CHAPTER II
A WELCOME CHRISTMAS GIFT
The day before Christmas was a busy one in the Maynard household.
The delightful breakfast that Ellen sent to the table could scarcely beeaten, so busily talking were all the members of the family.
"Come home early, won't you, Father?" said Marjorie, as Mr. Maynard roseto go away to his business. "And don't forget to bring me that bigholly-box I told you about."
"As I've only thirty-seven other things to remember, I won't forget that,chickadee. Any last orders, Helen?"
"No; only those I've already told you. Come home as early as you can, forthere's lots to be done, and you know Steve and Grandma will arrive atsix."
Away went Mr. Maynard, and then the children scattered to attend to theirvarious duties.
Both James the gardener and Thomas the coachman were handy men of allwork, and, superintended by Mrs. Maynard, they packed the moresubstantial portions of the Simpson's Christmas donations.
It took several large baskets to hold the dinner, for there was a big,fat turkey, a huge roast of beef, and also sausages and vegetables ofmany sorts.
Then other baskets held bread and pie and cake, and cranberry jelly andcelery, and all the good things that go to make up a Christmassy sort ofa feast. Another basket held nuts and raisins and oranges and figs, andin this was a big box of the candies the children had made. The basketswere all decked with evergreen and holly, and made an imposing lookingrow.
Meantime King and Midget and Kitty were packing into boxes the toys andpretty trifles that they had made or bought. They added many books andgames of their own, which, though not quite new, were as good as new.
A barrel was packed full of clothing, mostly outgrown by the Maynardchildren, but containing, also, new warm caps, wraps and underwear forthe little Simpsons.
Well, all the things together made a fair wagon-load, and when Mr.Maynard returned home about two o'clock that afternoon, he saw thewell-filled and evergreen trimmed wagon on the drive, only waiting forhis coming to have the horse put to its shafts.
"Hello, Maynard maids and men!" he cried, as he came in, laden withbundles, and found the children bustling about, getting ready to go.
"Oh, Father," exclaimed Kitty, "you do look so Santa Claus-y! What's inall those packages?"
"Mostly surprises for you to-morrow, Miss Curiosity; so you can scarcelyexpect to see in them now."
"I do love a bundly Christmas," said Marjorie. "I think half the fun istying things up with holly ribbons, and sticking sprigs of holly in theknots."
"Well, are we all aboard now for the Simpsons?" asked her father, as hedeposited his burdens in safe places.
"Yes, we'll get our hats, and start at once; come on, Kitty," andMarjorie danced away, drawing her slower sister along with her.
Nurse Nannie soon had little Rosamond ready, and the tot looked like abig snowball in her fleecy white coat and hood, and white leggings.
"Me go to Simpson's," she cried, in great excitement, and then Mrs.Maynard appeared, and they all crowded into the roomy station-wagon thatcould be made, at a pinch, to hold them all. James drove them, and Thomasfollowed with the wagon-load of gifts.
The visit was a total surprise to the Simpson family, and when theMaynards knocked vigorously at the shaky old door, half a dozen littlefaces looked wonderingly from the windows.
"What is it?" said Mrs. Simpson, coming to the door, with a baby in herarms, and other small children clinging to her dress.
"Merry Christmas!" cried Midget and King, who were ahead of the others.But the cry of "Merry Christmas" was repeated by all the Maynards, untilan answering smile appeared on the faces of the Simpson family and mostof them spoke up with a "Merry Christmas to you, too."
"We've brought you some Christmas cheer," said Mr. Maynard, as the wholesix of them went in, thereby greatly crowding the small room where theywere received. "Mr. Simpson is not well, yet, I understand."
"No, sir," said Mrs. Simpson. "They do say he'll be in the hospital for amonth yet, and it's all I can do to keep the youngsters alive, let alonegettin' Christmas fixin's for 'em."
"That's what we thought," said Mr. Maynard, pleasantly; "and so my wifeand children are bringing you some goodies to make a real Christmas feastfor your little ones."
"Lord bless you, sir," said Mrs. Simpson, as the tears came to her eyes."I didn't know how much I was missin' all the Christmas feelin', till Isee you all come along, with your 'Merry Christmas,' and your evergreentrimmin's."
"Yes," said Mrs. Maynard, gently, "at this season, we should all have the'Christmas feeling,' and though I'm sorry your husband can't be with you,I hope you and the children will have a happy day."
"What you got for us?" whispered a little Simpson, who was patting Mrs.Maynard's muff.
"Well, we'll soon show you." said Mr. Maynard, overhearing the child.
Then he opened the door and bade his two men bring in the things.
So James and Thomas brought them in, box after box and basket afterbasket, until the Simpsons were well-nigh speechless at the sight.
"How kin we pay for it, Ma?" said one of the boys, who was getting oldenough to know what lack of funds meant.
"You're not to pay for it, my boy," said Mr. Maynard, "except by having ajolly, happy day to-morrow, and enjoying all the good things you find inthese baskets." Then the Maynard children unwrapped some of the prettythings they had made, and gave them to the little Simpsons.
One little girl of about six received a doll with a cry of rapture, andheld it close to her, as if she had never had a doll before. Thensuddenly she said, "No, I'll give it to sister, she never had a doll. Idid have one once, but a bad boy stole it."
"You're an unselfish little dear," cried Marjorie; "and here's anotherdoll for you. There's one for each of you girls."
As there were four girls, this caused four outbursts of joy, and whenMarjorie and Kitty saw the way the little girls loved the dollies, theyfelt more than repaid for the trouble it had been to dress them. Theboys, too, were delighted with their gifts. Mr. Maynard had brought realboys' toys for them, such as small tool chests, and mechanicalcontrivances, not to mention trumpets and drums. And, indeed, thelast-named ones needed no mention, for they were at once put to use andspoke for themselves.
"Land sakes, children! stop that hullabaloo-lam!" exclaimed Mrs. Simpson."How can I thank these kind people if you keep up that noise! Indeed, Ican't thank you, anyway," she added, as the drums were quiet for amoment. "It's so kind of you,--and so unexpected. We had almost nothingfor,--for to-morrow's dinner, and I didn't know which way to turn."
Overcome by her emotion, Mrs. Simpson buried her face in her apron, butas Mrs. Maynard touched her shoulder and spoke to her gently, she lookedup, smiling through her tears.
"I can't rightly thank you, ma'am," she went on, "but the Lord will blessyou for your goodness. I'm to see Mr. Simpson for a few momentsto-morrow, and when I tell him what you've done for us he'll have thehappiest Christmas of us all, though his sufferings is awful. But he washeartsick because of our poor Christmas here at home, and the news willcure him of that, anyway."
"I put in some jelly and grapes especially for him," said Mrs. Maynard,smiling, though there were tears in her own eyes. "So you take them tohim, and give him Christmas greetings from us. And now we must go, andyou can begin at once to make ready your feast."
"Oh, yes, ma'am. And may all Christmas blessing's light on you andyours."
"Merry Christmas!" cried all the Maynards as they trooped out, and thegood wish was echoed by the happy Simpsons.
"My!" said King, "it makes a fellow feel sober to see people as poor asthat!"
"It does, my boy," said his father; "and it's a pleasure to help thosewho are truly worthy and deserving. Simpson is an honest, hard-workingman, and I think we must keep an eye on the family until he's aboutagain. And now, my hearties, we've done all we can for them for thepresent; so let's turn our attention to the celebration of the Maynard'
sChristmastide. Who wants to go to the station with me to meet Grandma andUncle Steve?"
"I!" declared the four children, as with one voice.
"Yes, but you can't all go; and, too, there must be some of the nicestones at home to greet the travellers as they enter. I think I'll decidethe question myself. I'll take Kitty and King with me, and I'll leave myeldest and youngest daughters at home with Motherdy to receive the guestswhen they come."
Mr. Maynard's word was always law, and though Marjorie wanted to go, shethought, too, it would be fun to be at home and receive them when theycome.
So they all separated as agreed, and Mrs. Maynard said they must makehaste to get dressed for the company.
Marjorie wore a light green cashmere, with a white embroidered _guimpe_,which was one of her favorite frocks. Her hair was tied with big whitebows, and a sprig of holly was tucked in at one side.
She flew down to the living-room, to find baby Rosamond and her motheralready there. Rosy Posy was a Christmas baby indeed, all in white, withholly ribbons tying up her curls, and a holly sprig tied in the bow. Thewhole house was decorated with ropes and loops of evergreen, and starsand wreaths, with big red bows on them, were in the windows and over thedoorways.
The delicious fragrance of the evergreens pervaded the house, and thewood fires burned cheerily. Mrs. Maynard, in her pretty rose-coloredhouse gown, looked about with the satisfied feeling that everything wasin readiness, and nothing had been forgotten.
At last a commotion was heard at the door, and Marjorie flew to open it.They all seemed to come in at once, and after an embrace from Grandma,Marjorie felt herself lifted up in Uncle Steve's strong arms.
"That's the last time, Midget," he said as he set her down again."There's too much of you for me to toss about as I used to. My! what abig girl you are!"
"Toss me, Uncle Teve," said Rosy Posy, and she was immediately swung toUncle Steve's shoulder.
"You're only a bit of thistle-down. I could toss you up in the sky, andyou could sit on the edge of a star. How would you like that?"
"I'd ravver stay here," said Rosy Posy, nestling contentedly on herperch. "'Sides, I _must_ be here for Kismus to-morrow."
"Oh, _is_ Christmas to-morrow? How could I have forgotten that?"
"You didn't forget it, Uncle Steve," said Kitty, "for I see bundlessticking out of every one of your pockets!"
"Bless my soul! How odd! Santa Claus must have tucked them in, as I camethrough his street. Well, I'll put them away until to-morrow. They're ofno use to-night."
"Put them in here, Steve," said Mrs. Maynard, opening a cupboard door,for there was a possibility that the good-natured gentleman might bepersuaded to unwrap them at once.
Meantime Grandma was reviewing the small Maynards. Marjorie she had seenin the summer, but the others had been absent a longer time.
"You've all grown," she said, "but I do believe I like you just as wellbigger."
"Good for you, Grandma!" cried King. "'Most everybody says, 'Why, howyou've grown!' as if we had done something wrong."
"No, the more there is of my grandchildren, the more I have to love, sogo right on growing. Marjorie, Molly and Stella sent love to you, andthey also sent some little gifts which I will give you to-morrow."
The Maynards did not follow the custom of having their tree on Christmaseve.
Mrs. Maynard thought it unwise, because the children often became soexcited over their gifts and their frolic that it was difficult for themto settle down to sleep until "all hours."
So it was the rule to go to bed rather early on Christmas eve, and have along happy day to follow.
But the dinner, on the night before Christmas, always assumed a little ofthe coming festivities. On this occasion, the table was decked with hollyand flowers, and the dishes were a little more elaborate and festive thanusual.
"Ice cream, oh, goody!" exclaimed Kitty, as dessert appeared. Kitty'sfondness for ice cream was a family joke, but all welcomed the littleSanta Clauses made of orange ice, and carrying trees of pistache cream.After dinner a game of romps was allowed.
Mrs. Maynard, Grandma and Baby Rosy did not join in this, but went off bythemselves, leaving the living-room to the more enthusiastic rompers.
"Fox and Geese" was a favorite game, and though there were scarcelyenough of them to play it properly, yet that made it all the more fun,and Uncle Steve and Mr. Maynard seemed to be little, if any, older thanKingdon, as they scrambled about in the frolic. Then Kitty begged forjust one round of Puss in the Corner.
Kingdon and Midget thought this rather a baby game, but they willinglydeferred to Kitty's choice, and the grown up men were such foolish,funny pussies in their corners that everybody fell a-laughing, and thegame broke up because they were too exhausted to play any more.
"Now to quiet down pleasantly, and then ho, for bed," said Mr. Maynard.So when they had recovered their breath, Mrs. Maynard and Grandmareturned, Rosy Posy having already gone to her little crib. Mrs. Maynardsat at the piano, and they all gathered round and sang Christmas carols.
The children had clear, true voices, and the grown-ups sang really well,so it was sweet Christmas music that they made. They sang many of the oldEnglish carols, for the children had sung them every Christmas eve sincethey were old enough, and they knew them well.
Grandma loved to hear the music, and after it was over the three childrenwere kindly but firmly requested to retire.
"We hate awfully to have you go, dear friends," said Mr. Maynard. "Weshall be desolate, indeed, without your merry faces, but the time isripe. It's nine o'clock, and Christmas morning comes apace. So flee,skip, skiddoo, vamoose, and exit! Hang up your stockings, and _perhaps_Santa Claus may observe them. But hasten, for I daresay he's already onhis rounds."
Laughing at their father's nonsense, the children rather reluctantlybacked out of the room and dawdled upstairs.
But there was still the fun of hanging up their stockings, and then,after that nothing more but to hurry to get to sleep that Christmas mightcome sooner.
Rosy Posy's tiny socks were already in place, and soon three more pairsof long, lank stockings were dangling emptily, and then, in a jiffy theMaynard children were all asleep, and Christmas Day was silently drawingnearer and nearer.