THE CHRISTMAS TREE.
"Christmas gifts for thee,
Grand and free!
Christmas gifts from the King of love,
Brought from his royal home above;
Brought to thee in the far-off land,
Brought to thee by his own dear hand."
THE Christmas holidays had just commenced, when Archie Warner, followed
by Claude and little Ruth, ran into the parlour of the Grove, where
they found Priscilla seated at work.
"Hurrah for six weeks' holidays!" said Archie, throwing a bundle of
books on the table. "And Austin will be here on Christmas eve, and we
must give him a famous welcome, Prissy. And we want to get up a tree
this year. You know we used to have one always when mother was alive;
and we could have a jolly one this year. The M'Ivors could come, and—"
"O Archie," interrupted his sister, "don't speak of it. Think on our
poor father; and then how could I possibly spare the time to prepare
it? I am sorry, but really I don't think it could be managed."
A shade crossed the boy's face.
And even little Ruth said, "O Prissy, tan't we have a tree? 'Twould be
so nice."
But Archie muttered—
"Oh, well, it does not matter, only all the other fellows are having
one; and as to our father, I'm sure I wouldn't for worlds have anything
he would not like, or you either, Prissy. I did not think about the
trouble, but just hearing all the others talking about the fun they
were going to have in the holidays put it into my head."
"All the other fellows are having one." The words rung in Prissy's
ears. It was true enough; she knew they would.
And Archie and even Claude would be contrasting the bright
holiday-making of their companions with the dulness of their home.
No; that must not be, cost what it might. The boys must have a bright
Christmas day.
So seeing the effort that Archie was making to throw off his
disappointment, she said, "Well, I will tell you what, boys—I'll try
and manage it for you, if you will promise to do all you can to help
me; that is, if our father will agree to it, for I will have no secret
from him. Oh, poor father! If only his sight could be restored. And,
you know, the London oculist has held out some faint hope that an
operation may prove effectual, or at least partially so."
The young faces round her brightened as Prissy spoke, though Archie had
the grace to say, "Oh! But it would be a shame, Prissy, after all, to
put more work on you; still, if my father says we may, we would try and
save you trouble, and I know the M'Ivors would help. Jules is so clever
at making things, and Miss M'Ivor and André also. Oh, it will be famous
if we can have it, and give Austin a surprise. You are a dear, good old
Prissy!"
"Come along then, all of you, and we will go to the study and see
what our father thinks about it. Only remember you are to ask him
yourselves."
Archie and Claude shrunk back at those words.
But Ruth ran off to her father, and jumping on his knee, which was
her favourite seat, she said, "Father, O father, we wants to have
a Christmas tree all covered with lights and pretty things, 'cause
Austin's 'turning home; and Prissy says we may, if you'll only let us."
"A Christmas tree, my little Ruth?" said her father, stroking her
silken curls as he spoke. "Ah me! 'Tis long since there was one in this
house. How old are you, my little maid?"
"Why, father, I'm six years old. But what has that to do with a tree?
I'm big enough to see one, surely. Do say we may have one. Archie wants
it, and Claude too."
"Yes, father," chimed in both boys; "we would like it, if you are
willing."
The professor paused for a moment, then replied, "Certainly you may;
only on one condition, boys: you must promise not to let all the
trouble fall on your sister, for she has more than enough on her
shoulders already. It is a marvel to me the amount of work she gets
through, mental and otherwise. She puts many a man to shame, though she
is 'only a girl.'"
Prissy laughed; the once dreaded sobriquet had lost its terrors. "Well,
father," she said, "if you agree, I second the boys, for I like the
thought of having a tree as much as they do, for, you see, in one sense
I am still 'only a girl.'"
A loud shout of "Thanks, father, thanks," rung round the room, till
Prissy dismissed them all, saying, "Now do run down to the M'Ivors and
enlist them to help in the Christmas tree."
"That will be capital," said Archie. "And may we take Ruth also?"
"Yes, you may, if you won't let her get into mischief. And, Archie,
please just look in on Joe Smith for a moment, and tell him that, if
possible, I will come down to-morrow and help him with his studies.
Poor Joe! Isn't it a pity we can't have him at our Christmas tree? He
is so much stronger now, if he could only be got here, he would enjoy
it. Now off with you all. I don't wish to see any of you for a couple
of hours at least."
"All right," said Archie laughing; "but—" and he lingered for a moment
behind the others as he said, "remember that during holiday time,
I'm to read to father every day. He is not to learn to depend on his
daughter for everything, though she is a jolly good daughter and sister
also." And so saying, he endorsed his opinion by a loud-sounding slap
on his sister's shoulder, then ran off, slamming the door after him in
true boy-like fashion, which made his father exclaim—
"Gently, Archie, gently!" Then turning to Prissy, he said, "I fear, my
daughter, this Christmas tree plan will throw a great deal of extra
trouble on you. If so, just tell me, and I will put a stop to it at
once."
"Oh no, father; I would not have it stopped on any account. At first
I was selfish enough not to wish to have it at all; but now that I
see how set the boys and little Ruth are on having it, I am thankful
I yielded. I would like Archie and Claude to have a bright home
Christmas. Archie is a fine boy, father, and a steady one."
"Yes," said Dr. Warner, "he is;" and he sighed as his thoughts wandered
to the son whom in face and figure Archie so strongly resembled. "Dr.
Sparling, too, speaks highly of him. He says his talent lies more for
languages than for mathematics; he also says his general conduct is so
good that he sets an example to the whole school. He has to thank you,
Priscilla, for the home influence he has had. You are a comfort to us
all, my daughter."
A flush of pleasure mantled Prissy's face. A word of commendation from
her father was very sweet to her.
But she said smilingly, "Ah! then, father, you confess that a woman may
be a comfort in her home and yet study even mathematics?"
She spoke in a jesting tone, and expected a reply in a like strain. She
was surprised, therefore, when her father laid his hand on her head,
and said solemnly, "I do confess it, my child, when a woman has the
grace of God in her heart to enable her to keep her different duties
in their right place, and to prevent her being conceited and puffed up
by her mental attainments, or careless as regards household matters.
And now, my daughter, if you can spare me an hour or two to act as my
amanuensis, I will be well pleased."
"Certainly, father," was the ready reply, and in a few minutes father
and daughter were busy at work.
Whilst they were so engaged, Archie, Claude, and Ruth had made their
way to the cottage where the M'Ivors lived. Entering the bright little
parlour, Archie soon made their errand known.
"A Christmas tree!" said Gabrielle, jumping up from her work. "A
Christmas tree! That will be good. Yes, of course, Archie, tell Prissy
we will all be charmed to help her. And you also, maman," she said,
turning to her mother—"you are so clever with your fingers, you will
assist?—Oh, it is delightful. And all the little ones are to come, did
you say?"
"Yes; and if Mr. and Mrs. M'Ivor would come also, my father and Prissy
said they would be delighted to see them; and, of course, André as
well."
Gabrielle clapped her hands with glee. "Oh, that is better and better!
You will go? Do say you will, chère maman!"
Mrs. M'Ivor smiled at her daughter's eagerness, but assented to the
proposal, unless the evening proved very cold. "For," she said, turning
to Archie, "your Christmas is très-froid, très-froid sometimes."
"Ah!" he replied. "But this year, madam, it is going to be fine; every
one says we are going to have a bright Christmas."
Then turning to Gabrielle and the boys, an animated discussion arose
on decorations and suitable presents. Coloured paper was produced at
once, and ere long, Gabrielle's clever French fingers had cut out some
really tasteful ornaments for the tree. The time slipped away only too
quickly, and on their way home, Archie found he had just a minute or
two to spend with Joe Smith, who hailed with pleasure the announcement
of a visit from Miss Warner.
"You see, Mr. Archibald," he said, "she is such a kind, patient
teacher; and if ever I become a scholar, and of any use in the world,
it will all, under God, be owing to her and Mr. Austin. Ay, and more
than that I owe to them, for it was they who told me of the love of
Jesus, and led me into the kingdom of God. Please tell Miss Warner I
will be delighted to see her to-morrow."
And Archie, promising to do so, set off homewards, holding little Ruth
by the hand. There was a sober, thoughtful look on his face, for Joe's
words had set him thinking.
Did he, he asked himself, love the Lord Jesus, as Austin, Prissy, and
Joe Smith did? And like them, was he helping on Christ's kingdom? It
was not necessary in order to do so to become a minister or missionary;
for Prissy had often spoken to him on that subject, and her life had
proved to him that it is in little things as well as in great that God
can be glorified.
And as Archie Warner walked home on that bright December day, he began
to wish to be a Christian—at all events, some times, perhaps when
school duties and pleasures did not so fully occupy him. And so he
turned his thoughts to the pleasures of the hour, and forgot that it is
written:
"Seek ye first the kingdom of God."