CHAPTER XI. CHRISTMAS EVE
Two things puzzled Billy. One was the letter from Aunt Florence,in which she hinted at the possibility of visiting Santa Claus onChristmas Day. Neither Billy's father nor Billy's mother knew what tothink. Mid-winter was not the time to expect company in their part ofthe world.
"It's some kind of a joke, I guess," was Billy's suggestion.
The second thing that puzzled Billy was the great change that suddenlycame over the LeBrinn family. He wondered if he had anything to do withit. One day, having overheard a conversation not intended for his ears,he told 'Phonse that Samone was surely going to be sent to the home atColdwater, and advised him to tell his father to "watch out." The nexttime Billy met Antoine LeBrinn, Samone was with him.
"Come here, little Beely," called the Frenchman, "ole Antoine want toshake hand with you. It's a pretty good little Beely. Samone like Beelypretty good, I tole you that."
Antoine then explained to the boy that no one should take Samone awayfrom him, because he intended keeping her with him all the time, andfrom that hour until the day soon after, when Billy saw the littleSamone no more, she was always close beside her father. The particularthing that puzzled Billy, though, kept half the village guessing.'Phonse, Buzz, Bud, and Tony came to school just before the holidaysdressed in fine new suits and beaming with smiles. That same afternoonBilly was in the dry-goods store when Antoine bought a red dress forhis wife and wide red ribbons to trim it with.
"I tole you the ole lady she look pretty good when he get this on,Beely," said Antoine, rattling a pocketful of money for Samone'sbenefit. The jingle pleased Antoine more than it did the little girl.
Billy wondered where Antoine got his money, and when he learned thatthe Frenchman's own family didn't know, he wondered more than ever.
For many weeks Antoine had been stage-driver on the evergreenroad,--the winding way across the ice, marked on either side by foresttrees.
The day before Christmas there was a blizzard. From Billy's home on thepoint nothing could be seen but whirling snow. The nearest trees on theevergreen road were hidden from sight, while the north shore across thefrozen straits seemed for ever lost.
"Antoine won't go to-day," said Billy; but scarcely were the wordsspoken when the sound of sleigh-bells was heard, and Antoine stoppedhis horses at the cottage door. He asked for an extra shawl or blanketfor the children, and laughed at the idea of being afraid to make thetrip. When Billy's mother knew that 'Phonse and Samone were in thesleigh, she begged Antoine to leave them with her.
"Samone stay with ole Antoine long as he live in Mackinaw," declaredthe Frenchman, "and Beely she know that. I ain't leave Samone nomore." Antoine went on to explain that he could cross the evergreenroad with his eyes shut, and that there wasn't a bit of danger. He hadpositively promised to meet two passengers who were coming from Duluth,and he was determined to be on time for the train. The children werecomfortable as two kittens, Antoine further insisted, at the same timedeclaring that he would be back at noon to help the "old lady" getready for Christmas.
Fumbling in his pocket at the last moment, Antoine drew forth anenvelope, in which he declared was his wife's Christmas present.
"Tell Beely to take care of it until ole Antoine come back, and, if sheain't come home no more, give her to the old lady."
Every hour the storm grew worse, and at noon the marine reporter'sthree children listened in vain for the sound of sleigh-bells.
"Antoine must have decided to stay in St. Ignace, and drive hometo-morrow," said their mother, and the family were of the same opinion.
All the afternoon the children had the gayest kind of a time. Nothought of the storm outside disturbed their fun. Gerald, Betty, andBilly were too accustomed to blizzards to mind their fury. After thelamps were lighted, they gathered around the piano to sing the familiarcarol they loved so well. That Christmas Eve they sang but one verse:
"'Oh, little town of Bethlehem! How still we see thee lie! Above thy deep and dreamless sleep The silent stars go by; Yet in thy dark street shineth The everlasting light, The hopes and fears of all the years Are met in thee to-night!'"
The door-bell rang, and Antoine LeBrinn's wife, weeping and wringingher hands, was ushered into the bright sitting-room. She had waitedall the afternoon for the return of her husband and children, and atlast, leaving Bud and Buzz and Tony with neighbours, had walked to thevillage, expecting and dreading to find Antoine at the saloons. No onehaving seen him since morning, she was sure that, unless he had reachedthe marine reporter's cottage, he was lost on the Straits of Mackinaw,and every one knew what that meant. That night the evergreen road wasdrifted full, the trees along the way were blown down, and the icewas a trackless wilderness. Even Billy thought of the air-holes andshuddered.
It was the little brother who spoke first, after the sobbingFrenchwoman had told her story.
"Papa," he asked, "why don't you go down and telegraph to St. Ignace?"
"I'll do it, Billy," he answered, and straightway left the cottage.There was a look on his father's face when he returned that Billy hadnever seen before.
"Antoine left St. Ignace two hours ago," he said to Billy's mother."Men have already gone to find him, but it is useless."
Billy's father went away, and in that dreadful time of waiting thethree children listened to the Frenchwoman's despairing talk. Just thatmorning her husband had told where his money came from. The old aunt inCanada was dead, and had left her farm and all she owned to Antoine.They had made such happy plans. The little Samone should be a lady, andthe boys would no longer be ragged and half-starved. Christmas Day thechildren were to be told the good news, and before the New Year theywould be living in a home of their own in Canada.
The mention of Christmas reminded Billy of the worn envelope left inhis care.
"Here," said he, giving it to Mrs. LeBrinn, "he said give you that."
The woman tore open the envelope and stared at the slip of paper itcontained. She couldn't understand; but the instant Betty saw it sheknew the truth. It was the pledge, with Antoine LeBrinn's name signedat the bottom.
For the first time since she entered the cottage, the Frenchwomanraised her head and looked hopeful. She said Antoine always kept hisword, and, since she knew he had not been drinking that day, unless heperished in the blizzard, he would find his way home.
A shout from Billy startled every one in the room. "Why, my dog!" hefairly screamed. "He is a St. Bernard, and, oh, Mrs. LeBrinn, you knowwhat St. Bernards are for. He'll find the lost folks!"
"Billy is right," echoed his mother, as the child ran for the dog."Hero will find them, I know."
Like a flash, the dog darted into the night when he knew what wasexpected of him, and there were no more tears shed in the sitting-room.The curtains in the bay-window were raised, while the three children,their mother, and Mrs. LeBrinn watched the beacon-fire blazing high atthe beginning of the evergreen road.
It was growing colder every minute, though the minutes were long. Menwho gave up the search piled timbers on the fire and waited. It was allthey could do. At last Hero bounded toward them, and the faint sound ofsleigh-bells came on the wind.
Safe was the little Samone,--safe, warm, and sound asleep with 'Phonse.Neither of the children awoke as they were carried into the cottage andplaced upon the couch; but they opened wondering eyes when Betty andGerald and little Billy welcomed their Aunt Florence and their UncleJohn, the passengers for whom Antoine had made that trip to St. Ignace.
For a few minutes every one, including Hero, talked at the same time,and nobody listened to what anybody else said until Billy's mothersuggested dinner.
"We'll have our Christmas dinner now," she declared.
"And another one to-morrow, mamma," added Billy, in a whisper, "unlessUncle John would rather have venison than turkey. I know one thing,Antoine's so happy, he won't know what he is eating to-night, and Ifeel
the same way myself. Aunt Florence looks as if she's pretty gladto get here, too. I guess we'll have a good time to-night that evenSamone will remember long time after she goes to Canada. We are allhappy, mamma; I 'tole you that.'"
When Antoine saw the candle-light from the Christmas tree shining uponhis little Samone, he did a queer thing,--lifting her in his arms totake her in to dinner, he touched her soft curls and said: "It's a goodlittle Beely."
THE END.
=COSY CORNER SERIES=
It is the intention of the publishers that this series shall containonly the very highest and purest literature,--stories that shall notonly appeal to the children themselves, but be appreciated by allthose who feel with them in their joys and sorrows.
The numerous illustrations in each book are by well-known artists, andeach volume has a separate attractive cover design.
Each, 1 vol., 16mo, cloth $0.50
_By ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON_
=The Little Colonel.= (Trade Mark.)
The scene of this story is laid in Kentucky. Its heroine is a smallgirl, who is known as the Little Colonel, on account of her fanciedresemblance to an old-school Southern gentleman, whose fine estate andold family are famous in the region. This old Colonel proves to be thegrandfather of the child.
=The Giant Scissors.=
This is the story of Joyce and of her adventures in France,--thewonderful house with the gate of The Giant Scissors, Jules, her littleplaymate, Sister Denisa, the cruel Brossard, and her dear Aunt Kate.Joyce is a great friend of the Little Colonel, and in later volumesshares with her the delightful experiences of the "House Party" and the"Holidays."
=Two Little Knights of Kentucky.=
WHO WERE THE LITTLE COLONEL'S NEIGHBORS.
In this volume the Little Colonel returns to us like an old friend, butwith added grace and charm. She is not, however, the central figure ofthe story, that place being taken by the "two little knights."
_By ANNIE FELLOWS JOHNSTON (Continued)_
=Cicely and Other Stories for Girls.=
The readers of Mrs. Johnston's charming juveniles will be glad to learnof the issue of this volume for young people, written in the author'ssympathetic and entertaining manner.
=Aunt 'Liza's Hero and Other Stories.=
A collection of six bright little stories, which will appeal to allboys and most girls.
=Big Brother.=
A story of two boys. The devotion and care of Steven, himself a smallboy, for his baby brother, is the theme of the simple tale, the pathosand beauty of which has appealed to so many thousands.
=Ole Mammy's Torment.=
"Ole Mammy's Torment" has been fitly called "a classic of Southernlife." It relates the haps and mishaps of a small negro lad, and tellshow he was led by love and kindness to a knowledge of the right.
=The Story of Dago.=
In this story Mrs. Johnston relates the story of Dago, a pet monkey,owned jointly by two brothers. Dago tells his own story, and theaccount of his haps and mishaps is both interesting and amusing.
=The Quilt That Jack Built.=
A pleasant little story of a boy's labor of love, and how it changedthe course of his life many years after it was accomplished. Told inMrs. Johnston's usual vein of quaint charm and genuine sincerity.
_By EDITH ROBINSON_
=A Little Puritan's First Christmas.=
A story of Colonial times in Boston, telling how Christmas was inventedby Betty Sewall, a typical child of the Puritans, aided by her brotherSam.
=A Little Daughter of Liberty.=
The author's motive for this story is well indicated by a quotationfrom her introduction, as follows:
"One ride is memorable in the early history of the American Revolution,the well-known ride of Paul Revere. Equally deserving of commendationis another ride,--untold in verse or story, its records preserved onlyin family papers or shadowy legend, the ride of Anthony Severn was noless historic in its action or memorable in its consequences."
=A Loyal Little Maid.=
A delightful and interesting story of Revolutionary days, in which thechild heroine, Betsey Schuyler, renders important services to GeorgeWashington.
=A Little Puritan Rebel.=
Like Miss Robinson's successful story of "A Loyal Little Maid," thisis another historical tale of a real girl, during the time when thegallant Sir Harry Vane was governor of Massachusetts.
=A Little Puritan Pioneer.=
The scene of this story is laid in the Puritan settlement atCharlestown. The little girl heroine adds another to the list offavorites so well known to the young people.
=A Little Puritan Bound Girl.=
A story of Boston in Puritan days, which is of great interest toyouthful readers.
_By OUIDA_ (_Louise de la Ramee_)
=A Dog of Flanders=: A CHRISTMAS STORY.
Too well and favorably known to require description.
=The Nuernberg Stove.=
This beautiful story has never before been published at a popular price.
=A Provence Rose.=
A story perfect in sweetness and in grace.
=Findelkind.=
A charming story about a little Swiss herdsman.
_By MISS MULOCK_
=The Little Lame Prince.=
A delightful story of a little boy who has many adventures by means ofthe magic gifts of his fairy godmother.
=Adventures of a Brownie.=
The story of a household elf who torments the cook and gardener, but isa constant joy and delight to the children who love and trust him.
=His Little Mother.=
Miss Mulock's short stories for children are a constant source ofdelight to them, and "His Little Mother," in this new and attractivedress, will be welcomed by hosts of youthful readers.
=Little Sunshine's Holiday.=
An attractive story of a summer outing. "Little Sunshine" is anotherof those beautiful child-characters for which Miss Mulock is so justlyfamous.
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