VII
The Birdling Flies Away
The Ruggleses had finished a last romp in the library with Paul andHugh, and Uncle Jack had taken them home and stayed a while to chat withMrs. Ruggles, who opened the door for them, her face all aglow withexcitement and delight. When Kitty and Clem showed her the oranges andnuts that they had kept for her, she astonished them by saying that atsix o'clock Mrs. Bird had sent her in the finest dinner she had everseen in her life; and not only that, but a piece of dress-goods thatmust have cost a dollar a yard if it cost a cent.
As Uncle Jack went down the rickety steps he looked back into the windowfor a last glimpse of the family, as the children gathered about theirmother, showing their beautiful presents again and again,--and thenupward to a window in the great house yonder. "A little child shall leadthem," he thought. "Well, if--if anything ever happens to Carol, I willtake the Ruggleses under my wing."
* * * * *
"Softly, Uncle Jack," whispered the boys, as he walked into the librarya while later. "We are listening to the music in the church. The choirhas sung 'Carol, brothers, carol,' and now we think the organist isbeginning to play 'My ain countree' for Carol."
"I hope she hears it," said Mrs. Bird; "but they are very late to-night,and I dare not speak to her lest she should be asleep. It is almost teno'clock."
The boy soprano, clad in white surplice, stood in the organ loft. Thelight shone full upon his crown of fair hair, and his pale face, withits serious blue eyes, looked paler than usual. Perhaps it was somethingin the tender thrill of the voice, or in the sweet words, but there weretears in many eyes both in the church and in the great house next door.
"I am far frae my hame, I am weary aften whiles For the langed-for hame-bringin', An' my Faether's welcome smiles An' I'll ne'er be fu' content, Until my e'en do see The gowden gates o' heaven In my ain countree.
"MY AIN COUNTREE"]
The earth is decked wi' flow'rs, Mony tinted, fresh an' gay, An' the birdies warble blythely, For my Faether made them sae; But these sights an' these soun's Will as naething be to me, When I hear the angels singin' In my ain countree.
Like a bairn to its mither, A wee birdie to its nest, I fain would be gangin' noo Unto my Faether's breast; For He gathers in His arms Helpless, worthless lambs like me, An' carries them Himsel' To his ain countree."
There were tears in many eyes, but not in Carol's. The loving heart hadquietly ceased to beat, and the "wee birdie" in the great house hadflown to its "home nest." Carol had fallen asleep! But as to the song, Ithink perhaps, I cannot say, she heard it after all!
* * * * *
So sad an ending to a happy day! Perhaps--to those who were left; andyet Carol's mother, even in the freshness of her grief, was glad thather darling had slipped away on the loveliest day of her life, out ofits glad content, into everlasting peace.
She was glad that she had gone as she had come, on the wings of song,when all the world was brimming over with joy; glad of every gratefulsmile, of every joyous burst of laughter, of every loving thought andword and deed the dear last day had brought.
Sadness reigned, it is true, in the little house behind the garden; andone day poor Sarah Maud, with a courage born of despair, threw on herhood and shawl, walked straight to a certain house a mile away, up themarble steps into good Dr. Bartol's office, falling at his feet as shecried, "Oh, sir, it was me an' our children that went to Miss Carol'slast dinner-party, an' if we made her worse we can't never be happyagain!" Then the kind old gentleman took her rough hand in his and toldher to dry her tears, for neither she nor any of her flock had hastenedCarol's flight; indeed, he said that had it not been for the stronghopes and wishes that filled her tired heart, she could not have stayedlong enough to keep that last merry Christmas with her dear ones.
And so the old years, fraught with memories, die, one after another, andthe new years, bright with hopes, are born to take their places; butCarol lives again in every chime of Christmas bells that peal gladtidings, and in every Christmas anthem sung by childish voices.
THE BIRDS' CHRISTMAS CAROL
[Dramatized Edition]
_By Kate Douglas Wiggin_
This beautiful story, which has been a home and school favorite forforty years, takes to itself new vividness and interest in Mrs. Wiggin'sown dramatization.
In preparing this version, the author had in mind the limitations of theamateur and the time available for school theatricals. The book is soarranged that any single scene or the entire story may be staged withequal effect either with or without stage settings or costumes.
For the school, the home, or the amateur dramatic club this is an idealplay--simple, practical, thoroughly interesting, and always successful.
Books by Kate Douglas Wiggin
THE SPIRIT OF CHRISTMAS. Small Brochure.
THE STORY OF WAITSTILL BAXTER. Illustrated.
CREEPING JENNY.
MY GARDEN OF MEMORY. Illustrated.
THE QUILT OF HAPPINESS. In Evergreen Series.
HOMESPUN TALES. Rose o' the River, The Old Peabody Pew, and Susannaand Sue, in one volume. Illustrated.
LADIES-IN-WAITING. With frontispiece.
THE ROMANCE OF A CHRISTMAS CARD. Illustrated.
PENELOPE'S POSTSCRIPTS. With frontispiece.
A CHILD'S JOURNEY WITH DICKENS.
MOTHER CAREY'S CHICKENS. Illustrated.
ROBINETTA. Illustrated.
REBECCA OF SUNNYBROOK FARM.
REBECCA OF SUNNYBROOK FARM. _Holiday Edition._ Illustrated.
NEW CHRONICLES OF REBECCA. Illustrated.
THE AFFAIR AT THE INN. Illustrated.
THE BIRDS' CHRISTMAS CAROL. Illustrated.
THE BIRDS' CHRISTMAS CAROL. _Holiday Edition._
THE BIRDS' CHRISTMAS CAROL. _Dramatic Version._
THE STORY OF PATSY. Illustrated.
THE DIARY OF A GOOSE GIRL. Illustrated.
A CATHEDRAL COURTSHIP, and PENELOPE'S ENGLISH EXPERIENCES.Illustrated.
A CATHEDRAL COURTSHIP. _Holiday Edition_, enlarged. Illustratedby C. E. BROCK.
PENELOPE'S PROGRESS. (In Scotland.)
PENELOPE'S IRISH EXPERIENCES.
PENELOPE'S EXPERIENCES. I. England; II. Scotland; III. Ireland._Holiday Edition._ With many illustrations by CHARLES E BROCK.
TIMOTHY'S QUEST. A Story for Anybody, Young or Old, who cares toread it. _Holiday Edition._ Illustrated.
POLLY OLIVER'S PROBLEM. Illustrated.
MARM LISA.
THE VILLAGE WATCH TOWER.
A SUMMER IN A CANON. A California Story. Illustrated.
NINE LOVE SONGS AND A CAROL. Music by MRS. WIGGIN. Wordby HERRICK, SILL, and others.
* * * * *
By Mrs Wiggin andMiss Dora Archibald Smith
THE STORY HOUR. A Book for the Home and Kindergarten. Illustrated.
CHILDREN'S RIGHTS. A Book of Nursery Logic.
THE REPUBLIC OF CHILDHOOD. In three volumes. I. FROEBEL'S GIFTS. II. FROEBEL'S OCCUPATIONS.III. KINDERGARTEN PRINCIPLES AND PRACTICE.
HOUGHTON MIFFLIN COMPANYBOSTON AND NEW YORK
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