CHAPTER I.
CHRISTMAS
"DON'T look! There, now it's done!" cried Bertha.
It was two nights before Christmas. Bertha was in the big living-roomwith her mother and older sister. Each sat as close as possible to thecandle-light, and was busily working on something in her lap.
But, strange to say, they did not face each other. They were sittingback to back.
"What an unsociable way to work," we think. "Is that the way Germansspend the evenings together?"
No, indeed. But Christmas was near at hand, and the air was brimful ofsecrets.
Bertha would not let her mother discover what she was working for her,for all the world. And the little girl's mother was preparing surprisesfor each of the children. All together, the greatest fun of the yearwas getting ready for Christmas.
"Mother, you will make some of those lovely cakes this year, won'tyou?" asked Bertha's sister Gretchen.
"Certainly, my child. It would not be Christmas without them. Earlyto-morrow morning, you and Bertha must shell and chop the nuts. I willuse the freshest eggs and will beat the dough as long as my arms willlet me."
"Did you always know how to make those cakes, mamma?" asked Bertha.
"My good mother taught me when I was about your age, my dear. You maywatch me to-morrow, and perhaps you will learn how to make them. It isnever too early to begin to learn to cook."
"When the city girls get through school, they go away from home andstudy housekeeping don't they?" asked Gretchen.
"Yes, and many girls who don't live in cities. But I hardly think youwill ever be sent away. We are busy people here in our little village,and you will have to be contented with learning what your mother canteach you.
"I shall be satisfied with that, I know. But listen! I can hear fatherand Hans coming."
"Then put up your work, children, and set the supper-table."
The girls jumped up and hurriedly put the presents away. It did nottake long to set the supper-table, for the meals in this little homewere very simple, and supper was the simplest of all. A large plate ofblack bread and a pitcher of sour milk were brought by the mother, andthe family gathered around the table.
The bread wasn't really black, of course. It was dark brown and verycoarse. It was made of rye meal. Bertha and Gretchen had never seen anywhite bread in their lives, for they had never yet been far away fromtheir own little village. Neither had their brother Hans.
They were happy, healthy children. They all had blue eyes, rosy cheeks,and fair hair, like their father and mother.
"You don't know what I've got for you, Hans," said Bertha, laughing andshowing a sweet little dimple in her chin.
Hans bent down and kissed her. He never could resist that dimple, andBertha was his favourite sister.
"I don't know what it is, but I do know that it must be somethingnice," said her brother.
When the supper-table had been cleared, the mother and girls tookout their sewing again, while Hans worked at some wood-carving. Thefather took an old violin from its case and began to play some of thebeautiful airs of Germany.
When he came to the "Watch on the Rhine," the mother's work droppedfrom her hands as she and the children joined in the song that stirsevery German heart.
"Oh, dear! it seems as though Christmas Eve never would come," sighedBertha, as she settled herself for sleep beside her sister.
It was quite a cold night, but they were cosy and warm. Why shouldn'tthey be? They were covered with a down feather bed. Their mother hadthe same kind of cover on her own bed, and so had Hans.
But Christmas Eve did come at last, although it seemed so far off toBertha the night before. Hans and his father brought in the bough of ayew-tree, and it was set up in the living-room.
The decorating came next. Tiny candles were fastened on all the twigs.Sweetmeats and nuts were hung from the branches.
"How beautiful! How beautiful!" exclaimed the children when it was alltrimmed, and they walked around it with admiring eyes.
None of the presents were placed on the tree, for that is not thefashion in Germany. Each little gift had been tied up in paper andmarked with the name of the one for whom it was intended.
When everything was ready, there was a moment of quiet while thecandles were being lighted. Then Bertha's father began to give out thepresents, and there was a great deal of laughing and joking as thebundles were opened.
There was a new red skirt for Bertha. Her mother had made it, for sheknew the child was fond of pretty dresses. Besides this, she had a pairof warm woollen mittens which Gretchen had knit for her. Hans had madeand carved a doll's cradle for each of the girls.
Everybody was happy and contented. They sang songs and cracked nuts andate the Christmas cakes to their hearts' content.
"I think I like the ones shaped like gnomes the best," said Hans. "Theyhave such comical little faces. Do you know, every time I go out in theforest, it seems as though I might meet a party of gnomes hunting forgold."
"I like the animal cakes best," said Bertha. "The deer are suchgraceful creatures, and I like to bite off the horns and legs, one at atime."
"A long time ago," said their father, "they used to celebrate Christmasa little different from the way we now do. The presents were allcarried to a man in the village who dressed himself in a white robe,and a big wig made of flax. He covered his face with a mask, and thenwent from house to house. The grown people received him with greathonours. He called for the children and gave them the presents theirparents had brought to him.
"But these presents were all given according to the way the childrenhad behaved during the year. If they had been good and tried hard,they had the gifts they deserved. But if they had been naughty anddisobedient, it was not a happy time for them."
"I don't believe the children were very fond of him," cried Hans. "Theymust have been too much afraid of him."
"That is true," said his father. "But now, let us play some games.Christmas comes but once a year, and you have all been good children."
The room soon rang with the shouts of Hans and his sisters. They played"Blind Man's Buff" and other games. Their father took part in all ofthem as though he were a boy again. The good mother looked on withpleasant smiles.
Bedtime came only too soon. But just before the children said goodnight, the father took Hans one side and talked seriously yet lovinglywith him. He told the boy of the faults he must still fight against. Hespoke also of the improvement he had made during the year.
At the same time the mother gave words of kind advice to her littledaughters. She told them to keep up good courage; to be busy andpatient in the year to come.
"My dear little girls," she whispered, as she kissed them, "I loveto see you happy in your play. But the good Lord who cares for ushas given us all some work to do in this world. Be faithful in doingyours."