will catch me in some mistake, I suppose." The Judge looked serious, but
there was that funny twinkle in his eyes. "Suppose we now drive around
the new cemetery, and see if everything is as trim and neat there. We'd
like to look at our own graves, and see how things are."
"Well, I think that's a very unpleasant way to spend Christmas Eve; and
I'm sure that Billy and Satan and Turk will be afraid to go into that
place, and so shall I; and you can't see much from the road; so let's
drive up to Round Hill, and watch for Santa Claus."
"Oh! just as you please," continued the Judge. "This is your circus, not
mine." And he smiled indulgently upon Ruth. So they turned about on the
Beach Road, and slipped up to Round Hill. While they were viewing the
scenery, the man in the moon winked at Mrs. "Judge," as much as to say
that the house was all ready, and it was time for the party to return.
IV.
THE PARTY WITH SUPPER FOR SEVENTEEN, AND TOASTS WITH A TOASTING-FORK.
IV.
THE PARTY WITH SUPPER FOR SEVENTEEN, AND TOASTS WITH A TOASTING-FORK.
WHEN they returned to the parsonage, Billy unhitched himself and opened
the front door. The Judge and his wife with Ruth and the baby hastened
into the warm rooms as fast as the feather-bed, the white flannel bag,
the blue envelope, and the red paper would permit them.
"Why, what a change there is here!" exclaimed Ruth. "It must be exactly
as you used to have it."
"Yes," replied Mrs. "Judge"; "I told the man in the moon to make things
look natural. This seems really like coming home. I feel very much as I
did whenever I drove down to New York, and came back to the dear house.
It is so nice to see these beautiful carpets again, and the same chairs
and tables and sofas; the very damask curtains I made; my little
sewing-stand; the clock right there in its place near my bedroom door;
and there is the refrigerator. I always had it stand in my bedroom, you
know. That made it very convenient. And I kept all the stores in"--
"Me," groaned Darkest Africa, who still remained in front of the house
awaiting the orders of Ruth.
"Yes, in you," continued Mrs. "Judge"; "and I expect to see you very
happy again to-night. I never kept Christmas. We didn't approve of such
things when I was a child." She was now talking to Ruth. "But if they
have a Christmas-tree in the meeting-house, and the minister thinks it's
all right, it must be so. I am really quite glad to get up a party
to-night. I shall have it to think about when I go back into the
picture. And that reminds me, child, that I want you to come into the
parlor very often and speak to me. It's very very lonely staying there
day and night, summer and winter, year in and year out. Why don't you
ask the Judge and me to play church with you and the rest of the
children some of the times when you come into the parlor?"
"Why, I never thought of that!" exclaimed Ruth. "I'll do it the very
next time (which will be Sunday, I suppose) that we have church again."
By this time they had taken their wraps off and put them up. That is to
say, Ruth got out of the feather-bed, and had Turk carry it up-stairs,
while she took the handkerchief and the marble-bag off from the Judge,
and the postage-stamp and the red crinkly paper off from Mrs. "Judge,"
and put these things in her pocket. Then they all went into the lady's
chamber, and took the baby out of the envelope, laying him on the bed,
and covering him with a soap-dish and a hair-brush to keep him warm, for
he had gone to sleep.
"Now we must get ready for the party," said Ruth, "and then I'll call
the children and dress them. But, dear me! what will you and the Judge
wear? We've got tired of seeing you in the same clothes all the time.
Oh, I'll tell you! Let's play dress up just as we children do, and then
I can fix you out in fine style."
"Just as you say, child. It's your party, and you can do much as you
please. And the truth is that I am pretty tired of wearing the same
clothes all these many years. I don't think it makes so much difference
to a man. But we women like to have something new once in a while, say
once in fifty or seventy-five years."
"Oh! won't it be fun?" cried Ruth. "We'll have 'Providence' come in here
and show us what he's got in him. You know Providence is the big closet
in the corner of the Betsey-Bartram room. Come here, Providence." This
closet ambled into the bedroom, and Mrs. "Judge" took a silver
candlestick with a wax candle in her hand, and stepped into the closet
followed by the Judge and Ruth. What a medley of stuff they found!
There were silks and satins of all colors and kinds. There was velvet
and calico, lawn and broadcloth, furs and flowers, laces and linens,
swallow-tail coats and fancy vests, a waterproof, a riding-habit,
bicycle suits, pajamas, flags and bunting, forming an infinite
assortment or mixture of everything under the sun in the shape of dry
goods.
"You don't keep an old-clothes exchange, do you, child?" asked the
astonished visitor.
"Oh, no! these are mother's treasures (that's what she calls them). We
get 'em when her ship comes in. It always seems to come in the night. We
children have watched for it ever since we lived West and could
remember. But the first we know is that mother tells us some day how the
ship has come in, and another cargo has been unloaded in Providence.
Then we all make a rush and overhaul the cargo; one thing fits one
child, and another thing fits another child, and what doesn't fit we
make over, and then we appear in our new outfits. You ought to see us
go into church a week or two after a fresh cargo of treasures has been
distributed. It's great fun." During this talk Ruth was rummaging about
in the trunks or on the shelves in search of something becoming to her
guests.
"I think the Judge ought to have something solemn on, don't you?" she
said, addressing his wife. "Now, this long, black waterproof is the
thing. And he can wear Samuel's bicycle stockings and shoes. Then,
here's a broad purple ribbon for a necktie; and I'll put this ermine boa
around his neck, for don't judges sometimes wear ermine? Doesn't he look
cute?" She had helped him on with the things while Mrs. "Judge" stood by
smiling her approval.
"I think this green velvet waist and this red silk skirt will look well
on you." Ruth was speaking to the lady. "Then I'll do your hair up with
this white lace and these yellow flowers. It's so cold I think you had
better wear mittens. I think you ought to have a train to your dress.
I'll take some safety-pins, and fasten a few yards of this white satin
on behind. Doesn't it look elegant? You must have a corsage bouquet."
And she twisted up some dry grasses and pink roses, and pinned them to
her belt. "And this white gauze veil will add to the effect." So it was
spread over the lady's head, and fell in scant folds across her brow.
"I shall get into this pink crape," Ruth continued, "slip these muffs up
my ankles, and take this black fur cape and that lovely, lovely lavender
bonnet. I'm going to wear white kid gloves, and have a train of that
yellow satin. Will you, please, tie this bow of nile-green velvet about
my neck? And I must have a veil too. This one with little red spots like
the measles all over it will suit me, I guess. There, now, don't I look
just too nice for anything?" Both the Judge and his wife bowed and
smiled.
"I'll put this black lace one side for the baby when he wakes up. We'll
dress him up with that and some tissue paper I've got in my pocket. And
now let's go and take a look at the house again." But their talking
roused the baby; so they dressed him as Ruth had planned, winding the
paper and lace about his body as though he were a mummy; and then they
started for the parlor, the Judge carrying his namesake on one arm and
supporting his wife on the other, with Ruth dragging on behind, clinging
to the right hand of Mrs. "Judge."
At the foot of the stairs Ruth proposed that she go and call all the
children. For at this late hour they had gone to bed. But the visitors
thought it better to wait.
"We must ask a few questions and find out what the children want for
Christmas," said Mrs. "Judge." So they passed into the parlor, and sat
down on the Grecian sofa. A soft, gentle light fell from the astral lamp
and the wax candles on the mantle-piece. The wood fire on the hearth,
the heavy damask curtains at the windows, the rich mahogany furniture
scattered about through the room, the handsome pictures upon the walls,
gave the place a very inviting appearance.
"Now, Ruth, we're going to put something in each child's stocking." Mrs.
"Judge" was speaking. "It seems to me a foolish custom, but now that you
all do it we will follow suit. Tell us what to get."
"Father says there's a difference between what we want and what we need.
We want a great many things, but we need only a few."
"That's sound talk," observed the Judge. "Your father must be quite a
man."
"Oh!" was the reply, "he weighs almost a hundred and ninety pounds. I
heard mother tell the teacher the other day that she thought I lacked
capacity. I don't get along in school at all. There are so many things
to do besides study that it takes all my time. I think mother would be
pleased if you gave me something of the kind. That's what I need I
suppose. But what I want is to know about everything. That's why I ask
so many questions and tease to go all the time. I'm trying to find out
things for myself. How should I learn how old a girl or a lady is if I
didn't ask? And what's my tongue for if it isn't to use in talking?"
"To be sure," replied Mrs. "Judge." "But I used my tongue for eating
too, until I got into the picture. I think it's almost a hundred years
since I had anything to eat."
"Mercy! aren't you hungry?" exclaimed Ruth. "But you don't look thin,
and you certainly don't grow old. I've heard folks say so when they
looked at your picture. 'Why, how nice and fresh and lifelike they
seem.' That's what our visitors say when we take them into the parlor to
see the portraits. But, dear me, we shall never get through the list if
I keep on talking. I can't help talking. I seem made for it. I've heard
father say that several of his family were deaf, but none of 'em were
ever dumb." The Judge and his wife appeared quite interested in this
lively flow of speech on the part of the child, so they nodded their
heads with encouragement, and Ruth continued.
"Now, there's Helen, she's always talking about writing a book. I think
she wants to write a book above all things. You might give her the book
she is going to write. But what she really needs is curls. That straight
black hair makes her look horrid. I wish you'd bring her a whole lot of
curls. Isn't it queer that we can't have a baby with curls? We've had a
regular cry over it more than once. Not a single curl in all the
fifteen. Every hair of our heads as straight as a string. Don't you
think you'd better write the things down as I tell them to you? But then
you've got such an awful memory I suppose you can remember everything.
Now, there's Samuel. You tell him two things and father says he's sure
to forget three. Mother says if his memory was as good as his forgetery,
he'd make something remarkable."
"I think if you will lend me a piece of paper,--that red crinkly stuff
that the baby has on,--and a stick of candy or a poker, I will write
down the articles you mention." It was the Judge speaking.
"Why don't you take the quill and the paper that you hold in the
portrait, and use them?" inquired Ruth.
"To be sure!" exclaimed the Judge. "What a bright girl you are!"
"Father doesn't think so. I don't know how many times he's said to me
when I've done something queer, 'Ruth, you don't seem to have any
sense.' Susie said one day, 'Well, I'll give her my two cents.' And she
did, and I spent it for candy. Father would be so pleased if you gave me
some sense for a Christmas present, I know." The visitors smiled as the
child prattled, and let her continue without interruption.
"I know what Samuel wants. I know a lot of things he wants. Mother says
he always wants to go home with the girls. But you couldn't call that a
present, could you? Oh! I know one thing he wants very much. Whenever he
tries to race with any of the boys, and he comes out a long way behind,
he says he wants wind. Just put that down, please. But I think the
thing he needs most of anything is courtesy. At least father keeps
talking to him about it. If you would bring a big lot of it I'm sure
we'd all be pleased. It must be something very nice, for father says
something about it every day of his life." The Judge nodded his head,
and wrote with his quill upon the sheet of paper. "Theodora is always
wanting clothes. She's never had enough. I don't know how many times
we've heard her say she had nothing to wear. And then father says she'd
better go to bed. I wonder if she'll have all the clothes she wants in
heaven?" Neither the Judge nor his lady ventured to answer. "What
Theodora really needs, I think, is a gold spoon. Mother says she was
certainly born with a gold spoon in her mouth; but the spoon has been
lost, for I've never seen it, and it would be such a nice thing to give
her one in its place. Or, maybe, you could bring her the very one she
had when she was born. I should like to see what kind of a spoon it
was." So the Judge put that down.
"It's easy enough to tell what Ethel wants. She's always talking about
it. She wants some _new_ clothes. She says she's sick to death of
second-hand stuff. Mother's always having something made over for her or
some of the younger girls. We've never seen anything real fresh and new.
Father says we ought to be thankful to have clothes at all. I suppose we
had. What Ethel needs is application. Her teacher says so, and so does
everybody else. She doesn't stick to a thing."
"Poor child," said the Judge. "She'll have a hard time, I fear. I'll see
what we can do for her."
"Now, Miriam hasn't any gumption, father says. I wonder what that is? I
think that must be the thing she needs the most. She's such a
chicken-hearted girl Samuel says. And that makes me think what it is
Miriam always wants. She tells mother, I don't know how many times a
day, that she wishes she'd have some spring chicken. You don't know how
fond she is of 'em. But they're very high here, you know. And spring
chickens enough to go around in such a family as ours would soon ruin
us, mother says. But Ethel is so fond of them. How she wants 'em! Do you
think you could fill her up for once?"
"Why, spring chickens are not in my line of treasures, my child; but I
might find something that would take the place of such fowls."
"Henry says Elizabeth's a regular old goose. And Samuel calls Susie
'duckie.' I wonder if you couldn't help Grace. She needs balance,
everybody says. I think she's smart enough, but she's a high-flyer. You
never can tell what will happen next when she's around. Please bring
some balance for a present. But what she wants is Frederick. He's the
boy in the next block. I don't think it's right to think so much of boys
unless they're your brothers. Elizabeth says her brothers are her
bothers. And I think so too." Ruth looked very severe. The Judge simply
continued his writing.
"Do you think you could bring all of us a very great deal of sweetness
of disposition? I've heard so much about that thing that I'm real tired
of it; but I know it would please both father and mother, for they have
talked about it ever since I can remember. I know a little baby girl
down South who is so sweet they call her 'Sugar.' Samuel says if we
named our children as they ought to be named, some of them would be
called 'Vinegar.' But he's 'funning,' I guess. Mother says his bark is
always worse than his bite.
"Now, George needs heart. Samuel says George will never die of heart
disease, because he hasn't any heart. He has a gun, and Elizabeth calls
him Nimrod. He wants to go to war. But we're afraid he might get shot in
the back. But he's a real good boy after all. I should hate to see him
going around with a hole in his back." Just at this point the Judge
coughed and looked queer.
"Henry is crazy about music. He wants a violin, but mother says he
needs an ear for music. I should like to know what he'd do with a third
ear. Would you put it on the top of his head? And he wants to sing; but,
dear me, father says he needs a voice. He has voice enough, _I_ think.
You can hear him all over town. Did you write it down?" Ruth looked
keenly at the Judge as his pen flew with the speed of a snail over the
paper.
"Yes, here it is in white and black."
"Now, William is an awfully forward boy. He's so forward father says
that he's growing round-shouldered. He wants to be President. That's
ever since he went to the White House with mother. It was a very cold
day, the day he went; and William had his mittens on, and mother
couldn't get to him to take 'em off when he shook hands with the
President. Neighbors say that what he needs is training. But they don't
train now as they used to. Father says they used to train out here on
the Green several times a year. I know the best thing you could bring
William is a training. And Susie, she wants something she hasn't got. I
don't think it makes any difference what it is. Mother says if she
hasn't got it she wants it. And then she snivels when she doesn't get
it. I heard some one say the other day that what she needed was a
spanking. But I don't think that would be a very nice present, do you?"
"Well, not for Christmas, anyway," whispered Mrs. "Judge."
"There's Nathaniel, he always wants to go somewhere. Father says that if
we lived in Beersheba Nathaniel would want to move into Dan, and when he
got into Dan he'd be sure to start the next day for Beersheba. He needs
a good deal of watching, mother says. Samuel, Elizabeth, Helen, Henry,
and Miriam have all got watches; but you see we can't all have them at
once.
"Now, just look at Elizabeth. You'd think we all belonged to her,
wouldn't you? She wants to _run_ everything. And then she runs so much
that mother says she runs down. But father says she needs experience,
and then everything will come out all right. If you could bring her that
ripe experience that I've heard folks talk about, I think it would make
father and mother feel real pleased.
"Herbert needs backbone. I felt of his back the other day, and I didn't
see but that he had just as much bone in it as the rest of the children,
but father says not. Mother says you can twist him around your little
finger. That would be a queer sight, wouldn't it? Herbert is always
talking about a good time. That's the thing he wants. Could you bring
something of that sort to him?"
"Well, my child," answered the Judge, "I am thinking about bringing a
good time to every one of you. It's such a pleasure to see the old house
full of children that I should like to do anything in the world possible
to make them happy." When this was said Mrs. "Judge" beamed an approval,
and seemed very happy herself. "But you haven't told us what to give the
baby."
"Dear me, why that's the best of all! But everybody knows what the baby
ought to have. I've been a-looking to see if you've brought it along
with you. When folks come to see the baby they smile and trot him on the
knee and kiss him, and then say, 'I'm so glad you named him for the
Judge. He was a good, great man. May his mantle fall upon his namesake.'
And then they kiss him again and go away. It's your mantle that we
expect you to give the baby. But you didn't bring it with you, and I'm
so sorry. And it isn't in the picture either. For I've looked there a
great many times. I thought maybe it was left in the house, but we never
hear anything about it. Now you're right here with the baby I thought if
you only had it you might give it to him at once. Could you send it to
him? It must be something very fine. Even father talks about it." A tear
stole down the cheek of the Judge. It was chased by another and a third.
He seemed deeply moved. For the Judge was human like the rest of folks,
even if he did stay a hundred years in a picture. And who does not like
to be remembered with such loving words and beautiful praises? Can one
help feeling kindly and grateful? The Judge's voice choked with emotion
as he replied to the noble sentiments of the child. It was very hard for
him to express himself.
"My little Ruth," he stooped and looked down into her face with wondrous
and pathetic tenderness, "you have done me more good than all that I can
do for you. These very words that you have just spoken are more precious
to me than all the money in the world."
"Why, you don't mean it, do you?" interrupted the child. "I was saying
what everybody says. I don't know how many times I've heard father say
that your memory was a--a--a benediction, that's the word. A very big
word for such a little girl as I am; but, dear me! I've heard folks use
it so many times about you that I can speak it all right. It must be
something very good. Why, of course, that's what they call the end of
church service. I think it's the very best part of going to meeting. I
always feel so happy when they come to the benediction. I think
everybody else does too. And now about the mantle. Will you send it to
the baby?"
"Why, Ruth, I think it must be pretty nearly worn out. Only what you say
about it, and what you say others say, makes me think that perhaps it
might be worth saving, so that I could give it to the baby if folks
think best. I'll look it up and talk with my wife, and perhaps I'll give
it to the dear little fellow. I wish it were a better mantle, however.
I'd like to see him wear one more worthy than mine."
"Don't you think it's time to call the children?" said Ruth.
"Send Turk," replied the Judge, with that same funny twinkle in his eye.
So Ruth took the dog, and ran up-stairs and down-stairs and in the
lady's chamber, and wakened the children, telling them to hurry right
down to the party.
[Illustration]
They didn't have time to dress much. The boys all put on their trousers
and stockings and slippers, and then they wrapped around them whatever
was most handy. Samuel wore his father's loud, red, double gown. Henry
pulled on a canvas shooting-jacket. Herbert did himself up in a rose
blanket. George had on an afghan. Nathaniel brought with him a
crazy-quilt. William got into his mother's golf-cape.
The girls were a little more particular. They put on all their clothes
except dresses. Then they wound sheets about themselves, and tied their
heads up in pillow-cases. When the boys tumbled down-stairs they looked
like a lot of escaped lunatics. When the girls came pushing into the
parlor they made one think of ghosts.
The first thing was a walk around headed by Turk and the black cat. You
couldn't fancy a more startling procession.
Then they played games, and sang songs, and told riddles, and looked for
a needle in a haystack, and turned the house upside down and inside out.
The great event of the party was the supper. Mrs. "Judge" had told the
man in the moon what she wished for the occasion, and while the children
were rollicking in the east parlor the clock sounded out the alarm for
the feast.
The Judge carried his namesake on the left arm, while his wife leaned
upon his right. Ruth still kept hold of the lady's hand. The rest of
the company followed in a good deal of disorder, for they were all
curious to see what sort of a supper would be given them.
When they came into the west parlor or dining-room they saw a long
table, but there was nothing on it. The children looked at each other
and at the Judge and his wife in blank amazement. They expected to sit
down to a table laden with all the goodies of the land. But there wasn't
even a table-cloth before them.
The Judge took the head of the table, and his wife sat at the foot with
Ruth. The baby was put in a clothes-basket, and sat on my lady's
work-table by the side of the Judge. The other children took the places
that were most convenient to them.
"Where's the feed?" exclaimed Ruth.
"The what?" replied Mrs. "Judge" curiously.
"Why, the things you were going to give us to eat." Just then "Dublin,"
the linen closet, came meandering into the room, made a bow, and emptied
out a long, white, snowdrop tablecloth.
"Why, it must be that we're to set the table ourselves," cried Ruth, as
she started to undo the cloth and shove it along.
"Here you give that to me, will you?" said Samuel, with a tone of
authority any commanding officer in the army or navy might envy. Then he
took one end of it, and Elizabeth the other, and they spread it
carefully over the table.