, papa.' + +Mrs. Mortimer looked uneasy; and Mr. Mortimer broke the seal of the +letter with some little alarm. + +'It is all well,' said the kind father, almost directly; 'nothing to +apprehend, my love,' added he, as he handed the letter across to his +wife. + +The letter was as follows:-- + + MY DEAR PAPA, + + No room for us in either of the coaches--inside or out. Mr. + Brown is going to send us in a post chaise, with two other + boys. + + Your affectionate and dutiful Son, + + JOHN MORTIMER. + +'Our pleasure is only delayed for a few hours,' said Mr. Mortimer, as +he put an arm round the neck of each of his little girls. 'They will +be here in the course of a short time, no doubt, and have you got +every thing ready to receive them?' + +'Oh yes, papa, quite ready,' replied Elizabeth, who was slipping her +neck from under her father's arm, with the intention of again +returning to the bottom of the shrubbery. Harriet directly followed +her towards the door. + +'And where now my little girls,' said Mrs. Mortimer; 'not to the +shrubbery again this evening?' + +'We _were_ going, mamma,' replied Elizabeth: 'had you rather we should +not?' + +'I had,' answered Mrs. Mortimer; you have been out nearly two hours, +and the air is now very sharp and cold; the sun is set, and in a short +time it will be quite dusk. You can watch the road from the play-room +window; and I think it very likely your brothers will not be here +before quite night.' + +Both the little girls would have preferred another run in the +shrubbery, and another peep over the gate at the end of it: but they +were accustomed to know, that their mother's judgment was better than +their own; and without a murmur, therefore they repaired to the +school-room. + +'Oh! there they are,--there they are,' said Elizabeth, before she had +scarcely reached the window: 'It must be my brothers,--I am sure it +was a post-chaise.' + +'Where--where?' said Harriet, jumping up upon the window seat, and +straining her eyes to catch a sight of the desired object. + +'I cannot see it now,' replied Elizabeth, 'it is gone behind the elm +trees by the side of the road: we shall see it again, presently. Do +go, dear Harriet, and ask mamma if we may go down and meet them.' + +'But I do not know they are coming,' said Harriet: 'do dear Elizabeth +tell me where you saw them. I do not think you could have seen them: +and if you did, they must be a great way off.' + +'Oh there--there, Harriet, cannot you see them now?' said Elizabeth, +putting her arm round her sister's neck; 'There,--just by the mill, +this side of the elms. Now they are gone again.' + +'Yes, I see them,' replied Harriet; 'and now they are come out again +from behind old Jackson's cottage. Oh, now I see them very plain.--I +can almost make them both out.' + +'Oh, I can make them _quite_ out,' said Elizabeth; 'and they have got +a horn, too, and are blowing away: and John is shaking his +handkerchief. Oh, I wish we might go down and meet them.' + +And both the children began jumping about in an ecstasy of joy. At +this moment Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer entered the play-room. 'They are +coming, papa,--they are coming, mamma,' said Harriet and Elizabeth +both together. Mrs. Mortimer had thrown a large cloak and hood over +her, and Mr. Mortimer had his hat in his hand. + +'We were coming to fetch you to meet them,' said Mr. Mortimer.--'Come, +make haste, or they will be here before we can be out of the house; +for the young gentlemen travel rapidly with their four horses.' + +Harriet and Elizabeth hastened after their father and mother, who were +preparing to lead the way to the shrubbery, but before they were out +of the hall door, the post chaise and four was rattling down the +avenue and in a few minutes the two lads were pressed to the hearts +of their beloved parents and their affectionate sisters. + +As the two other youths who accompanied the Mortimers were eager to +pursue their journey, the chaise was soon on its return down the +avenue: and John and Frederick, who with all their happiness, could +not help finding out that they were very cold and hungry, were glad to +be summoned to the dining-room, and to feel the warm carpet, and see +the blazing fire, and the smoking meat upon the table. Between eating +and talking there was a great deal to do; the former, however, it was +most necessary to attend to for a short time; and when their hunger +was satisfied, and they drew with their father and mother, and +Elizabeth and Harriet, round the cheerful and enlivening fire, and a +more happy party perhaps could hardly be imagined. Before the boys +went to school, each of the children had low stools of their own, +which it had always been their delight to sit upon, when summoned to +the dining-room after dinner; for at that time they had been +accustomed to have their own dinner in the nursery. Now, however, they +were to be indulged by dining with their parents, when the family +dinner hour was moderately early, and there was no large party at +table; and on the present occasion the same little stools which had +been such favourites formerly were now brought again into use. The +girls had almost feared proposing them, as they knew not what changes +the _boy's school_ might have occasioned in their brother's habits; +but no sooner was the cloth removed and the grace said, than the +active little Frederick flew to the sideboard, and took possession of +his old and favourite seat. John followed his example; those of the +two little girls were already standing by the two corners of the +chimney-piece, and Frederick between mamma and Elizabeth, and John +between papa and Harriet, very soon settled themselves and made the +family circle complete. Into the middle of this circle a favourite +little terrier now leaped, and began his gambols, while the old pet +Tibby the cat, which the children had all been accustomed to carry +about from infants, came rubbing her sides against the young +strangers, and began purring to be taken notice of. + +As the day had closed long before the dinner had disappeared, the boys +could only hear all there was to be heard to-night, about any +alterations or improvements which had taken place since their +absence;--what success their sisters had met with, in keeping up their +stock of rabbits and poultry;--whether the ice-house had been yet +filled;--how went on old Neddy the donkey, if he was yet too old to be +ridden;--whether the myrtles were alive, and their own gardens had +been full of flowers; and a variety of other inquiries, extremely +interesting to them, and which would have doubtless been made by many +of my young readers on similar occasions as those on which we are +writing. Harriet and Elizabeth were equally glad to reply to all their +brothers' questions, and they had a great many to ask in return. +Whether they liked school as well as home,--whether they always had +meat and pudding, & as much as they liked of both;--what plays they +played at, and if they had good-natured companions. There was an +abundance to say upon all these subjects; and then Mr. and Mrs. +Mortimer had their inquiries to make about books and classes, and +sums, and school hours, and play hours and going to bed, and getting +up, so that the tongues all ran very nimbly; and doubtless there +remained plenty more to say, when at length little Frederick's words +began to lengthen themselves as he uttered them, and his eyes were +with difficulty strained open. + +Mr. Mortimer gave him a pat, and asked him how early he had been up in +the morning? He had scarcely been in bed the whole night; he had since +performed a journey of near seventy miles, and as he was not yet seven +years of age, it was not to be wondered at that sleep should thus be +striving to get the better even of his feelings of joy and happiness, +John, who was only two years older than his brother did not shew much +less symptoms of fatigue; and Mrs. Mortimer proposed having the tea +immediately, that the boys might get to bed. This plan was instantly +agreed to, their heads were soon snug on their pillows; and in the +morning they both awoke in high health and joyous spirits. + +It was now that Mr. and Mrs. Mortimer could see how much their dear +boys were grown, and how well they were looking. John triumphantly +stood beside his sister Harriet, who was a year older than himself, +and told her he should be very soon taller than she was; and Frederick +had actually out-stripped the little Elizabeth, who told one more year +than he did. The girls however were reconciled to this acquired +superiority of stature, by discovering that papa was a great deal +taller than mamma, though they were both exactly the same age; and +Frederick concluded the whole dissertation, by adding that to be sure, +_men_ ought be taller than women. + +'It does not much signify what are your heights, my dear children,' +said Mr. Mortimer, affectionately gazing upon the whole group, 'if +you are but good and amiable. I should be very glad to see my young +Fred a brave grenadier,' added the fond father placing his hand upon +the head of his young son: 'but I shall be much better pleased to see +him a good man. But now who is for a walk?--the morning is bright and +fair, and those who do not mind the cold, away for your great coats +and hats, and I will take a walk with you to the ice-house, and see if +the men are beginning to fill it.' + +It was not necessary to repeat this invitation, and towards the +ice-house the party immediately proceeded. As they passed through the +park they went by a sheet of water, on which during the summer, had +been a boat, but which now was caked over with ice, and had every +appearance of being hard enough to bear the weight of a man with his +skates on. John and Frederick were both running to the edge: and had +not their father been with them would have immediately ventured on an +amusement, hardy and bracing when followed with prudence, but which +requires the caution of experience, not to be carelessly indulged in. + +'Wait till to-morrow, boys,' said Mr. Mortimer, 'the ice is not strong +enough to bear you to-day. In another four and twenty hours, I think +it will be safe, should the frost continue, and I have directed James +to prepare my skates.' + +The boys both desisted, for they had been very early taught to submit +to the opinion of their father: but Frederick could not help saying, +'I think it _would_ bear, papa:' and feeling more disappointment than +his looks perhaps expressed. + +'We can very well wait another day, Frederick,' said John, as he saw +his brother's disappointment on walking on. + +'Perhaps the frost may be broken then,' replied Frederick; but he soon +found other amusement, and bounded over the stile into the lane, +before the rest of the party had scarcely lost sight of the sheet of +water in the park. + +'Oh, here are the men with a load,' said Frederick, as his father +came in sight, 'fine thick ice, papa--oh, so thick, I am sure it must +be hard enough to slide where that thick ice comes from.' + +'That ice is taken from a mere hole,' replied Mr. Mortimer: 'from that +dirty little patch of water by the side of yonder hedge--do you see? +It is very shallow, and is therefore soon encrusted: but even before +it was cut by the pickaxe, it would not have been smooth enough to +have slidden upon, and now you see it is all in pieces, and you might +as well try to slide on a heap of stones.' + +By this time all the party had crossed the stile, and were proceeding +along the lane. + +'I wonder you do not have the ice-house filled from the water in the +park papa' said Harriet. 'This is such dirty, nasty-looking stuff.' + +'You have before seen in what manner the ice-house is filled,' replied +Mr. Mortimer; 'that the ice is all broken, almost pounded to pieces, +and then stored below ground; and I have also told you that it is +never eaten, and it signifies little whether it is entirely pure or +not. The house will be rendered as cold by this ice, as by that from +the park, and that is all which is necessary. And it would be a pity +to spoil the appearance of the other, unless it were necessary; +particularly as John and Frederick and myself hope to have same good +slides upon it during the holidays.' + +Having stopped to ask a few questions of the men employed in conveying +the ice from the pond, Mr. Mortimer now proceeded with his children to +a farm-house not very far distant, where they all met a very hearty +welcome, and where the boys' attention was arrested by two little grey +ponies, which were in the meadow adjoining the farm yard. + +'Well--what do you think of them,' said Mr. Mortimer. They were +pronounced beautiful by both the boys, and their father then told them +they had been purchased for their use, and that of their sisters; but +that they would not be fit to be ridden till the summer. He designed +to have them properly broken in by the next holidays, and the boys +were delighted with the prospect of riding them on their next return +from school. + +'If the young gentlemen would like a ride this Christmas, Sir,' said +the kind farmer, 'my Thomas's poney is a nice quiet little fellow, and +Tom would be proud to lend him.' John and Frederick looked at each +other, and at their father, but at length John suggested, that as only +one could ride at a time they had better put off their rides till the +summer; and Harriet and Elizabeth were both pleased that such was the +decision. + +The next visit was to the parsonage, where many a round happy +countenance greeted the return of the young Mortimers: and while Mr. +Mortimer was engaged in conversation with the excellent pastor of the +village, Mr. Wexford, the young people were introduced into the +play-room of the little Wexfords. Mr. Wexford made a petition that the +young people should spend the day together: but as it was the first of +the Mortimers being at home, their father declined it for them, at the +same time promising that they should have the indulgence in a short +time: and also expressing a hope that the Wexfords would return the +visit at Beech Grove. + +At that time of the year there was little to be seen out of doors, but +one curiosity the Wexfords described, to which they were very anxious +to introduce their young friends: and this was a little group of robin +red-breasts which had been hatched in their summer-house, and which +now took shelter there every night, and were regularly fed by the +family. + +'The gardener says they do not do us much good,' said Maria Wexford, +as they approached the summer house; 'but I do not like that they +should be destroyed.' + +'Oh no, I could not have them destroyed,' replied Harriet Mortimer, +'even if they spoiled my flowers, they are such pretty creatures. But +where are John and Frederick?' + +John and Frederick had scampered off with the young Wexfords, and +presently returned with a pan of bread crumbs, which they had begged +from the cook, and which they now hoped to see the red-breasts eat. + +But the little creatures were alarmed at seeing so many visitors; or +the sun enticed them to extend their flight beyond the green house; +for on the entrance of the boys, they all took wing and flew away. + +'I am sorry we frightened them,' said Harriet. + +'Do you not think they will ever come back again?' asked Elizabeth. + +'Oh yes, they will be back in the evening or before,' replied Maria +Wexford; 'they often fly out in the day-time when it is fine. But +perhaps you would like to run round the garden; you will be cold +standing still.' + +The party was preparing for a race when Mr. Mortimer appeared to +summon that part of it which belonged to him; and, having arranged a +day with Mr. Wexford, for the families to meet at Beech Grove, Mr. +Mortimer and his children returned towards the park. + +As they approached the sheet of water, which Frederick again surveyed +with a longing eye, they perceived that Mr. Wexford's large +Newfoundland dog had followed them from the parsonage, and the boys +directly began throwing stones and sticks before them for the animal +to run after and bring back to them. + +This dog was particularly fond of the water, and John having thrown a +stick to the edge of it, it had slipped over the side and the fine +animal immediately sprang after it. The boys for an instant were both +inclined to smile at the animal's finding footing, when he had +expected to sink in the water, but they both turned pale, and looked +at their father, when they almost immediately saw him disappear under +the ice. It had been so partially frozen that the weight of the dog in +plunging, had broken it, and he had sunk to rise no more. Mr +Mortimer's heart sickened as he contemplated what might have been the +case had his own children ventured on the ice, and he blessed God that +their dispositions were such, as to make them obedient to his wishes. +Every means were taken for the recovery of the dog, and after some +hours he was extricated from the ice; but he was perfectly dead, +and apparently had been so some time. + +[Illustration: "They are coming papa, they are coming mamma."] + +As Mr. Mortimer and his children continued their walk towards the +house, they heard a shrill shouting from the direction of the +village;--it seemed like the shouting of young voices, and was +evidently that of joyfulness. The attention of the children was +immediately attracted towards it, and Mr. Mortimer indulged them by +moving in its direction. John and Frederick were very soon out of +sight, and in a few minutes they returned to relate the cause of the +acclamations they had heard. They proceeded from the children of the +parish school, who had just been dismissed by their master and +mistress, and were to be treated with a week's holiday. +Hurra--hurra--cried all the little noisy fellows, as Mr. Mortimer came +up; while the squeaking voices of the little girls joined in the cry, +at the same time as they jumped, and danced, and frisked about happy +and joyous as little birds. The young Mortimers hastened towards the +gate, and as they opened it, the young crowd gave them another hurra; +and two or three of the biggest of the boys approached, and making +their village nods to the squire, at the same time touching their +hats, they offered their Christmas pieces for exhibition. Mr. Mortimer +gave these little lads sixpence each, and calling to the gardener to +get him a few shillings' worth of halfpence from the village shop, he +bade the happy group of children stop a few minutes near the gate. +This they were most glad to do, and on the return of the gardener, +John and Frederick, commissioned by their father, gave each of the +little girls two-pence, and Harriet and Elizabeth had the same +pleasing commission to execute towards the boys. All was joy and +hilarity; and when Mr. Mortimer told them that on Christmas-day they +were to come to his house, to have some beef and plum-pudding, all the +little happy countenances shone with delight. + +'And now run on, and get home,' said Mr. Mortimer: 'for your parents +will be waiting for you at their dinners. And take care you do not get +into any mischief in the course of the next week: and if you go out to +slide mind that the ice is well hardened before you venture on it. +And a merry Christmas to you all.' + +'Merry Christmas to _you_, Sir,' replied the biggest boy, who was a +very well-spoken lad, and looked as happy, though he made less noise +than the rest. 'Merry Christmas--Merry Christmas,' was echoed from a +number of little voices around him; and with another joyous shout, the +motley group proceeded onwards through the village. + +Mr. Mortimer now left his children, and proceeded also through the +village where he had himself business to transact. The children went +into the house to get their luncheon of bread and jam, and after the +girls had rested themselves, their mother promised to take a stroll +with them and their brothers round the garden and through the +green-houses. At this time of year there was little to see; but still +what little there was, was worth seeing, and a stroll with mamma was +always a treat. + +'What piles of shirts and round frocks! mamma,' said John, while they +were eating their luncheon. 'And what numbers of frocks! why, you +might set up a shop almost.' + +'Cannot you guess what these frocks and shirts are all for?' said +Harriet. + +'I can,' said the quick little Frederick. 'They are for the children +we saw in the lane just now; and they are to have them against +Christmas.' + +'You are right, Frederick,' replied his mother; 'and I have been +taking the opportunity of this holiday of your sisters, to look them +over and parcel them out.' + +Just now the door opened, and a housemaid appeared with a large basket +of shoes and stockings, and another with women's gowns and men's +frocks. + +'How pleased all the poor people will be, mamma!' said Elizabeth, +taking up a gown from the basket; 'it is rather coarse cloth though, I +think, mamma.' + +'It would be very coarse for you to wear, Elizabeth,' replied Mrs. +Mortimer, 'because you are born in a state of affluence, and +therefore it is becoming that you should be drest according to the +fortune of your papa. But to give fine garments to the poor would be +no kindness to them, nor a fit manner of shewing our benevolence +towards them.' + +'I think papa is very good and kind, do not you, mamma?' said Harriet, +looking very steadfastly at her mother. + +'Your father has a great pleasure in benefiting any one it is in his +power to serve, and is as you observe, Harriet, one of the kindest of +men. But he does no more than his duty, and this he would himself tell +you, in being a vigilant guardian over the necessities of his poor +neighbours. Providence has placed a large fortune at his disposal; +and one end of its being given, was, that he might clothe the naked +and feed the hungry. Christmas would not be a time of much rejoicing +to the poor, were not the rich to assist them in making it so: and I +hope all my dear children, while they are enjoying themselves with +every comfort and indulgence around them, will be rendered happier by +reflecting that the inhabitants of every cottage in the village are +rejoicing at the same time.' + +'We shall not have a party on Christmas-day, shall we, mamma?' asked +John. + +'None, excepting our own family, John,' replied Mrs. Mortimer. 'I +hope both your uncles will be with us, and your grandpapa and +grandmamma have promised to come over from Cannon Hill. The Mortimers +from Haversly too I expect, and these I think will complete our circle +'round the Christmas fire. + +'Oh, I hope grandpapa will come,' said Frederick, 'because he has +always such a number of battles and fighting stories to tell, and he +is so droll besides.' + +'And I am sure I hope uncle Philip will come,' said Elizabeth; 'for he +is so fond of play, and jumping me up to the ceiling.' + +'I think you are getting almost too big for this play,' said Mrs. +Mortimer; 'and so uncle Philip would feel in his arms, I believe, were +he to attempt to jump you now.' + +'We shall all dine with you then, mamma, shall we not?' said +Elizabeth; 'if there is no other company. You know they are relations, +and are all fond of us children.' + +'You shall all dine in the room, certainly,' said Mrs. Mortimer; 'but +if the four young Mortimers come, I think some of you will be obliged +to dine at the side table, but that none of you will mind.' + +'Oh, we do not mind that at all, mamma,' said Harriet; 'but we had +rather not have any of the Mortimers with us, for they are so rude +and noisy, and papa always thinks that we make the noise; and I am +sure it is always their fault, though we cannot help laughing at +them.' + +'You see, in the instance of your cousins, Harriet,' said Mrs. +Mortimer, 'the disadvantage of never having any restraint put on +little girl's educations. I myself have seen that they occasionally +are boisterous and overbearing in their manners; but the fault is not +their own. And, if you remember, one day when they were with us, +without their own father and mother, they were as orderly and +well-behaved as possible.--But will you never have finished your +luncheon, Frederick?' + +'I was so hungry, mamma,' replied the little boy; 'but I have done +now: and now shall we go out again?' + +'Did you call on nurse this morning?' said Mrs. Mortimer. + +'No, mamma, I quite forgot her,' replied Frederick; 'but we will go +now shall we, John, while mamma finishes sorting the things?' + +'You must never forget her, my dear boy,' replied the tender mother; +'for without her care of you, when your own mother was too weak to +attend to you, you would not have been the stout active boy you now +are.' + +'I hope you have a nice gown and petticoat for nurse, mamma?' said +Frederick. + +'She has not been forgotten,' replied Mrs. Mortimer; 'and you shall +have the pleasure of carrying the bundle prepared for her yourself. +There it is:--the cotton gown, and stuff petticoat, the shoes, +stockings, and apron, lying together at the corner of the table.' + +Frederick, with a little of his mother's assistance, soon made these +separate articles into a bundle; and the two boys set off for Nurse +Winscomb's cottage. + +The stroll round the garden did not take place on that day; for the +boys met their father returning from the cottage of the nurse, and he +took them with him to call on a gentleman residing about two miles +distant, and whose family were to be invited, with a few others, to +meet together in the Christmas week. The young people were to be +indulged with a little dance; and although neither John nor Frederick +knew much about dancing, they were pleased at the idea of joining with +those who did, and already began to talk over the little young ladies +of the neighbourhood, and to settle with whom they would, and with +whom they would not dance. + +They came home quite tired, and only in time to have their dress +changed before dinner. Harriet and Elizabeth thought they had been +absent a long while, and on their return into the drawing-room, were +ready with their smiling countenances to receive these dear boys. + +The next morning after breakfast, Mr. Mortimer employed a few hours in +examining his boys in the improvements they had made during the last +half-year; for he had wisely resolved, for the comfort of the whole +family, that the entire day was not to be given up to play. During +this time, Harriet and Elizabeth were occupied with their mamma; and +after this as the day continued bright, though cold, it was determined +to put into effect the proposed stroll of yesterday. And first to the +farm-yard, where the poultry-maid supplied them with corn: and with +this enticement, the fowls and ducks were called together and +numbered, and the various beauties of both enumerated. This speckled +hen had been such a good mother, and a good handful of grain was +tossed to her;--then the beautiful little bantam had been nursed in a +stocking, and was so tame that it would come and eat out of the +hand;--then there was the fine old cock that crowed so loud he might +be heard all over the parish, and a handful was thrown to him;--then +there was the young one which the old one drove about so, that it +could get nothing to eat;--Harriet made his necessities her care: but +it was useless to throw him any: for the old cock would not allow him +to come near the grain. + +'Nasty greedy fellow,' said Elizabeth, 'I am sure there is enough for +all, but the young cock cannot get a morsel.' + +'I believe we must get rid of him,' observed Mrs. Mortimer; 'for it +is miserable to see him driven about so.' + +'He is to be killed next, Madam,' answered the poultry-maid, who now +approached with two fowls hanging from her hands, from which drops of +blood were falling. + +Mrs. Mortimer moved away with the children: for she saw that Harriet +turned pale at the sight of the blood. + +'I cannot think how Jane can kill the fowls, mamma,' said Elizabeth; +'I am sure I could not, if we never had any at all.' + +'I should be very sorry if you could, my dear little girl, for there +is no necessity for your doing it; and without conquering your +feelings of tenderness, you never could acquire the resolution to do +it. In Jane's situation it was necessary for her to habituate herself +to an employment which devolves to her as the rearer of the poultry: +but I assure you it was a long time before she could first bring +herself to deprive those creatures of life which she had been +accustomed to look after and feed. And even now I believe when she can +meet with the gardener or groom, she most generally employs them.' + +'Are there no ducks, mamma?' said Frederick: 'we used to have such a +number.' + +'There is your old favourite drake just stopping under the gate,' +replied Mrs. Mortimer: 'and we will follow him into the field, for it +is rather cold standing still.' + +They then went into the field, and after that came round to the +green-house, where the gardener was very busily employed in gathering +some beautiful grapes. + +'How nice and warm it is here,' said several of the children, on +entering the house. The gardener then approached to ask the young +gentlemen how they did, and to tell them how much they were grown, and +to say that he hoped they would like the grapes. John and Frederick +answered all the old man's questions with kindness and civility; and +as the young party were leaving the green-house, he asked them +whether they should not want some flowers and evergreens against +their little dance? + +'Oh yes, if you please, gardener,' was the ready and quick +answer:--'we may, mamma, may we not?' said Harriet, looking up at her +mother before she gave her reply. + +'The gardener may give you what he can spare,' replied Mrs. Mortimer. +'And gardener,' added she, looking back towards the green-house, +'desire your grandson to go into the copses, and bring home a little +cart of holly, that we may have the kitchen well ornamented, when the +tenantry come to their dinner.' + +'He shall be sure to do it, ma'am,' replied the gardener. 'I look we +shall have a merry Christmas, and I do like to see the room well +dressed up.' + +As Tom, the gardener's grandson, was a steady, well-behaved lad, Mrs. +Mortimer allowed John and Frederick to accompany him to the copses, in +search of the holly. Harriet and Elizabeth would, no doubt, very much +have liked to belong to the party also, but they were easily convinced +of the propriety of their not doing so, and were therefore satisfied +to see their brothers drive off with Tom Harding, and return in two or +three hours afterwards, walking by the side of the little vehicle, +which then appeared a moving shrub of red-berried holly. + +On Christmas-day the expected party met round the hospitable +dinner-table of Mr. Mortimer, having all of them arrived on the +preceding day at the grove, excepting the other branch of the Mortimer +family, who attended their own parish church in the morning, and did +not arrive till the hour of dinner. + +The children of the village school, all in their new clothes, and with +a sprig of holly in their bosoms and button holes, walked from the +church to the Grove; and there partook, as they had been invited to +do, of beef and pudding, and good home-brewed beer. The young +Mortimers waited upon them at dinner, and before they left the Lodge, +presented them each with a plumb cake; and Mrs. Mortimer gave them +each an amusing little book to read to themselves and their parents, +who had not like themselves possessed the advantages of learning to +read. + +The family dinner party went off as happily as that in the kitchen. +The young Mortimers all sat together at the side table, and their +papa, had not once occasion to call them out for being noisy, though +they were merry and cheerful enough. It was certainly true, as Harriet +had said, that her cousins would be noisy; on this day, however, being +dispersed amongst the party at the large table, they were very orderly +and well-behaved; and after dinner, when the young people had had +taken as much fruit as was good for them, they retired into their +play-room together: they sat round the blazing fire there provided for +them, very comfortably and happily, and without one word of dissension +till they were again called back for tea into the drawing room. + +The next day was the day appointed for the dinner of the tenantry, and +busy indeed were the young Mortimers, in dressing up the Hall, and +making it look smart and lively. A very large party assembled here to +enjoy the squire's hospitable table, at which he himself presided; and +the day after this, the labouring cottagers and their wives met in the +same room at one o'clock, round a table well covered with meat pies, +legs of mutton, roast beef, potatoes, and plum pudding. They brought +with them those of their children, who were too young to be in the +school: and, on this occasion, all the new round frocks, and cotton +gowns were exhibited. Little Frederick led his nurse up to the head of +the table, and was very attentive to her; and whenever her plate was +empty, he took care that it should not remain long so. + +This party went off as happily as the last; and two days after was to +take place the little dance, so anxiously looked forward to, not only +by the Mortimers, but by all the young people in the neighbourhood. +The Wexfords came very early in the morning, to assist their young +friends in preparing the ball-room: and the gardener had taken good +care to provide plenty of shrubs and flowers, for the necessary +decoration. Mrs. Mortimer lent her assistance where it was required, +and she was only fearful that the children would tire themselves +before the pleasure of the evening commenced; for Mr. Mortimer had now +pronounced the sheet of water in the park sufficiently frozen to bear +any weight that might be ventured on it; and he had given several +village lads permission to slide there, and prepare it for the use of +his own boys. He now called upon both his own lads, and the young +Wexfords, to join him, and for John he had provided a pair of skates. +John met with a great many tumbles, to the amusement, not only of +himself, but of his companions; but he had no serious bruises, and +soon jumped up and laughed at his own awkwardness. Frederick longed to +try the skates out. Mr. Mortimer thought him too little to venture +upon them, so that he was obliged to be satisfied with sliding. And +very prettily he did slide, and very much did Elizabeth wish to slide +with him; for she was indeed a merry little girl, besides being always +desirous of doing every thing which she saw her brother Frederick +engaged in. But mamma thought it not a very fit amusement for little +girls; so Elizabeth joined Harriet and the Miss Wexfords in a run +round the park, all of them occasionally returning to the ice, to see +how the skaters and sliders went on. + +The hour of dinner was a very early one on this day, for the evening +party was to be an early one. The young people, with their papas and +mammas began to assemble at a very unfashionable hour, as early +indeed as seven o'clock, and by eight they were all dancing away very +merrily. Dancing was kept up with great spirit till towards eleven, +when there was a summons to supper. Another hour was spent in taking +refreshments, and during this time there was much merriment, and many +jokes passing round, as well amongst the elder part of the assembly, +as in that with which we are more particularly interested. Soon after +twelve the party began to separate;--all had appeared to be very well +satisfied with the pleasure they had been enjoying;--every one seemed +in high good-humour and glee; and all the young visitors, as well as +the four Mortimers, joined in acknowledging that the dance had gone +off very well indeed; and in pronouncing that certainly 'Christmas +was a very happy time.' + + +FINIS. + + + + +NEW AND INTERESTING WORKS + +PUBLISHED BY +T. ALLMAN. 42, HOLBORN HILL. + + +One Shilling each, embellished with Copper-plates, + + +CHRISTMAS A HAPPY TIME. + +THE LITTLE BLUE BAG; OR, A VISIT TO THE BAZAAR. + +POOR OLD PEGGY; OR, THE DISCOVERY. + +[**] AND GEORGE, OR, THE GAME AT CRICKET. + +A BOAT TO RICHMOND; OR, THE EXCURSION. HARRY THE PEASANT. + + +UNIFORM WITH [**] CATECHISMS, + +Price [**] + +"WHY AND BECAUSE," + +_Sixth Edition_, + +Consisting of Entertaining Philosophical + +_QUESTIONS and ANSWERS_. + +on subjects relating to + +AIR, WATER, LIGHT, and FIRE, + +Intended for the use of Schools, and for Youth of both sexes. + +By W. S. KENNY. + + "This is a little book, designed for the use of young people, + but which many of mature age may also peruse with great + advantage, for it abounds in useful and pleasant + information."--_Examiner._ + +Also by the same author, _Price 9d._ + +The Grammatical Omnibus, + +being a methodical arrangement of the Improprieties frequent in +Writing and Conversation, with Corrections for attaining to purity and +elegance of expression. + + +** - The words printed here could not be deciphered because of a blot +of ink. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Christmas, A Happy Time, by Miss Mant + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK CHRISTMAS, A HAPPY TIME *** + +***** This file should be named 20200.txt or 20200.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/2/0/2/0/20200/ + +Produced by Sigal Alon, Sankar Viswanathan, and the Online Distributed +Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net (This file was produced +from images generously made available by The Internet Archive/American +Libraries.) + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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