Little Christmas

Little

ristma

A STORY BY Agnes Siigh Turnbull

LITTLE

CHRISTMAS Agnes Sligh Turnbull With decorations by James Lewicki Every woman who has longed share

a

perfect

grown-up children

Christmas will

find

with a

to

her

special

wisdom in this delightful tale. For the best of plans can go awry. All three Greaves children came home for the

holidays and each brought a

new triumph, but each triumph had its own problem and the problems outlasted

a

thing of

festivity its

that

had

lost

some-

old radiance.

When everyone had left, Margaret Greaves turned for comfort to the carefully treasured Christmas wrappings of

—

the past the "baubles" her older daughter called them wryly Cecily's angel, Penny's favorite golden peach,

—

Hank's silver trumpet. Another tree rose in the living room. And as Mrs. Greaves lovingly re-created the happy past, something of its magic reached out to another generation and own second chance in the celebration of the "Little Christmas" of Twelfth Night. each found his

T&A

m ygm

m m

m !flf«

m

Digitized by the Internet Archive in

2010

http://www.archive.org/details/littlechristmasOOturn

LITTLE

CHRISTMAS

*

k~ a

LITTLE

CHRISTMAS BY AGNES SLIGH TURNBULL WITH DECORATIONS BY JAMES LEWICKI HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANY, BOSTON THE RIVERSIDE PRESS, CAMBRIDGE 1964

r a

!

T ,,

pV

Also by Agnes SlichTurnbull

Novels

The

•

The Day Must Dawn Glory

•

•

Rolling Years

The

Remember

•

Bishop's Mantle

The Golden Journey

•

the

End

The Gown

The Nightingale

•

•

of •

The Kings Orchard

For Children

•

Jed, the Shepherd's

Dog

•

Elijah

the Fish-hite

Nonfiction

•

Out

of

My Heart

First printing

Copyright

©

R

1964 bv Agnes Sligh Turnbull

All rights reserved including the right to

reproduce this book or parts thereof Library of Congress Catalog Card

The

text of Little

Journal tor

Christmas

December 1947 and

first is

in

any form

Number: 63-15261

appeared in the Farm

reprinted here by special

permission. Copyright 1947 by

Farm

Journal, Inc.

Printed in the U.S.A.

LITTLE

CHRISTMAS

Margeret

Greaves gave

.from the front steps

down

lurched off

wave

Henry's

taxi

the icy street, then, shivering,

closed the door and living

as

a last

moved

dispiritedly

toward the

room.

Christmas was over again, with festive season,

so weary in

all

the so-called

and she had never before

felt

quite

or so completely frus-

body and mind,

trated in heart.

This

year, as always, she

had looked forward

to

the great occasion with almost childish eagerness.

Hank coming home from from

college,

from the vading

city,

all,

Cecilv and

it

Bill,

her husband, out

the family together again, and, per-

that beautiful, delicate thrill of happiness

which had been

But

the University, Penny

Christmas in the

a part of

hadn't worked.

It

never did,

past!

now; only

this vear everything had been worse than usual. Margaret sank down on the divan and looked

about her.

The room had

which

upon

falls

a

house

the cheerless, untidy look

at the

end

of the holidays.

were onlv

If this

she thought!

all,

would

how

simple

it

But the trouble went much deeper.

be.

Even

good day's

If a

cleaning would set everything right,

so,

she

knew

that the best immediate ease

for the worries

and disappointment of her heart was

work. Penny's

room

upstairs

was

still

state after her departure vesterday,

much

in a

and Hank's not

two days before. At

better after his leaving

least this business trip of Henry's, while

lonely,

would give her

She looked the small

tree.

at the

a

It

was

as old foreign

it

It

for this

was Twelfth

Epiphany, or "Little Christmas"

Anya,

who had

lived with

them when

the children were small, had always called

Suddenly a

her

faded holly, the mistletoe, and

She would begin with them,

also

left

chance to clean up.

was the day to take them down. Night.

whirlwind

it.

Margaret's

soft, startled flush rose in

cheeks. She sat there, thinking, and then she spoke aloud. "Little Christmas!" she repeated over "Little

want

Christmas,

now,

today,

and

and

mine

over. if

I

it!"

And

she

knew

that she did

want

it!

More than

anything else in the world, she craved a second

chance

this year at

an excited

girl,

keeping Christmas. Then,

she began to plan.

First of

all

like

she

would make the livingroom clean and shining. She would take down the withered holly and substitute fresh greens;

remove (with what

a feeling of relief!)

the absurd glass unicorns and golden balls that

Cecily had arranged upon the mantel; she would

even bring

down from

the attic the old creche, and

the figures of the shepherds and the

which

in the past

Wise Men,

had been the mantel decoration

each Christmas.

Margaret remembered

had found

fault with

mas home from

now

them.

the

was her

It

"Mother, do we have to have

I'd

time Cecily first

Christ-

college.

again on the mantel? fashioned.

first

love

It's

to

try

all

all

that old rubbish

so frightfully old-

something,

original.

Something startling" As usual they had given had been year she

startling

had begged

in to Cecilv,

enough.

It

and the

effect

was the following

to trim the tree herself.

"I've got the

most marvelous

Mother!

idea,

It

seems awfully childish to keep on hanging up the

Do

same old baubles.

me

let

mv

out

trv

idea.

Please!"

And

of course thev

had

let her.

It

would have

been hard to refuse her anything that Christmas.

She had come home President of her four A's on her report, and a special letter

from the Dean. She was

Sophomore

in the

play,

the college art exhibit!

But that was Cecilv ble.

have the lead

and had had

a painting in

beautiful, brilliant, incrediartistic gifts

added, had

her always the center of every scene.

When he was

voung Hank had been born, the bov had balanced the

a

ordinarv features.

held his It

with

also to

Beautv and brains, with

made

less

—

class,

commendatory

own

And

as

fact of his

more

or

he grew older he had

with sturdy masculine normality.

was Penny, their third child,

problem.

fact that

Her

hair

was dark and

who had been

the

straight, her eves

shv and grav, her features too strong to be pretty. In school her work was not even quite average.

Somehow

she

was

always

falling

behind.

She

couldn't

make one

of the biggest colleges, certainly

not Cecily's, but she finally managed to enter a smaller one.

Margaret recalled again that

year that Cecily

first

had taken over the trimming of the reason she had not connected realized

that

now

that

it

garet herself

to the point of sharpness,

Now, suddenly, she wondered been on account of the

down

and had always

insisted

to fasten the star

on the

artistic

top. fir

upon the

purple.

table,

decked

original,

but

was, one had to

it

did not look like

wrathfully.

She took

waste basket.

off

it

now, almost

the rosettes and put them

She put away the

and threw

all

It

Margaret went over to

lifted the tree,

could have

upon climbing the ladder

Christmas.

in the

it

paper rosettes, behind which

showed and

hurt.

the ornaments from the attic

\ largaret eyed the small in skillfully devised

if

and Mar-

Penny had always been

tree.

the one to bring

admit,

Henry had

so very difficult.

had been mystified and

the tiny lights

For some

tree.

before, but she

had been on that Christmas

Pennv had been

been annoyed

it

it

lights,

out the back door.

then

Once rapidly

started it

upon her work,

it

was amazing how

went. She went to the attic for the boxes

which contained the creche and the slowly and

figures.

Then,

she arranged them as they

tenderly,

always used to be.

*

She stood back and surveyed the room. Tonight she would

beautiful!

and have wanted

to

a

fire,

do

at

and do

light

was

the candles,

the things she always

all

Christmas.

Perhaps

doing of them she might find some

A

It

the very

in

sort of refresh-

ment and wisdom to take up again tomorrow cares that lay upon her heart.

the

She glanced toward the corner where the big tree it

had always stood.

It

was

sillv for

her to want

there again tonight, but she did. If

she could but have

it,

clothed in

its

old orna-

ments, with the toys underneath which the

dren had always placed there, reliving those

pure

would be

like

happy days when Christmas had been

jov.

Margaret thought Dvers.

was

it

chil-

intently.

Next door

lived the

Their children were small and their tree

large.

She did not

delay, lest reason

and de-

corum should overcome her. She caught up a coat and went next door. Little Mrs. Dyer was just dismantling the

tree.

"Are you planning to do anything with garet asked after the "It's

think

a problem,

I'll

just

first

isn't

throw

it?"

Mar-

amenities were passed. it?"

Mrs. Dyer

"I

said.

out in the back vard for the

it

present."

"Would you be casual. little

give

"You

experiment

Christmas, you

it

see,

to

me?" Margaret

I've a silly

in

decorating

know

— and our

tried to

notion to

— before

try a

another

tree this year

too

is

small to work on." It

didn't sound too fantastic as she

had put

Margaret hoped. Mrs. Dyer agreed with

relief.

Margaret thought of her young neighbor

went back home.

She was the kind of

hoped Hank would marrv some and gav and modern, vet such

homemaker. Would Hank choose he wait until he

reallv

dav.

a fine

it,

as

she

girl

she

So bright

mother and

wisely?

Would

knew what he wanted?

*

8

This

was so

Her

he had taken out during the holidays

pert, so sure of herself, so ultra-sophisticated.

eyes looked hard

and calculating and there

a brittle note in her laughter.

was It all

girl

worried Margaret

out for a

girl

He had

before.

the field," as the boys called superficial glitter of this girl

And

she was

all

wrong

Hank

terribly.

for

it.

had

hadn't gone

always "played

Now really

what

the

if

caught him?

him, Margaret knew

in-

stinctively.

Above everything

else,

she had always prayed

that her children might have happiness and

life-

long contentment with their loves, as she and Henry

had had. At

this point

her heart seemed to turn

over twice, as she thought of Cecily and that, of course,

Bill,

for

was the most acute pain.

She was scarcely home, before the oldest Dyer boy brought in the tree. She did not hurry. Indeed she loitered as she trimmed

it,

stopping often to

hold the oldest baubles in her hand. instance — the

The

fruit, for

red apple, the golden peach, the

bright green pear.

The

children had particularly

loved these for some reason.

There was the

little

silver

trumpet, too, and the pink wax rose, the blue

bird,

and the Angel. These,

also,

had had

special

significance.

At

last there

was nothing

went on the very

to

hang the

was flunking two subjects

home

star that

star.

their strange, inscrutable daughter,

Penny,

She

but the

She thought of Penny, who

top.

had always begged

left

just

didn't

seem

thev had discussed

as usual could get

who

this first semester!

to it

care.

When

she got

earnestly with her, but

nothing out of her.

She had

onlv mentioned casually that she had broken

swimming

This to Henry had been the

record.

a

last

straw.

it.

"A swimming record!" "Do you think we're

dollars a year for

He had

all

but yelled

paving fifteen hundred

vou to go swimming? Now,

this

nonsense has to stop; you've got to get down to work."

Penny had room.

said

nothing, and gone up to her

And now, what

college?

What

if

she reallv flunked out of

was to be done about Penny?

She had always been dependable

in other ways.

#

IO

Cecily often forgot things.

was Penny,

It

who was

undemonstrative,

silent

there

always

and

when

needed. It

was Penny's

most of

all this

gift

which had pleased her mother

flower year, a tiny bottle of the rare It

perfume which Margaret loved.

must have

allowance! It was eaten a big hole in Penny's card bearing the plainly wrapped, with a small

^ords: "Merry Christmas to Cecily's gift

had been

Mom

from Pennv."

a bizarre green

handbag

Margaret which did not go with any single costume of silver and gold possessed. It was tied with yards of love to the ribbon, and the card read: "Oceans

most wonderful mother Margaret sighed. about Cecily and

in the world."

Before long she would

Bill.

They had

told her of

know what

fashion. threatened, each in characteristic

"Mother, velous!"

I

can't believe

Cecily had begun

It's

simplv too mar-

when

they were alone

it!

few minutes the day before Christmas. It meant Margaret was used to this introduction.

for a

that

some new

"What

is it,

success

had come

to Cecily.

dear?" she asked eagerly.

1

"I've

been offered the position of associate editor

on the magazine!"

"Why,

Oh,

Cecily!

that's wonderful!

Darling,

I'm so proud of you!"

"What's up now?" Penny had inquired, coming into the room.

Margaret had repeated the news and Penny, without comment, had passed on.

wished I

"Nobody knows how

continued:

Cecily

How

for this job!

can make a go of

it,

only

I'll

love

And

it!

I

I've

know

." .

.

"Only what?" "Bill

is

being absolutely mulish about

it."

"What do you mean?" "Well, we had decided that this I

coming year

can't.

I

think

Bill

plenty of time." stiffened.

A

as well tell

tween

us.

He's

Cecily's lovely face

nobody can do

you that

just

take time off

the

new

job

ought to be reasonable. There's

new note had come

might

"But

I'd

With

to have a baby.

had suddenly

into her voice.

may be

this

"I

serious be-

about issued an ultimatum, and

that to

darling, surely

me." you can compromise some-

1

c^

12

how."

She

realized

now, ashamed, that her im-

mediate reaction had been that Cecilv must not be thwarted

in this,

her crowning honor.

"Maybe you can do

Cecilv had turned away.

something with him," she voice sounded listens to Bill

and

and

all at

"You know he always

tired.

had followed her up frantically

She had had such

to her

She loved

Bill,

room

made

"Oh, spoil

pack-

before she slept.

and because he had no mother of

in trouble,

Bill,

last

and even now

own, he had somehow taken her 'We're

that night,

wrapping the

a hectic day,

the turkey stuffing had to be

his

once her

vou."

where she was ages.

flat

said,

Mom,

to his heart.

Cecily and

I.

It's

bad."

You mustn't let anything You must try to see each

she told me.

your marriage.

other's side of things." "I needn't that.

But

tell

you how

"Bill, dear, she's

off later

I

young

You know

love Cecily.

she's got to decide

now what

yet.

she wants."

She could take time

." .

"Some

.

girls

could, but not Cecily.

even better than you. In a few years

I

this

know

her

magazine

13

thing will be a tremendous job.

be any time

making added for

in Cecily's life for

home

a

for

"Bill,

if

having children and

mav

not even be

much

place

she goes ahead."

don't say that."

"I'm only facing

of, too,

But one thing,

facts.

you've got to believe. thinging

never

will

them. As a matter of fact," he

slowly, "there

me,

There

Cecily's happiness I'm

It's

and not

my women

"That's

own.

just

plenty of lonesome career

"So have

Mom,

I've seen

of forty-five."

I."

why I'm

fighting with

all

I've got for

both of us."

She had kissed him with her eyes

want

is

for

you both

be happy.

to

best to understand each other.

same.

And

let

Margaret gave

me know

a physical

the anxiety from her.

them

vet.

Whether

did not know.

the

soon

as

I'll

as

"All

full.

But tell

try

I

your

Cecily the

it's all

settled."

motion now of shaking

No

word had come from

omen was good

or

She hurried through her

ill,

she

solitary

dinner, and then lighted the logs in the fireplace.

M Then

she

the candles, snapped the button which

lit

illuminated the tree, and sat down, a sense of peace stealing over her. I

his

one night was

all

hers in which to

what she had missed, and gird

for

that was to come.

herself for

enjoy this with her

would be Penny. Even though she would sav still

she would like

Pennv had

little,

it.

." The sentence swimming record her mind. Those were the words which

"I broke a

flashed into

all

She suddenly knew that the one

who would most

of her children

make up

.

.

injected casually the day they

with her about her work.

And

had talked

except for Henry's

had passed the information by with-

flare-up, they

out comment, in their concern over her studies!

She had broken

a record.

What

record?

Thev

hadn't even asked. All at once Margaret sat very straight.

meant

a lot to

Penny.

triumph before them

had ignored She saw the very

first

That had

She had been laving her in her

own way, and

thev

it.

it

now with sudden

insight:

this

was

triumph Pennv had ever had. She had

15

always loved to swim, but nobody had thought

much about

But now, she had broken

it.

a record/

Margaret rose with instant decision, went

to the

telephone, and called Penny by long distance.

Margaret knew she sounded ner-

"I Iello, dear."

vous.

"Hi,

Mom.

"Not

Anything wrong?"

a thing.

Penny,

I

want

to

know about

that

record you broke in swimming." 1

"You what?' "Tell

me

"Oh,

it

all

about

it."

wasn't anything much."

What

"Penny, please.

record was it?"

"Well," she could hear the

faint note of pleasure

that crept into Penny's voice, "you see the college

We

here doesn't compete.

we keep

But

of course

just

before Christmas

freestyle

just

have our own team.

track of the records. I

And

busted the hundred yard

American Women's

Intercollegiate!"

She

hurried through the words, but her mother could feel

her excitement.

"Penny!

Weren't they

Wln

r

that's

simply

thrilled at school?"

tremendous!

i6 "Oli, they

made

sort of a fuss."

"Darling, I'm so proud of vou

I

don't

know what

to do!"

There was

a

dead silence on the other end of the

Margaret went on.

phone.

wish you were here tonight. I'm

"I

all

alone, vou

know, so I'm celebrating what Anya used to

call

dren.

Christmas. Remember? I'm having everyjust the wav we used to when you were chilThe creche and the figures are on the mantel,

and

borrowed the Dvers'

Little

thing

I

trimmings on

"Mom,

tree

and put

all

the old

it."

you did?" Her words were quick, incredu-

lous.

"Yes. Does

it

seem too crazy?"

"Is the bluebird

on

.

.

.

and the rose?"

"Yes."

"And

the fruit?"

"Evervthing."

"The peach was mine. Cecilv would want pear was Hank's.

down

too,

I

it,

I

was alwavs afraid

but she picked the apple.

You

.

suppose?"

.

.

The

you didn't bring the tovs

17

"Yes, 1

I

The

did.

and the bear and the dog.

doll

hey always had to be there. This year things were

not just

right.

Cecily and

wonder whether you know that

I

Bill

." .

.

"Cecily's a darn fool.

want

as Bill I'd

to

If

have

I

had

like

husband

his children."

"I'm sure you would, dear.

more

as nice a

wish Cecily were

I

you."

There was another breathless second of

and then came

"Would "I

.

said,"

.

.

silence,

husky voice.

a strange

would you sav that over?"

Margaret repeated

wished Cecily were more

distinctly,

"that

I

you."

like

"Mom..." "Yes, dear." I

iii

"So

awful glad you called up."

am

I."

"Are you going

Hank?"

to call

"I hadn't thought of it." "I believe he'd like to hear

Mom,

tell

Dad

I'll

make

be too much trouble.

now, somehow. Sort of

up the work.

...

I

.

.

about the

.

I

tree. It

And won't

sort of feel different

happy!"

i8

him, darling.

"I'll tell

Margaret

She put

now.

clear

So many

in the call for

She doubted whether he would be

interested, but

When

Goodbye."

sat at the desk, her eyes wet.

things seemed

Hank.

Lots of love.

it

would be good

him

she told

greatly

to hear his voice.

rather apologetically

what she

had done, Hank didn't laugh.

"Have you got the trumpet on the

tree?" he

asked.

"Absolutely."

"And

the pear?"

"Yes."

"Gosh,

I

remember how

of anything.

but "I

I

stuck

I

it

had

I

alwavs liked those best

to fight Cecily for the trumpet,

out."

brought the old toys down,

too.

You know,

the favorites that you children always thought should

enjoy Christmas with you."

"You

did? Say, vou're going sentimental in a big

Mom?

remember how Penny used to sneak them down and hide them behind the tree when we'd reallv outgrown them. Penny's a

way, aren't you,

good kid."

I

19

"Yes, she certainly

record.

Margaret agreed, with

a

She told him about the swim-

catch in her throat.

ming

is,"

Hank was

excited.

"No! Honest? Broke the hundred yard freestyle? Why, that's big-time stuff, Mom. She never said a word."

"Write and congratulate

Hank."

her,

"You bet I will. Why, that's really tops. You know Penny has a lot on the ball. Well, what else are you doing tonight,

"Oh,

just the things

the real Christmas. just"

—

she hesitated

fashioned qualities in

"Yeah,

down

I

guess

I

I

Mom, I

by yourself?"

didn't have time to do on

like

—

all

old-fashioned customs

"just as

I

like

some

old-

girls."

do myself, when you come

right

to it."

"They're

likelv to

wear better

in the

long run,

Hank."'

"You can

say that again!"

There was

a faint edge

in his voice.

(He's beginning to find that

thought.

"Mom,

girl

He's going to be safe after I

sort of like picturing the

®e>^

out,

Margaret

all.)

room the way

20 it

was when we were

Lets have

kids.

it

like that

next

year."

"We're going

to.

And now, good

luck,

dear.

Goodbye." Margaret went slowly back to the couch and

warm

Now

sat

down,

a

ning.

She had collected the selections she liked best

glow in her heart.

for the eve-

Thev were on the table Thev ranged from "The Night Before

of the seasonal literature.

beside her.

Christmas" to the Gospel according to

She smiled if

St.

as she fingered the books.

there were contrasts

would read them

among

just the

some carols. "Mother and her

Luke.

No

matter

her favorites, she

She would

same.

also

plav

to say.

everlasting carols!" Cecilv used

"Don't vou ever get

She put a fresh log on the

tired of fire

and

with a deep sigh of contentment. so, there

was

a quick tap-tap

them?" sat

Even

it

must be Cecilv and

into the room, her face white

"1U

again

as she did

on the knocker and

then the opening of the front door.

once that

down

and

Bill. set.

She knew Cecily Bill

at

came

followed

21

though he hadn't

her, looking as

slept for a week.

Margaret knew what they had come to

Now,

tell

her.

tonight, this night!

But they were both looking around the room

in

amazement. "Well, what on earth!" Cecily I

his

is

cried.

Twelfth Night," Margaret

Christmas.

I

said.

"Little

wasn't satisfied with our Christmas

this year, so

I'm celebrating

it

ahead with

my

though you are here."

was over

Bill

and

plans, even

again. I'm going right

at the mantel, looking at the creche

figures.

Cecily was at the

tree.

Her mother couldn't

see

her face, but she saw her touching the various orna-

ments. "\\ here's the apple?" she asked.

"Up "It

there, higher, to the right."

and the angel were always mine," she

"What was

said.

that?" Bill asked.

"Nothing," said Cecily. Then she gave

a quick

exclamation.

"My toys!"

heavens, you even brought

down

the old

22 Bill

ow

was beside

denly put

it

now, peering under the shad-

her,

Cecily picked up the doll, but sud-

of the tree.

down and turned away,

had been guilty of Margaret spoke

and sing some

firmly.

"I

am now

about to play

my

and then read

carols,

went over

though she

folly.

Christmas selections. Bill

as

I

ought

to

favorite

warn you."

to the fireside chair

and sank into

His face under the table light was haggard and

it.

drawn.

Cecily glanced quickly at him, then sat

down on

the couch.

cold and bitterly "I suppose

Her

beautiful profile was

take

it,"

still

set.

we can

she said.

Margaret played and sang from memory, trying by

a

tremendous

effort

to

think of the familiar

words, and not allow herself to break the impact of the misery which

and

Bill.

She moved from one old

and

down under

hung over Cecily

at last she

her heart

all

came

to "Silent Night."

but broke

sitting in the

favorite into another,

As she sang,

in yearning over her children,

same room with her and yet

away. ^r

k /N\

*

so far

23

was leaning forward now,

Bill

his

head

in his

hands; Cecily was sitting motionless, her eves upon the

tree.

Once

her mother saw her look at Bill and

then glance quickly away.

Margaret rose and came back to her place. tried to

She

speak brightly.

"Now," she said, "I'm going to read my old favorites. You can still escape if you want to." Neither spoke, so she began. She read "The

When

Night Before Christmas."

she finished, she

looked musingly at the burning logs.

"When

the children were small,

them help trim the

let

we always

Bill,

tree the afternoon before

Christmas. Then, after an early supper, they came

down

in their

pajamas and bathrobes and

the rug before the

Do

fire

while

you remember, Cecily

"Of

I

read

them

sat

this

on

poem.

7"

course," she said in an

odd

voice.

Margaret picked up the next book. "Then, when they grew older, they ritual,

only

we added

still

bits

liked this Christmas

from 'A Christmas Carol.'

They loved the Cratchits best of all." As she read from the worn book with

*

Eve

its

familiar

24

markings, she glanced up once or twice to look at

man and

the haggard young

woman. Bill's

the stony-faced young

upon each

other,

anguished and beseeching, his wife's

— but

She found

their eyes

she couldn't see into Cecily's.

Something

the

of

humble happiness

the

of

Cratchits seemed to be released from the pages, and to

hover about the room.

"Do you remember how you about Tinv Tim's

ried

fate

children always wor-

each year, even though

you knew he wasn't going to die?" "I

remember,"

said Cecily.

Margaret's throat

"And now,"

felt tight.

she said, "I

sweetest storv of

them

am

going to read the

all."

She picked up the small black book beside

Her voice was low, and she read

And it came

her.

slowly.

to pass in those days that there

out a decree from Caesar Augustus that

went

all

the

world should be taxed.

As she went on, she emotion overcoming

felt

her.

never finish the chapter.

the weight of her

own

Margaret knew she could

25

And

she brought forth her Erst horn son, and

him

in

manger; because there was no room for them

in

wrapped him a

in

swaddling clothes and

laid

the inn.

Her voice caught. She closed the book and it

back upon the

was afraid to look up

Then

as the

moments

passed.

had

risen

and

Margaret raised her eyes then and

to Bill.

saw her standing

wet with

there, her cheeks

her face bearing upon

it

tears,

the tender portent of the

she would one day become.

"We've got

He ought

to go,

to get

carefully.

Mother.

some

being here tonight.

away

the room. She

filled

at last she sensed that Cecilv

gone over

woman

Silence

table.

laid

You

rest.

Bill's It's

awfully tired.

been wonderful

And, Mother, put the toys can't

tell

what may happen

before another year!"

When

they had

left,

Margaret came back into the

pine-scented, fire-warmed, candlelit room, her heart

melting with

had come this,

jov!

New wisdom

to her along with

and understanding

hope and

the anniversary of the holv night

relief.

when

On the

\\ isc

Men

had come

worship the baby in the

to

manger, her own children had been given back to her, safe from the perils which threatened them. They were all one now, as in the past, close and secure in the circle of love.

If

only

I

Ienrv were here

would be complete. She raised her head, thinking. She couldn't bear wonderful to have him shut out of the strange and telephone not happiness of this night. She could

to rejoice with her,

him,

for this

it

was the evening of the big banquet,

but she could send him

A little

a wire!

smile played over her lips as she mentally

She could picture Henry receiving it when he came back late to the hotel. He would be puzzled. At last he first startled, then, as he read,

framed

it.

would tuck

it

into his inner pocket with that familiar,

his eyes, half quizzical, half adoring expression in up to lie would be thinking "What's she been

now?" Margaret repeated the message three times before the operator got

it.

"Merry Little Christmas, and

all

my

love."

'KLW& 1

*A

32«Efes1

381

zisiii&sn

,

fast

s

mm

Howard Somers

Mi

AGNES SLIGH TURNBULL has a proud record of books that appeal warmly to all

ages.

Her

from The King's

best-selling novels,

The Bishop's Mantle to Orchard, have introduced

a

wonderful

gallery of fictional and historical characters.

Her books

for children have been

treasured by their parents, too.

And

Wk

in

Mrs. TurnbulTs works have introduced non-ugly Americans to many

translations

parts of the world.

Jacket design by James Lewicki