IV.
THE PARTY WITH SUPPER FOR SEVENTEEN, AND TOASTS WITH A TOASTING-FORK.
WHEN they returned to the parsonage, Billy unhitched himself and openedthe front door. The Judge and his wife with Ruth and the baby hastenedinto the warm rooms as fast as the feather-bed, the white flannel bag,the blue envelope, and the red paper would permit them.
"Why, what a change there is here!" exclaimed Ruth. "It must be exactlyas you used to have it."
"Yes," replied Mrs. "Judge"; "I told the man in the moon to make thingslook natural. This seems really like coming home. I feel very much as Idid whenever I drove down to New York, and came back to the dear house.It is so nice to see these beautiful carpets again, and the same chairsand tables and sofas; the very damask curtains I made; my littlesewing-stand; the clock right there in its place near my bedroom door;and there is the refrigerator. I always had it stand in my bedroom, youknow. That made it very convenient. And I kept all the stores in"--
"Me," groaned Darkest Africa, who still remained in front of the houseawaiting the orders of Ruth.
"Yes, in you," continued Mrs. "Judge"; "and I expect to see you veryhappy again to-night. I never kept Christmas. We didn't approve of suchthings when I was a child." She was now talking to Ruth. "But if theyhave a Christmas-tree in the meeting-house, and the minister thinks it'sall right, it must be so. I am really quite glad to get up a partyto-night. I shall have it to think about when I go back into thepicture. And that reminds me, child, that I want you to come into theparlor very often and speak to me. It's very very lonely staying thereday and night, summer and winter, year in and year out. Why don't youask the Judge and me to play church with you and the rest of thechildren some of the times when you come into the parlor?"
"Why, I never thought of that!" exclaimed Ruth. "I'll do it the verynext time (which will be Sunday, I suppose) that we have church again."By this time they had taken their wraps off and put them up. That is tosay, Ruth got out of the feather-bed, and had Turk carry it up-stairs,while she took the handkerchief and the marble-bag off from the Judge,and the postage-stamp and the red crinkly paper off from Mrs. "Judge,"and put these things in her pocket. Then they all went into the lady'schamber, and took the baby out of the envelope, laying him on the bed,and covering him with a soap-dish and a hair-brush to keep him warm, forhe had gone to sleep.
"Now we must get ready for the party," said Ruth, "and then I'll callthe children and dress them. But, dear me! what will you and the Judgewear? We've got tired of seeing you in the same clothes all the time.Oh, I'll tell you! Let's play dress up just as we children do, and thenI can fix you out in fine style."
"Just as you say, child. It's your party, and you can do much as youplease. And the truth is that I am pretty tired of wearing the sameclothes all these many years. I don't think it makes so much differenceto a man. But we women like to have something new once in a while, sayonce in fifty or seventy-five years."
"Oh! won't it be fun?" cried Ruth. "We'll have 'Providence' come in hereand show us what he's got in him. You know Providence is the big closetin the corner of the Betsey-Bartram room. Come here, Providence." Thiscloset ambled into the bedroom, and Mrs. "Judge" took a silvercandlestick with a wax candle in her hand, and stepped into the closetfollowed by the Judge and Ruth. What a medley of stuff they found!There were silks and satins of all colors and kinds. There was velvetand calico, lawn and broadcloth, furs and flowers, laces and linens,swallow-tail coats and fancy vests, a waterproof, a riding-habit,bicycle suits, pajamas, flags and bunting, forming an infiniteassortment or mixture of everything under the sun in the shape of drygoods.
"You don't keep an old-clothes exchange, do you, child?" asked theastonished visitor.
"Oh, no! these are mother's treasures (that's what she calls them). Weget 'em when her ship comes in. It always seems to come in the night. Wechildren have watched for it ever since we lived West and couldremember. But the first we know is that mother tells us some day how theship has come in, and another cargo has been unloaded in Providence.Then we all make a rush and overhaul the cargo; one thing fits onechild, and another thing fits another child, and what doesn't fit wemake over, and then we appear in our new outfits. You ought to see usgo into church a week or two after a fresh cargo of treasures has beendistributed. It's great fun." During this talk Ruth was rummaging aboutin the trunks or on the shelves in search of something becoming to herguests.
"I think the Judge ought to have something solemn on, don't you?" shesaid, addressing his wife. "Now, this long, black waterproof is thething. And he can wear Samuel's bicycle stockings and shoes. Then,here's a broad purple ribbon for a necktie; and I'll put this ermine boaaround his neck, for don't judges sometimes wear ermine? Doesn't he lookcute?" She had helped him on with the things while Mrs. "Judge" stood bysmiling her approval.
"I think this green velvet waist and this red silk skirt will look wellon you." Ruth was speaking to the lady. "Then I'll do your hair up withthis white lace and these yellow flowers. It's so cold I think you hadbetter wear mittens. I think you ought to have a train to your dress.I'll take some safety-pins, and fasten a few yards of this white satinon behind. Doesn't it look elegant? You must have a corsage bouquet."And she twisted up some dry grasses and pink roses, and pinned them toher belt. "And this white gauze veil will add to the effect." So it wasspread over the lady's head, and fell in scant folds across her brow.
"I shall get into this pink crape," Ruth continued, "slip these muffs upmy ankles, and take this black fur cape and that lovely, lovely lavenderbonnet. I'm going to wear white kid gloves, and have a train of thatyellow satin. Will you, please, tie this bow of nile-green velvet aboutmy neck? And I must have a veil too. This one with little red spots likethe measles all over it will suit me, I guess. There, now, don't I lookjust too nice for anything?" Both the Judge and his wife bowed andsmiled.
"I'll put this black lace one side for the baby when he wakes up. We'lldress him up with that and some tissue paper I've got in my pocket. Andnow let's go and take a look at the house again." But their talkingroused the baby; so they dressed him as Ruth had planned, winding thepaper and lace about his body as though he were a mummy; and then theystarted for the parlor, the Judge carrying his namesake on one arm andsupporting his wife on the other, with Ruth dragging on behind, clingingto the right hand of Mrs. "Judge."
At the foot of the stairs Ruth proposed that she go and call all thechildren. For at this late hour they had gone to bed. But the visitorsthought it better to wait.
"We must ask a few questions and find out what the children want forChristmas," said Mrs. "Judge." So they passed into the parlor, and satdown on the Grecian sofa. A soft, gentle light fell from the astral lampand the wax candles on the mantle-piece. The wood fire on the hearth,the heavy damask curtains at the windows, the rich mahogany furniturescattered about through the room, the handsome pictures upon the walls,gave the place a very inviting appearance.
"Now, Ruth, we're going to put something in each child's stocking." Mrs."Judge" was speaking. "It seems to me a foolish custom, but now that youall do it we will follow suit. Tell us what to get."
"Father says there's a difference between what we want and what we need.We want a great many things, but we need only a few."
"That's sound talk," observed the Judge. "Your father must be quite aman."
"Oh!" was the reply, "he weighs almost a hundred and ninety pounds. Iheard mother tell the teacher the other day that she thought I lackedcapacity. I don't get along in school at all. There are so many thingsto do besides study that it takes all my time. I think mother would bepleased if you gave me something of the kind. That's what I need Isuppose. But what I want is to know about everything. That's why I askso many questions and tease to go all the time. I'm trying to find outthings for myself. How should I learn how old a girl or a lady is if Ididn't ask? And what's my tongue for if it isn't to use in talking?"
"To be sure," replied Mrs. "Judge." "But I used my tongue for eatingtoo, until I
got into the picture. I think it's almost a hundred yearssince I had anything to eat."
"Mercy! aren't you hungry?" exclaimed Ruth. "But you don't look thin,and you certainly don't grow old. I've heard folks say so when theylooked at your picture. 'Why, how nice and fresh and lifelike theyseem.' That's what our visitors say when we take them into the parlor tosee the portraits. But, dear me, we shall never get through the list ifI keep on talking. I can't help talking. I seem made for it. I've heardfather say that several of his family were deaf, but none of 'em wereever dumb." The Judge and his wife appeared quite interested in thislively flow of speech on the part of the child, so they nodded theirheads with encouragement, and Ruth continued.
"Now, there's Helen, she's always talking about writing a book. I thinkshe wants to write a book above all things. You might give her the bookshe is going to write. But what she really needs is curls. That straightblack hair makes her look horrid. I wish you'd bring her a whole lot ofcurls. Isn't it queer that we can't have a baby with curls? We've had aregular cry over it more than once. Not a single curl in all thefifteen. Every hair of our heads as straight as a string. Don't youthink you'd better write the things down as I tell them to you? But thenyou've got such an awful memory I suppose you can remember everything.Now, there's Samuel. You tell him two things and father says he's sureto forget three. Mother says if his memory was as good as his forgetery,he'd make something remarkable."
"I think if you will lend me a piece of paper,--that red crinkly stuffthat the baby has on,--and a stick of candy or a poker, I will writedown the articles you mention." It was the Judge speaking.
"Why don't you take the quill and the paper that you hold in theportrait, and use them?" inquired Ruth.
"To be sure!" exclaimed the Judge. "What a bright girl you are!"
"Father doesn't think so. I don't know how many times he's said to mewhen I've done something queer, 'Ruth, you don't seem to have anysense.' Susie said one day, 'Well, I'll give her my two cents.' And shedid, and I spent it for candy. Father would be so pleased if you gave mesome sense for a Christmas present, I know." The visitors smiled as thechild prattled, and let her continue without interruption.
"I know what Samuel wants. I know a lot of things he wants. Mother sayshe always wants to go home with the girls. But you couldn't call that apresent, could you? Oh! I know one thing he wants very much. Whenever hetries to race with any of the boys, and he comes out a long way behind,he says he wants wind. Just put that down, please. But I think thething he needs most of anything is courtesy. At least father keepstalking to him about it. If you would bring a big lot of it I'm surewe'd all be pleased. It must be something very nice, for father sayssomething about it every day of his life." The Judge nodded his head,and wrote with his quill upon the sheet of paper. "Theodora is alwayswanting clothes. She's never had enough. I don't know how many timeswe've heard her say she had nothing to wear. And then father says she'dbetter go to bed. I wonder if she'll have all the clothes she wants inheaven?" Neither the Judge nor his lady ventured to answer. "WhatTheodora really needs, I think, is a gold spoon. Mother says she wascertainly born with a gold spoon in her mouth; but the spoon has beenlost, for I've never seen it, and it would be such a nice thing to giveher one in its place. Or, maybe, you could bring her the very one shehad when she was born. I should like to see what kind of a spoon itwas." So the Judge put that down.
"It's easy enough to tell what Ethel wants. She's always talking aboutit. She wants some _new_ clothes. She says she's sick to death ofsecond-hand stuff. Mother's always having something made over for her orsome of the younger girls. We've never seen anything real fresh and new.Father says we ought to be thankful to have clothes at all. I suppose wehad. What Ethel needs is application. Her teacher says so, and so doeseverybody else. She doesn't stick to a thing."
"Poor child," said the Judge. "She'll have a hard time, I fear. I'll seewhat we can do for her."
"Now, Miriam hasn't any gumption, father says. I wonder what that is? Ithink that must be the thing she needs the most. She's such achicken-hearted girl Samuel says. And that makes me think what it isMiriam always wants. She tells mother, I don't know how many times aday, that she wishes she'd have some spring chicken. You don't know howfond she is of 'em. But they're very high here, you know. And springchickens enough to go around in such a family as ours would soon ruinus, mother says. But Ethel is so fond of them. How she wants 'em! Do youthink you could fill her up for once?"
"Why, spring chickens are not in my line of treasures, my child; but Imight find something that would take the place of such fowls."
"Henry says Elizabeth's a regular old goose. And Samuel calls Susie'duckie.' I wonder if you couldn't help Grace. She needs balance,everybody says. I think she's smart enough, but she's a high-flyer. Younever can tell what will happen next when she's around. Please bringsome balance for a present. But what she wants is Frederick. He's theboy in the next block. I don't think it's right to think so much of boysunless they're your brothers. Elizabeth says her brothers are herbothers. And I think so too." Ruth looked very severe. The Judge simplycontinued his writing.
"Do you think you could bring all of us a very great deal of sweetnessof disposition? I've heard so much about that thing that I'm real tiredof it; but I know it would please both father and mother, for they havetalked about it ever since I can remember. I know a little baby girldown South who is so sweet they call her 'Sugar.' Samuel says if wenamed our children as they ought to be named, some of them would becalled 'Vinegar.' But he's 'funning,' I guess. Mother says his bark isalways worse than his bite.
"Now, George needs heart. Samuel says George will never die of heartdisease, because he hasn't any heart. He has a gun, and Elizabeth callshim Nimrod. He wants to go to war. But we're afraid he might get shot inthe back. But he's a real good boy after all. I should hate to see himgoing around with a hole in his back." Just at this point the Judgecoughed and looked queer.
"Henry is crazy about music. He wants a violin, but mother says heneeds an ear for music. I should like to know what he'd do with a thirdear. Would you put it on the top of his head? And he wants to sing; but,dear me, father says he needs a voice. He has voice enough, _I_ think.You can hear him all over town. Did you write it down?" Ruth lookedkeenly at the Judge as his pen flew with the speed of a snail over thepaper.
"Yes, here it is in white and black."
"Now, William is an awfully forward boy. He's so forward father saysthat he's growing round-shouldered. He wants to be President. That'sever since he went to the White House with mother. It was a very coldday, the day he went; and William had his mittens on, and mothercouldn't get to him to take 'em off when he shook hands with thePresident. Neighbors say that what he needs is training. But they don'ttrain now as they used to. Father says they used to train out here onthe Green several times a year. I know the best thing you could bringWilliam is a training. And Susie, she wants something she hasn't got. Idon't think it makes any difference what it is. Mother says if shehasn't got it she wants it. And then she snivels when she doesn't getit. I heard some one say the other day that what she needed was aspanking. But I don't think that would be a very nice present, do you?"
"Well, not for Christmas, anyway," whispered Mrs. "Judge."
"There's Nathaniel, he always wants to go somewhere. Father says that ifwe lived in Beersheba Nathaniel would want to move into Dan, and when hegot into Dan he'd be sure to start the next day for Beersheba. He needsa good deal of watching, mother says. Samuel, Elizabeth, Helen, Henry,and Miriam have all got watches; but you see we can't all have them atonce.
"Now, just look at Elizabeth. You'd think we all belonged to her,wouldn't you? She wants to _run_ everything. And then she runs so muchthat mother says she runs down. But father says she needs experience,and then everything will come out all right. If you could bring her thatripe experience that I've heard folks talk about, I think it would makefather and mother feel real pleased.
"Herbert needs backbone. I felt of
his back the other day, and I didn'tsee but that he had just as much bone in it as the rest of the children,but father says not. Mother says you can twist him around your littlefinger. That would be a queer sight, wouldn't it? Herbert is alwaystalking about a good time. That's the thing he wants. Could you bringsomething of that sort to him?"
"Well, my child," answered the Judge, "I am thinking about bringing agood time to every one of you. It's such a pleasure to see the old housefull of children that I should like to do anything in the world possibleto make them happy." When this was said Mrs. "Judge" beamed an approval,and seemed very happy herself. "But you haven't told us what to give thebaby."
"Dear me, why that's the best of all! But everybody knows what the babyought to have. I've been a-looking to see if you've brought it alongwith you. When folks come to see the baby they smile and trot him on theknee and kiss him, and then say, 'I'm so glad you named him for theJudge. He was a good, great man. May his mantle fall upon his namesake.'And then they kiss him again and go away. It's your mantle that weexpect you to give the baby. But you didn't bring it with you, and I'mso sorry. And it isn't in the picture either. For I've looked there agreat many times. I thought maybe it was left in the house, but we neverhear anything about it. Now you're right here with the baby I thought ifyou only had it you might give it to him at once. Could you send it tohim? It must be something very fine. Even father talks about it." A tearstole down the cheek of the Judge. It was chased by another and a third.He seemed deeply moved. For the Judge was human like the rest of folks,even if he did stay a hundred years in a picture. And who does not liketo be remembered with such loving words and beautiful praises? Can onehelp feeling kindly and grateful? The Judge's voice choked with emotionas he replied to the noble sentiments of the child. It was very hard forhim to express himself.
"My little Ruth," he stooped and looked down into her face with wondrousand pathetic tenderness, "you have done me more good than all that I cando for you. These very words that you have just spoken are more preciousto me than all the money in the world."
"Why, you don't mean it, do you?" interrupted the child. "I was sayingwhat everybody says. I don't know how many times I've heard father saythat your memory was a--a--a benediction, that's the word. A very bigword for such a little girl as I am; but, dear me! I've heard folks useit so many times about you that I can speak it all right. It must besomething very good. Why, of course, that's what they call the end ofchurch service. I think it's the very best part of going to meeting. Ialways feel so happy when they come to the benediction. I thinkeverybody else does too. And now about the mantle. Will you send it tothe baby?"
"Why, Ruth, I think it must be pretty nearly worn out. Only what you sayabout it, and what you say others say, makes me think that perhaps itmight be worth saving, so that I could give it to the baby if folksthink best. I'll look it up and talk with my wife, and perhaps I'll giveit to the dear little fellow. I wish it were a better mantle, however.I'd like to see him wear one more worthy than mine."
"Don't you think it's time to call the children?" said Ruth.
"Send Turk," replied the Judge, with that same funny twinkle in his eye.So Ruth took the dog, and ran up-stairs and down-stairs and in thelady's chamber, and wakened the children, telling them to hurry rightdown to the party.
They didn't have time to dress much. The boys all put on their trousersand stockings and slippers, and then they wrapped around them whateverwas most handy. Samuel wore his father's loud, red, double gown. Henrypulled on a canvas shooting-jacket. Herbert did himself up in a roseblanket. George had on an afghan. Nathaniel brought with him acrazy-quilt. William got into his mother's golf-cape.
The girls were a little more particular. They put on all their clothesexcept dresses. Then they wound sheets about themselves, and tied theirheads up in pillow-cases. When the boys tumbled down-stairs they lookedlike a lot of escaped lunatics. When the girls came pushing into theparlor they made one think of ghosts.
The first thing was a walk around headed by Turk and the black cat. Youcouldn't fancy a more startling procession.
Then they played games, and sang songs, and told riddles, and looked fora needle in a haystack, and turned the house upside down and inside out.
The great event of the party was the supper. Mrs. "Judge" had told theman in the moon what she wished for the occasion, and while the childrenwere rollicking in the east parlor the clock sounded out the alarm forthe feast.
The Judge carried his namesake on the left arm, while his wife leanedupon his right. Ruth still kept hold of the lady's hand. The rest ofthe company followed in a good deal of disorder, for they were allcurious to see what sort of a supper would be given them.
When they came into the west parlor or dining-room they saw a longtable, but there was nothing on it. The children looked at each otherand at the Judge and his wife in blank amazement. They expected to sitdown to a table laden with all the goodies of the land. But there wasn'teven a table-cloth before them.
The Judge took the head of the table, and his wife sat at the foot withRuth. The baby was put in a clothes-basket, and sat on my lady'swork-table by the side of the Judge. The other children took the placesthat were most convenient to them.
"Where's the feed?" exclaimed Ruth.
"The what?" replied Mrs. "Judge" curiously.
"Why, the things you were going to give us to eat." Just then "Dublin,"the linen closet, came meandering into the room, made a bow, and emptiedout a long, white, snowdrop tablecloth.
"Why, it must be that we're to set the table ourselves," cried Ruth, asshe started to undo the cloth and shove it along.
"Here you give that to me, will you?" said Samuel, with a tone ofauthority any commanding officer in the army or navy might envy. Then hetook one end of it, and Elizabeth the other, and they spread itcarefully over the table.
Just then China came rattling into the room with the dishes. It was easyenough for him to get into the room; but it was quite another thing forhim to move gracefully about the table, for China, you remember, wasthin, long, and rather narrow. But he managed to get to the Judge, anddrop a plate before him and the baby; and then he twisted around like asnake, and got down to the end of the table, and dropped a plate beforeMrs. "Judge." Then he went from one child to another, and banged down aplate before each one of them. After this was done, China stepped backand stood by the side of Dublin, near the wall.
El Dorado came next. He brought the silver, and there was a fine displayof it. Beautiful knives and forks and spoons for every person in theroom, and ever so many little furnishings that helped to brighten thetable. How these things rattled and jumped and rang as they were tumbledhither and thither into their rightful places. The children didn't haveto move a hand or a finger to put them in order. Every knife, fork,spoon, salt-cellar, or other article seemed to know where to go, and gotthere in less time than one could say "Jack Robinson." Then the silvercandlesticks from the mantle jumped over to the table, and took theirplaces with a good deal of brightness and sprightliness.
At this point the antique sideboard stepped close up to the table, androlled seventeen very thin cut-glass goblets upon the board. They made aright merry sound as they jingled out their Christmas greetings.
"Don't let the baby have a goblet!" shouted Ruth. "He'd bite a pieceright out of it. That's what Elizabeth did when she was a baby, mothersays. Isn't it a wonder she didn't die?" But everybody was watching thisextraordinary way of setting the table, so that the child's remark fellunnoticed. There was a most lively and musical ringing of bells at thisstage of the table setting. Turpentine came dancing into the room.Turpentine was the closet in the Judge's study that had been used tostore the church-bells in. When the last wooden meeting-house had burnedthey took the old bell, which rang for the last time the sad alarm offire on the memorable night, and they sent it away to be melted up andmade into five hundred little bells. There were dinner-bells andtea-bells and call-bells and sleigh-bells and play-horse bells on lines,and I don
't know how many other kinds. Nearly all of these had beensold, but thirty or forty remained in the closet. Turpentine came intothe room playing with these, and rolled one down in front of each personat the table.
"How would you like to have the dinner served, Ruth?" inquired Mrs."Judge."
"Oh, served of course," she replied.
"Bells first course," shouted Samuel. The older children all snickered."I think you ought to call Turpentine 'Bells-ze-bub!'" Samuel whisperedto Helen. "See?" For by this time the children had all come to afamiliar footing with their visitors, and they were expressingthemselves with a good deal of freedom and having a right good time.
The Refrigerator entered the room now, and tramping heavily over to Mrs."Judge," swung open his door, and flung gracefully upon the table a bigdish of half-shells. No sooner were they placed where they belonged thanthey began to roll about to the different plates, like a lot of marbles,only they seemed to know how to divide themselves up so that every onehad a proper share. Then the Refrigerator dumped out another large dishof something fresh and green; and this stuff sailed along the table, asone sees seaweed float back and forth on the tide.
"I know what it is. They grow down by the brook. Caresses. Aren't theynice and fresh?"
"Third course, caresses," shouted Samuel. And then he bent over andkissed the girl next to his side; the Judge kissed the baby, Ruth kissedMrs. "Judge," and the rest of the children kissed each other.
"Awful sweet course!" exclaimed Henry. "Very much of it makes a fellowsick."
This was followed by the entrance of the kitchen closet number one. Afine brass kettle popped out upon the table. There was a great rattlingand clashing. Everybody tried to look into the bottom of it.
"That's a pretty kettle of fish," said Samuel, who was the first to geta glance at the contents. And sure enough it was; for there wereseventeen tin fishes, such as you see floating around after a magnet onsome basin of water at Christmas time.
"Look out for bones," cried Herbert. "What next?" And then Vanity camedown-stairs, giggling and simpering, and passed something around.
"Crimps," said Ruth, "hot and steaming, straight from the irons." A verystrong odor of scorched hair pervaded the room.
"Goodness me, what a treat!" exclaimed Henry. "Give 'em to the girls.They are fond of 'em." Kitchen closet number two came hurrying into theroom. China rushed forward with bowls which he had borrowed from thebowling-alley; and each bowl was filled with bean porridge hot, beanporridge cold, bean porridge in the pot nine days old.
"Here comes the spring chicken!" exclaimed Herbert, as the Refrigeratordistributed one spring with chicken attached.
"Do-nots for old-fashioned boys and girls," wheezed out Darkest Africa,as he pushed his way into the room. The company was getting prettylarge, for all the closets had come. One stood behind each person at thetable, and the other forty-three were pressing against each other,trying to see the table and hear the conversation, or do any littlewaiting upon the merry party.
They were all busy eating, talking, drinking, having the best time inall the world. There was an abundance of everything. I don't know whatall. But as the courses were brought on the Judge and his wife became alittle restless. They felt that the east wind was rising. And when theclock struck twelve it was necessary for them to be back in thepictures, whether there was any east wind or not. So there was someconfusion, considerable crowding, and a good deal of haste during thelatter part of the feast.
"I'm afraid the children will get dyspepsia, Judge," observed thecautious lady. "The children are eating too fast. The closets arebringing on too many things at a time."
"Time and tide wait for no man," replied the Judge, who had caught thehilarity of the company, and was enjoying every moment of the fun. "Iwish to see this board cleared up before we clear out." Now, Mrs."Judge" was the least bit shocked at such undignified speech on the partof her husband. But she knew he didn't mean any harm. He was onlyentering into the spirit of the frolic. Yet she felt that he ought toset an example of sober conversation, so that they would remember himwith the highest respect. The Judge, however, had a sense of humor thatcould not be held altogether in check.
"I think we ought to have some toasts," said Samuel. "All in favor ofthe nomination say, 'Dickery, dickery dock, the mouse ran up the clock,the clock ran down, the mouse came down, dickery, dickery dock;' andSamuel rose to propose the first toast. Kitchen closet number three cameforward, and put into his hand a nice, big toasting-fork. Flourishingthis about his head, and hitting Henry on the right ear with it, Samuellifted a goblet filled with hot air to his lips, and proposed the healthof the Judge and his wife. The applause was overwhelming. The childrenclapped their hands, and lifted their voices on high. The dishes jumpedlike mad. The bells rang so that you couldn't hear yourself think. Theclosets creaked and groaned, and slammed their doors, and shook theirshelves, until it seemed that they must fall in pieces. The Judgegathered his waterproof about him, pulled on his necktie for a moment,cleared his throat, and then responded.
"Children and closets," he said. The children all rose and bowed, theclosets all turned around twice and stood on one corner. "This is insome respects the greatest day of my life."
"You mean night, don't you, Judge?" interrupted Samuel.
"Oh! I beg pardon, night of my life. Correct, my son." He bowedgood-naturedly to the critic. "We haven't stayed in those portraits onthe east parlor wall for nothing all these years. We've been waiting forsuch a time as this. I think the east wind is rising, and soon we shallhave to go back to our pictures; but I am glad to say that this is thesort of family that I always had in mind when I built this house. It'slonesome to live without children. This is a strange world. I haveobserved generally that the people who want children don't have them.And the people who have them don't always want them. And the people whoknow the most about bringing them up are the people who never had any,and never lived in a family of children when they were young. But Ireally believe that one never gets much out of this world except itcomes to him through children. And now I hope that you will be suchchildren that when you grow to be men and women we shall not be ashamedof you. My wife and I expect to stay in the portraits. We shall alwaysbe on the watch for you and sometimes in the clock. There isn't anythingin the world that would give us such pleasure as to see you childrengrow and become the best men and women in all the nation. I suppose youhave enough boys to make a foot-ball team, and enough girls to drain acommon pocket-book and spread it all over your backs; but you are goingto make something better than idlers and spendthrifts. Some of you willtake to one thing, and some to another, but you will all take to theright. I expect to see you filling up the house with nice friends, goingoff to college, and bringing back good company and great honors. By andby you will all settle in life, and have homes of your own; but we shallkeep at home here on the wall, and look for your frequent visits. Ruthhas made me very happy. I'll tell you how. She has said some of thethings to me that people have said to her about me,--kind things, sweetpraises, words of happy remembrance. Now, I hope that you will live andlove in such a true way that when you get into a picture and stay ahundred years, and then step down and out for a little while, peoplewill say just as noble things about you. 'Tis sweet to be remembered.And I feel very anxious to do something for all you children. This isthe first time we ever kept Christmas. We're going to make you someChristmas presents. But they shall be put in your stockings."
"I'll hang up my hip boots," interrupted Samuel.
"I'll hang up my golf stockings," exclaimed Henry.
"I'll hang my trousers; and you, Elizabeth, can hang your bicyclebloomers." The Judge smiled, and waited a moment, and then continued."These presents are different from the ordinary gifts you receive.You'll have plenty of candy and dolls and such things. We shall give youthings that you can always keep and carry with you. And they will beworth more than money, in case you use them according to directions. Andremember that we give them because we have learned to love you
, even ifwe do live in pictures, and that we expect you will honor the house, thepeople, and the State." The Judge swallowed a tear. "We never had boysand girls to go out into the world to make their mark. Our two boys,"and here the Judge's voice was feeble and trembling, and he stopped fora moment and wiped away two or three tears, "Our boys were sick, andafter quite a good many years they went away forever. Children, I wantyou to fill their places, and more. I expect that you will go out intothe world, and do so much good, and serve your country with such zealand wisdom, that people will by and by come here to see the house, andsay, 'This is where Samuel and Henry, George or Herbert, William,Nathaniel, or the "Little Judge" lived, and were brought up.' Or 'Thiswas the childhood home of Elizabeth, Helen, Miriam, Theodora, Grace,Ruth, Ethel, or Susie. I wonder who slept in that room, and if this wasthe favorite window, and which one of the family planted this shrub orvine or tree, and what was the best-loved play nook,' and all sorts ofquestions. Don't you think it will be nice? And then my wife and I willsay, or try to say, or make them understand in some way, that youbelonged to us next to belonging to your parents, and that we guardedthe house day and night, for you know that in the picture we are alwaysawake; come into the east parlor at any hour of the twenty-four and wealways have our eyes open, and we know everything that is going on.We'll make them understand that a part of the love and thanks they feelbelongs to us, and we shall be so happy, and when we meet again weshall have so many things to tell each other. Now Ruth will see to thepresents, for we are not educated up to a belief in Santa Claus. Ruthwill"--Just at this point the clock began to strike twelve.
Now, the Judge and his wife were the most polite, really thebest-mannered people in all the world. But that striking of the clockseemed to knock all the manners out of them. The Judge sprang from thetable quick as a flash, and in his haste turned the clothes-basket withthe "Little Judge" in it bottom side up. Mrs. "Judge" jumped up as spryas a girl, and ran toward the Judge, who grabbed her by the hand, andpushed her hard against the closets in the way, and struggled to getinto the hall.
There was the greatest confusion imaginable in the house. The childrenwere all hitting the dishes, scattering the silver, overturning thegoblets, tumbling over the chairs. The closets all made a rush for thedoor, and jammed themselves so close together that Samuel and Henry hadto raise the front windows, and jump out on the piazza, and climb in atthe parlor windows, and the other children followed them pell-mell.There was the greatest noise you ever heard in a house. The clocksounded with terrific strikes. The front door-bell, the dinner-bell, andall the other bells rang an alarm. Things in the closets seemed breakingthemselves to pieces or going into fits. The piano roared and shriekedlike a hurricane. Every board and brick and nail and bit of glass,metal, or wood squeaked or rattled. The very carpets shook with dust andfear. And then, as the children caught a glimpse of the Judge and hiswife back again in the portraits, the clock struck the twelfth stroke,the lights all went out, the children were back in bed, and silencereigned throughout the old mansion.
The House With Sixty Closets: A Christmas Story for Young Folks and Old Children Page 16
