rose made phebe promise that she would bring her stocking intothe "bower," as she called her pretty room, on christmas morning,because that first delicious rummage loses half its charm if twolittle night-caps at least do not meet over the treasures, and twohappy voices oh and ah together.
so when rose opened her eyes that day they fell upon faithfulphebe, rolled up in a shawl, sitting on the rug before a blazing fire,with her untouched stocking laid beside her.
"merry christmas!" cried the little mistress smiling gaily.
"merry christmas!" answered the little maid, so heartily that it didone good to hear her.
"bring the stockings right away, phebe, and let's see what we'vegot," said rose, sitting up among the pillows, and looking as eageras a child.
a pair of long knobby hose were laid out upon the coverlet, andtheir contents examined with delight, though each knew everyblessed thing that had been put into the other's stocking.
never mind what they were; it is evident that they were quitesatisfactory, for as rose leaned back, she said, with a luxurioussigh of satisfaction, "now, i believe i've got everything in theworld that i want," and phebe answered, smiling over a lapful oftreasures, "this is the most splendid christmas i ever had since iwas born." then she added with an important air"do wish for something else, because i happen to know of twomore presents outside the door this minute.""oh, me, what richness!" cried rose, much excited. "i used to wishfor a pair of glass slippers like cinderella's, but as i can't havethem, i really don't know what to ask for."phebe clapped her hands as she skipped off the bed and ran to thedoor, saying merrily, "one of them is for your feet, anyway. i don'tknow what you'll say to the other, but i think it's elegant."so did rose, when a shining pair of skates and a fine sledappeared.
"uncle sent those; i know he did; and, now i see them, i rememberthat i did want to skate and coast. isn't it a beauty? see! they fitnicely," and, sitting on the new sled, rose tried a skate on her littlebare foot, while phebe stood by admiring the pretty tableau.
"now we must hurry and get dressed, for there is a deal to doto-day, and i want to get through in time to try my sled beforedinner.""gracious me, and i ought to be dusting my parlors this blessedminute!" and mistress and maid separated with such happy facesthat anyone would have known what day it was without being told.
"birnam wood has come to dunsinane, rosy," said dr. alec, as heleft the breakfast table to open the door for a procession of holly,hemlock, and cedar boughs that came marching up the steps.
snowballs and "merry christmases!" flew about pretty briskly forseveral minutes; then all fell to work trimming the old house, forthe family always dined together there on that day.
"i rode miles and mileses, as ben says, to get this fine bit, and i'mgoing to hang it there as the last touch to the rig-a-madooning,"said charlie, as he fastened a dull green branch to the chandelier inthe front parlor.
"it isn't very pretty," said rose, who was trimming thechimney-piece with glossy holly sprays.
"never mind that, it's mistletoe, and anyone who stands under itwill get kissed whether they like it or not. now's your time, ladies,"answered the saucy prince, keeping his place and lookingsentimentally at the girls, who retired precipitately from thedangerous spot.
"you won't catch me," said rose, with great dignity.
"see if i don't!""i've got my eye on phebe," observed will, in a patronising tonethat made them all laugh.
"bless the dear; i shan't mind it a bit," answered phebe, with such amaternal air that will's budding gallantry was chilled to death.
"oh, the mistletoe bough," sang rose.
"oh, the mistletoe bough!" echoed all the boys, and the teasingended in the plaintive ballad they all liked so well.
there was plenty of time to try the new skates before dinner, andthen rose took her first lesson on the little bay, which seemed tohave frozen over for that express purpose. she found tumblingdown and getting up again warm work for a time, but with six boysto teach her, she managed at last to stand alone; and, satisfied withthat success, she refreshed herself with a dozen grand coasts on theamazon, as her sled was called.
"ah, that fatal colour! it breaks my heart to see it," croaked auntmyra, as rose came down a little late, with cheeks almost as ruddyas the holly berries on the wall, and every curl as smooth asphebe's careful hands could make it.
"i'm glad to see that alec allows the poor child to make herselfpretty in spite of his absurd notions," added aunt clara, takinginfinite satisfaction in the fact that rose's blue silk dress had threefrills on it.
"she's a very intelligent child, and has a nice little manner of herown," observed aunt jane, with unusual affability; for rose hadjust handed mac a screen to guard his eyes from the brilliant fire.
"if i had a daughter like that to show my jem when he gets home, ishould be a very proud and happy woman," thought aunt jessie,and then reproached herself for not being perfectly satisfied withher four brave lads.
aunt plenty was too absorbed in the dinner to have an eye foranything else; if she had not been, she would have seen what aneffect her new cap produced upon the boys. the good lady ownedthat she did "love a dressy cap," and on this occasion her head gearwas magnificent; for the towering structure of lace was adornedwith buff ribbons to such an extent that it looked as if a flock ofyellow butterflies had settled on her dear old head. when shetrotted about the rooms the ruches quivered, the little bows allstood erect, and the streamers waved in the breeze so comicallythat it was absolutely necessary for archie to smother the brats inthe curtains till they had had their first laugh out.
uncle mac had brought fun see to dinner, and it was a mercy hedid, for the elder lads found a vent for their merriment in jokingthe young chinaman on his improved appearance. he was inamerican costume now, with a cropped head, and spokeremarkably good english after six months at school; but, for allthat, his yellow face and beady eyes made a curious contrast to theblonde campbells all about him. will called him the "typhoon,"meaning tycoon, and the name stuck to him to his great disgust.
aunt peace was brought down and set in the chair of state at table,for she never failed to join the family on this day, and sat smilingat them all, "like an embodiment of peace on earth," uncle alecsaid, as he took his place beside her, while uncle mac supportedaunt plenty at the other end.
"i ate hardly any breakfast, and i've done everything i know tomake myself extra hungry, but i really don't think i can eat straightthrough, unless i burst my buttons off," whispered geordie to will,as he surveyed the bounteous stores before him with a hopelesssigh.
"a fellow never knows what he can do till he tries," answeredwill, attacking his heaped-up plate with an evident intention ofdoing his duty like a man.
everybody knows what a christmas dinner is, so we need waste nowords in describing this one, but hasten at once to tell whathappened at the end of it. the end, by the way, was so long incoming that the gas was lighted before dessert was over, for asnow flurry had come on and the wintry daylight faded fast. butthat only made it all the jollier in the warm, bright rooms, full ofhappy souls. everyone was very merry, but archie seemedparticularly uplifted so much so, that charlie confided to rose thathe was afraid the chief had been at the decanters.
rose indignantly denied the insinuation, for when healths weredrunk in the good old-fashioned way to suit the elders, she hadobserved that aunt jessie's boys filled their glasses with water, andhad done the same herself in spite of the prince's jokes about "therosy."but archie certainly was unusually excited, and when someoneremembered that it was the anniversary of uncle jem's wedding,and wished he was there to make a speech, his son electrified thefamily by trying to do it for him. it was rather incoherent andflowery, as maiden speeches are apt to be, but the end wasconsidered superb; for, turning to his mother with a queer littlechoke in his voice, he said that she "deserved to be blessed withpeace and plenty, to be crowned with roses and lads'-love, and toreceive the cargo of happiness sailing home to her in spite of windor tide to add another jem to the family jewels."that allusion to the captain, now on his return trip, made mrs.
jessie sob in her napkin, and set the boys cheering. then, as if thatwas not sensation enough, archie suddenly dashed out of theroom, as if he had lost his wits.
"too bashful to stay and be praised," began charlie, excusing thepeculiarities of his chief as in duty bound.
"phebe beckoned to him; i saw her," cried rose, staring hard at thedoor.
"is it more presents coming?" asked jamie, just as his brotherre-appeared, looking more excited than ever.
"yes; a present for mother, and here it is!" roared archie, flingingwide the door to let in a tall man, who cried out"where's my little woman? the first kiss for her, then the rest maycome on as fast as they like."before the words were out of his mouth, mrs. jessie washalf-hidden under his rough great-coat, and four boys wereprancing about him clamouring for their turn.
of course, there was a joyful tumult for a time, during which roseslipped into the window recess and watched what went on, as if itwere a chapter in a christmas story. it was good to see bluff unclejem look proudly at his tall son, and fondly hug the little ones. itwas better still to see him shake his brothers' hands as if he wouldnever leave off, and kiss all the sisters in a way that made evensolemn aunt myra brighten up for a minute. but it was best of allto see him finally established in grandfather's chair, with his "littlewoman" beside him, his three youngest boys in his lap, and archiehovering over him like a large-sized cherub. that really was, ascharlie said, "a landscape to do one's heart good.""all hearty and all here, thank god!" said captain jem in the firstpause that came, as he looked about him with a grateful face.
"all but rose," answered loyal little jamie, remembering theabsent.
"faith, i forgot the child! where is george's little girl?" asked thecaptain, who had not seen her since she was a baby.
"you'd better say alec's great girl," said uncle mac, who professedto be madly jealous of his brother.
"here i am, sir," and rose appeared from behind the curtains,looking as if she had rather have stayed there.
"saint george germain, how the mite has grown!" cried captainjem, as he tumbled the boys out of his lap, and rose to greet thetall girl, like a gentleman as he was. but, somehow, when he shookher hand it looked so small in his big one, and her face remindedhim so strongly of his dead brother, that he was not satisfied withso cold a welcome, and with a sudden softening of the keen eyeshe took her up in his arms, whispering, with a rough cheek againsther smooth one"god bless you, child! forgive me if i forgot you for a minute, andbe sure that not one of your kinsfolk is happier to see you here thanuncle jem."that made it all right; and when he set her down, rose's face wasso bright it was evident that some spell had been used to banish thefeeling of neglect that had kept her moping behind the curtain solong.
that everyone sat round and heard all about the voyage home howthe captain had set his heart on getting there in time to keepchristmas; how everything had conspired to thwart his plan; andhow, at the very last minute, he had managed to do it, and had senta telegram to archie, bidding him keep the secret, and be ready forhis father at any moment, for the ship got into another port, and hemight be late.
then archie told how that telegram had burnt in his pocket alldinner-time; how he had to take phebe into his confidence, andhow clever she was to keep the captain back till the speech wasover and he could come in with effect.
the elders would have sat and talked all the evening, but theyoung folks were bent on having their usual christmas frolic; so,after an hour of pleasant chat, they began to get restless, andhaving consulted together in dumb show, they devised a way tovery effectually break up the family council.
steve vanished, and, sooner than the boys imagined dandy couldget himself up, the skirl of the bag-pipe was heard in the hall, andthe bonny piper came to lead clan campbell to the revel.
"draw it mild, stenie, my man; ye play unco weel, but ye mak amost infernal din," cried uncle jem, with his hands over his ears,for this accomplishment was new to him, and "took him all aback,"as he expressed it.
so steve droned out a highland reel as softly as he could, and theboys danced it to a circle of admiring relations. captain jem was atrue sailor, however, and could not stand idle while anything livelywas going on; so, when the piper's breath gave out, he cut asplendid pigeon-wing into the middle of the hall, saying, "who candance a fore and after?" and, waiting for no reply, began towhistle the air so invitingly that mrs jessie "set" to him laughinglike a girl; rose and charlie took their places behind, and awaywent the four with a spirit and skill that inspired all the rest to "cutin" as fast as they could.
that was a grand beginning, and they had many another dancebefore anyone would own they were tired. even fun seedistinguished himself with aunt plenty, whom he greatly admiredas the stoutest lady in the company; plumpness being considered abeauty in his country. the merry old soul professed herselfimmensely flattered by his admiration, and the boys declared she"set her cap at him," else he would never have dared to catch herunder the mistletoe, and, rising on the tips of his own toes,gallantly salute her fat cheek.
how they all laughed at her astonishment, and how fun's littleblack eyes twinkled over this exploit! charlie put him up to it, andcharlie was so bent on catching rose, that he laid all sorts ofpitfalls for her, and bribed the other lads to help him. but rosewas wide-awake, and escaped all his snares, professing greatcontempt for such foolish customs. poor phebe did not fare sowell, and archie was the only one who took a base advantage ofher as she stood innocently offering tea to aunt myra, whom shehappened to meet just under the fatal bough. if his father's arrivalhad not rather upset him, i doubt if the dignified chief would havedone it, for he apologized at once in the handsomest manner, andcaught the tray that nearly dropped from phebe's hands.
jamie boldly invited all the ladies to come and salute him; and asfor uncle jem, he behaved as if the entire room was a grove ofmistletoe. uncle alec slyly laid a bit of it on aunt peace's cap, andthen softly kissed her; which little joke seemed to please her verymuch, for she liked to have part in all the home pastimes, and alecwas her favourite nephew.
charlie alone failed to catch his shy bird, and the oftener sheescaped the more determined he was to ensnare her. when everyother wile had been tried in vain, he got archie to propose a gamewith forfeits.
"i understand that dodge," thought rose, and was on her guard socarefully that not one among the pile soon collected belonged toher.
"now let us redeem them and play something else," said will,quite unconscious of the deeply-laid plots all about him.
"one more round and then we will," answered the prince, who hadnow baited his trap anew.
just as the question came to rose, jamie's voice was heard in thehall, crying distressfully, "oh, come quick, quick!" rose startedup, missed the question, and was greeted with a general cry of"forfeit! forfeit!" in which the little traitor came to join.
"now i've got her," thought the young rascal, exulting in hisfun-loving soul.
"now i'm lost," thought rose, as she gave up her pin-cushion witha sternly defiant look that would have daunted anyone but thereckless prince. in fact, it made even him think twice, and resolveto "let rose off easy,'' she had been so clever.
"here's a very pretty pawn, and what shall be done to redeem it?"asked steve, holding the pin-cushion over charlie's head, for hehad insisted on being judge, and kept that for the last.
"fine or superfine?""super.""hum, well, she shall take old mac under the mistletoe, and kisshim prettily. won't he be mad, though?" and this bad boy chuckledover the discomfort he had caused two harmless beings.
there was an impressive pause among the young folks in theircorner, for they all knew that mac would "be mad," since he hatednonsense of this sort, and had gone to talk with the elders when thegame began. at this moment he was standing before the fire,listening to a discussion between his uncles and his father, lookingas wise as a young owl, and blissfully unconscious of the plotsagainst him.
charlie expected that rose would say, "i won't!" therefore he wasrather astonished, not to say gratified, when, after a look at thevictim, she laughed suddenly, and, going up to the group ofgentlemen, drew her uncle mac under the mistletoe and surprisedhim with a hearty kiss.
"thank you, my dear," said the innocent gentleman, looking muchpleased at the unexpected honour.
"oh, come; that's not fair," began charlie. but rose cut him shortby saying, as she made him a fine courtesy"you said 'old mac,' and though it was very disrespectful, i did it.
that was your last chance, sir, and you've lost it."he certainly had, for, as he spoke, rose pulled down the mistletoeand threw it into the fire, while the boys jeered at the crestfallenprince, and exalted quick-witted rose to the skies.
"what's the joke?" asked young mac, waked out of a brown studyby the laughter, in which the elders joined.
but there was a regular shout when, the matter having beenexplained to him, mac took a meditative stare at rose through hisgoggles, and said in a philosophical tone, "well, i don't think ishould have minded much if she had done it."that tickled the lads immensely, and nothing but the appearance ofa slight refection would have induced them to stop chaffing thepoor worm, who could not see anything funny in the beautifulresignation he had shown on this trying occasion.
soon after this, the discovery of jamie curled up in the sofa corner,as sound asleep as a dormouse, suggested the propriety of goinghome, and a general move was made.
they were all standing about the hall lingering over thegood-nights, when the sound of a voice softly singing "sweethome," made them pause and listen. it was phebe, poor littlephebe, who never had a home, never knew the love of father ormother, brother or sister; who stood all alone in the wide world,yet was not sad nor afraid, but took her bits of happinessgratefully, and sung over her work without a thought of discontent.
i fancy the happy family standing there together remembered thisand felt the beauty of it, for when the solitary voice came to theburden of its song, other voices took it up and finished it sosweetly, that the old house seemed to echo the word "home" in theears of both the orphan girls, who had just spent their firstchristmas under its hospitable roof.
