Chapter VI. Surprises

fair.Jackbeamedoverthehandsomepostage-stampbookwhichhadlongbeenthedesireofhisheart,andJillfeltlikeamillionaire,withasilverfruit-knife,aprettywork-basket,andoh!—coalsoffireonherhead!—aringfromJack. Asimplelittlethingenough,withonetinyturquoiseforget-me-not,butsomethinglikeadew-dropfellonitwhennoonewaslooking,andshelongedtosay,“I'msorryIwascrossforgiveme,Jack.”Butitcouldnotbedonethen,sosheturnedtoadmireMerry'sbed-shoes,thepotsofpansies,hyacinths,andgeraniumwhichGusandhissisterssentforherwindowgarden,Molly'squeerChristmaspie,andthezitherEdpromisedtoteachherhowtoplayupon. Thetreewassoonstripped,andpop-cornsstrewedthefloorasthechildrenstoodaboutpickingthemofftheredthreadswhencandygaveout,withanoccasionalcranberrybywayofrelish.Booinsistedontryingthenewsledatonce,andenlivenedthetripbythesqueakingofthespotteddog,thetootofatintrumpet,andshoutsofjoyatthesplendoroftheturn-out. Thegirlsallputontheirnecklaces,anddancedaboutlikefineladiesataball.Theboysfelltocomparingskates,balls,andcuff-buttonsonthespot,whilethelittleonesdevotedalltheirenergiestoeatingeverythingeatabletheycouldlaytheirhandson. Gameswereplayedtillnineo'clock,andthenthepartybrokeup,aftertheyhadtakenhandsroundthetreeandsungasongwrittenbyonewhomyouallknow,—sofaithfullyandbeautifullydoessheloveandlaborforchildrentheworldover. THEBLESSEDDAY “Whatshalllittlechildrenbring OnChristmasDay,onChristmasDay? Whatshalllittlechildrenbring OnChristmasDayinthemorning? Thisshalllittlechildrenbring OnChristmasDay,onChristmasDay LoveandjoytoChristtheirking, OnChristmasDayinthemorning! “Whatshalllittlechildrensing OnChristmasDay,onChristmasDay? Whatshalllittlechildrensing OnChristmasDayinthemorning? Thegrandoldcarolsshalltheysing OnChristmasDay,onChristmasDay Withalltheirhearts,theirofferingsbring OnChristmasDayinthemorning.” Jackwascarriedofftobedinsuchhastethathehadonlytimetocallout,“Good-night!”beforehewasrolledaway,gapingashewent.Jillsoonfoundherselftuckedupinthegreatwhitebedshewastosharewithhermother,andlaylookingaboutthepleasantchamber,whileMrs.Pecqranhomeforaminutetoseethatallwassafethereforthenight. Afterthemerrydinthehouseseemedverystill,withonlyalightstepnowandthen,themurmurofvoicesnotfaraway,orthejingleofsleigh-bellsfromwithout,andthelittlegirlrestedeasilyamongthepillows,thinkingoverthepleasuresoftheday,toowide-awakeforsleep.Therewasnolampinthechamber,butshecouldlookintotheprettyBirdRoom,wherethefire-lightstillshoneonflowerywalls,desertedtree,andChrist-childfloatingabovethegreen.Jill'seyeswanderedthereandlingeredtilltheywerefullofregretfultears,becausethesightofthelittleangelrecalledthewordsspokenwhenitwashungup,thegoodresolutionshehadtakenthen,andhowsoonitwasbroken. “IsaidIcouldn'tbebadinthatlovelyplace,andIwasacross,ungratefulgirlafterallthey'vedoneforMammyandme.PoorJackwashurttheworst,andhewasbrave,thoughhedidscream.IwishIcouldgoandtellhimso,andhearhimsay,'Allright.'Oh,me,I'vespoiledtheday!” Agreatsobchokedmorewords,andJillwasabouttohaveacomfortablecry,whensomeoneenteredtheotherroom,andshesawFrankdoingsomethingwithalongcordandathingthatlookedlikeatinydrum.Quietasabright-eyedmouse,Jillpeepedoutwonderingwhatitwas,andsuspectingmischief,fortheboywaslaughingtohimselfashestretchedthecord,andnowandthenbentoverthelittleobjectinhishand,touchingitwithgreatcare. “Maybeit'satorpedotoblowupandscaremeJacklikestoplaytricks.Well,I'llscreamloudwhenitgoesoff,sohewillbesatisfiedthatI'mdreadfullyfrightened,”thoughtJill,littledreamingwhatthelastsurpriseofthedaywastobe. Presentlyavoicewhispered,— “Isay!Areyouawake?” “Yes.” “Anyonetherebutyou?” “No.” “Catchthis,then.Holdittoyourearandseewhatyou'llget.” Thelittledrumcameflyingin,and,catchingit,Jill,withsomehesitation,obeyedFrank'sorder.Judgeofheramazementwhenshecaughtinbrokenwhispersthesetouchingwords:— “SorryIwascross.Forgiveandforget.Startfairto-morrow.Allright.Jack.” Jillwassodelightedwiththishandsomeapology,thatshecouldnotreplyforamoment,thensteadiedhervoice,andansweredbackinhersweetesttone,— “I'msorry,too.Never,never,willagain.Feelmuchbetternow.Good-night,youdearoldthing.” Satisfiedwiththesuccessofhistelephone,Franktwitchedbackthedrumandvanished,leavingJilltolayhercheekuponthehandthatworethelittleringandfallasleep,sayingtoherself,withafarewellglanceatthechildren'ssaint,dimlyseeninthesoftgloom,“Iwillnotforget.Iwillbegood!”