BOSTON & LONDON
1906
_Copyright, 1906_
By JOHN W. LUCE & COMPANY
_Entered at Stationers' Hall_
Colonial Press
_C. H. Simonds & Co._
_Boston, U. S. A._
_THE MISFIT CHRISTMAS PUDDINGS_
_TIME_
The day before Christmas and Christmas day.
_PLACES_
BAKER BAUMGAeRTNER'S ESTABLISHMENT. Large and flourishing.
THE M'CARTY ABODE. Small and dilapidated.
_CHARACTERS_
HERR BAUMGAeRTNER, with a mercenary heart and an eye to the main
chance.
KATRINA BAUMGAeRTNER, with a tender heart and an eye on her
lover.
HERR BAUMGAeRTNER'S EMPLOYEES, with commercial hearts and eyes
single to the approval of KATRINA BAUMGAeRTNER.
WIDOW M'CARTY, with a sad heart and many cares.
{ Granny M'Carty,--much care; little comfort.
HER { Grandad Rafferty,--much comfort; little
CARES { care.
{ Nine Little M'Cartys,--both cares and comforts.
MICHAEL M'CARTY,--the loved and lamented.
_LIST OF ILLUSTRATIONS_
"ENJOYING HER FATHER'S PARTING FONDLING"
"THE GREAT DELIGHT OF ALL THE CHILDREN"
"'FOR MY THIRTEEN BEST CUSTOMERS'"
"SHE APPLIED HERSELF TO THE SHIRTS WITH VIGOR"
"IMPRINTED ON THEM A FEW REMINDERS OF MATERNAL SOLICITUDE"
"GRANDAD WAS SPEECHLESS"
"'AN' ARE YE INSINOOATIN', MISTHER RAFFERTY?'"
"AS KATRINA PASSED THROUGH THE STORE"
"'I MAY GO, MAY I NOT?'"
"'IT'S SAMPLES I HAVE . . .' SAID TERENCE, PROUDLY DISPLAYING
THE CONTENTS OF HIS BUNDLE"
"TO ADMIRE THE FESTIVE PREPARATIONS"
"AND AS SHE SAT THERE MEMORY CAME AND STOOD BY HER"
"KATRINA . . . WENT TO WORK"
"HE PICKED UP THE CARD AND READ"
"WAS ON HIS WAY TO THE CITY HOSPITAL"
"'A MERRY CHRISTMAS FROM KATRINA BAUMGAeRTNER!'"
"SHE PLACED BOTH PUDDINGS IN HER APRON"
"'GOTT IN HIMMEL! DONNER UND BLITZEN!'"
"'TWELVE CAKES TO THE WIDOW M'CARTY!'"
"BRIDGET NEXT ATTACKED HER FATHER"
"'IT'S MORE ROOMETIZ FOR ME, SO IT IS'"
"'VEN I SMOKES DAT PIPE DEN I FORGET DOSE PLUM PUDDINGS'"
"HIS GLANCE FELL UPON SOMETHING WHITE THAT LAY ON THE COUNTER"
"'A STICK OF CANDY APIECE'"
"KATY . . . RETURNED BEARING ALOFT A PACKAGE"
"MRS. M'CARTY LET THEM HUNT"
"THE HOUSE . . . HELD MORE HIDING-PLACES THAN ONE WOULD HAVE
SUPPOSED"
"'IT'S MY MICHAEL,--MY HEART OF THE WORLD'"
_THE MISFIT CHRISTMAS PUDDINGS_
_First Episode_
HERR BAUMGAeRTNER'S ESTABLISHMENT EIGHT O'CLOCK IN THE MORNING THE DAY
BEFORE CHRISTMAS
'Twas the day before Christmas, yet there was no need to tell that to
any one in Buffalo, for everywhere in the city was the stir and
excitement that precedes a great holiday. Every one seemed to be alert
and in a hurry. The very air was full of Christmas scents. One felt
that something unusual was going on, and nowhere was this more
apparent than in Baker Baumgaertner's large establishment.
Among the German residents of this prosperous lake port this was the
most popular bakery in the town, and Herr Baumgaertner was caterer and
confectioner as well as baker. Consequently he had a very large trade,
and the twelve wagons that were despatched daily from the Baumgaertner
bakery went to all parts of the city. Not only was he popular among
the German residents, but whoever had once tasted the baker's crisp
rolls and genuine German rye bread--not to mention the Lebkuchen and
Pfeffernuesse at Christmastime--never neglected an opportunity to order
more. Even the delicious Marzipan Brod--a sweetmeat made of almonds,
sugar, and rose-water--was not omitted from his Christmas confections.
Certainly, Herr Baumgaertner's establishment was almost too tempting
for one who possessed but a slender pocketbook at Christmas-time.
The windows, washed and polished until they fairly shone, were now
hung with wreaths of holly, and festoons of evergreens were draped
across both doors and windows in token of the holiday season. Two
large firtrees in boxes stood on each side of the entrance.
Herr Baumgaertner's Christmas windows were the great delight of all the
children in the neighborhood, for in one stood a tall Christmas tree
from whose branches dangled the most wonderful candies and
cakes,--boys and girls, kings and queens, cows, dogs, funny fat pigs,
violins, real Swiss houses,--in fact all kinds of toys. These were
made either of chocolate, sugar, or gingerbread. This marvellous tree
was also adorned with a huge silver star at the top, while glittering
gold and silver paper chains were suspended from its branches. These,
and the many colored candles, made it a bewildering sight. Truly, it
was a real fairy Christmas tree.
[Illustration: "THE GREAT DELIGHT OF ALL THE CHILDREN"]
Perhaps no one but Herr Baumgaertner himself knew that this tree was in
memory of a little boy who long years before had spent a few short
Christmas days with him, for Herr Baumgaertner's only son had died when
three years old. The baker was not a man who was supposed to have much
sentiment, but he would as soon omit the baking of the Christmas cakes
as omit the Christmas tree in remembrance of little Fritz. It
certainly was a joy and delight to all the children round about, and
so great was its fame that many a child begged "to go just once"--if
he lived a long way off--and see the Baumgaertner's wonderful Christmas
tree.
Though it was yet early in the morning the wagons were already
returning from the delivery of the breakfast rolls and bread. The air
of the store was odorous with appetizing scents, attesting the baker's
concocting skill. The shelves were filled with fragrant fresh bread,
and there was an extra supply of cakes and buns.
Under the glass cases were arranged the most tempting holiday cakes.
Particularly attractive was the Lebkuchen,--a highly spiced
gingerbread,--which was artistically made into different shapes, some
square, others large and round, while again others were in the form of
hearts with an ornament of sugar-work around the outside. On many were
the words, "Merry Christmas," in tiny red and white candies. The
animals made of gingerbread were as numerous as those that went into
the Ark. These were done over with a thin white icing, and not a child
that entered the bakery could be induced to leave without at least one
animal which he selected as his fancy prompted him, while many almost
wept because they could not buy all. But perhaps for "grown-ups" the
favorite cakes were the hard little Pfeffernuesse.
Large wreaths of pine were suspended from the ceiling, and a feeling
of homesickness came over many a German customer at the smell of the
favorite Lebkuchen and the words, "Froehliche Weihnachten,"--for Baker
Baumgaertner was a shrewd man and wished his customers a merry
Christmas in German as well as in English,--and they thought of the
joyful times in the Fatherland when the Christ-child had visited the
home and had brought them just such simple gifts as these.
Baker Baumgaertner was a big, burly man with a loud, gruff voice. He
expected prompt obedience from all his employees,--apprentice boys,
bakers, and clerks alike,--and this he usually obtained. He was very
methodical, attending to every detail of his large business and
knowing just what to require from every one under him.
"Be fair and honest" was his motto; yet he delighted in "making
moneys,"--as he expressed it,--but honestly.
His interests in life seemed to be divided between his growing
business and his pretty daughter, Katrina. She was the idol of his eye
and he could refuse her nothing, though counted close in business
matters.
It was eight o'clock in the morning and trade was beginning briskly.
The telephone orders kept the bell jingling. The clerks and bakers
were prepared for a busy day, and had received from Herr Baumgaertner
their special instructions in regard to the catering and delivering.
Already early customers were beginning to come in.
Herr Baumgaertner stood near a table which was in the rear of the
store. On this table were displayed thirteen Christmas puddings, set
apart in royal aloofness. These the baker intended as presents to
some of his best customers.
"Ach, dose puddings!" he soliloquized. "Goot, rich, schoen! But I get
my moneys back again." In other words, he anticipated a large return
from a small investment.
Baker Baumgaertner knew how to do the handsome thing upon occasion, and
was possessed of a generosity which, like Bob Acres' courage, "came
and went." Just now it was at full tide. Desirous of presenting his
gifts in the best possible manner, he went to his desk, and taking out
thirteen gilt-edged cards, he wrote on each: "With the Christmas
Greetings of Herr Wilhelm Baumgaertner." He next took from its wrapping
a quantity of pink and blue tissue paper with embroidered edges.
At this moment Hans Kleinhardt, his head clerk, entered the store.
"Hans, come you here once!" cried the baker. "Dot fine puddings vat
you see dere are for my thirteen best customers. Vat you tink,
Hans,"--showing him the tissue papers, "joost de ting to wrap dot
puddings in, nicht wahr? Always in Hirschberg dey say to me, 'Ach,
Herr Baumgaertner, Sie haben immer so schoenes Papier.'"
[Illustration: "'FOR MY THIRTEEN BEST CUSTOMERS'"]
"Ja, ja," assented Hans, "it is so fine already."
So anxious was our Hans to ingratiate himself and make a good
impression,--for Hans was ambitious,--that had Herr Baumgaertner wished
them wrapped in circus posters Hans would have said: "Ja, ja, it is so
fine already."
"Dot pink, Hans, ist ausgezeichnet, dot will we haf, and moreover on
each tie you a piece of dat Christmas holly mit de red berries. Hans,
see. Here is dat list of mein thirteen best customers. Send you dem
dose puddings. Each and efery pudding is joost quite alike. Here are
dose cardts mit vich I send dem my Christmas Greetings. You see dot
dose puddings get sent dis Christmas eve."
Hans put the list and the thirteen cards into his pocket and promised
to attend to the order faithfully.
"A 'phone call for you, sir," said one of his clerks.
Herr Baumgaertner went slowly to the telephone. Nothing ever made the
good baker hurry, for haste was not in his make-up.
"Hello, vat you vant?"
A large order had not been delivered. That was an unpardonable offence
in the Baumgaertner establishment. The baker was slow to be aroused,
but when once his anger was awakened he was, indeed, a furious man.
The wild, fierce Teuton in him got the upper hand.
"Donner Wetter!" he cried. "Vat for dat big order not delivered, and
vone of mein goot customers dat leaves me much moneys? You tink I hire
you for noddings, eh? Joost to trow my moneys away on you?"
He stormed and raged at the unlucky clerk through whose carelessness
the mistake had occurred.
"Himmel!" he yelled. "How come dat you forget? You are one Dummkopf! I
haf not served in die German army for noddings, and ven I say 'You
delifer dose tings on Monday' I mean on Monday, and not on Tuesday.
You hear dat now?"
The unhappy clerk acknowledged that he heard, and, fortunately for
him, the entrance of a wealthy customer saved him from further wrath.
The sincere admiration expressed by the customer for the Christmas
decorations and the Christmas confections was appreciated by the
baker, and the pleasant words, being supplemented by a large order,
restored Herr Baumgaertner to his usual good humor. As he returned to
his office he could not refrain from pausing a moment beside the table
which held the Christmas puddings.
"Ach, dose puddings!" he commented, viewing them with professional
pride, "Dey are joost like von picture!"
_Second Episode_