Part 12

“‘Grandfather, it’s coming!’

“He was dressed just after the fashion of the old Squire, only with delicate white stockings and black velvet small-clothes; while his long-flapped waistcoat was gaily flowered, and his shoes had crimson rosettes. And almost as he spoke, a side-door opened and my lady glided in, her dress rustling softly as she came; while the wind rushed in after her, and tossed and waved the feathers in her tall headdress.

“Then was heard a distant murmur of shouts and laughter, and young Edric clapped his hands and then stood still to listen; and presently the whole troop of servants poured into the hall from that same door at the lower end. All were dressed in the best and gayest clothes they had,—the women wore ivy wreaths, and the men carried sprigs of holly at their buttonholes. First came a number bearing torches; then many others rolling and pulling and pushing the great log, on which one of the men, whimsically dressed, was endeavouring to keep his seat; while every other man, woman, and child about the place, crowded in after.

“Then the log was rolled into the great fire-place, and duly lighted; and everybody clapped hands and rejoiced in its red glow, and Master Edric shouted as loud as the rest.

“‘Edric,’ said my lady when the hall was quiet once more, though not empty, for all the household were to spend Christmas eve there together,—‘Edric, go take a partner and dance us a minuet.’

“And Edric walked round the hall till he came to little May Underwood, the forester’s daughter; and then bringing the white stockings and the crimson rosettes close side by side together, and making her a low bow, he took her hand and led her out upon the floor.

“The Yule Clog was in a full blaze now, and the clear light shone from end to end of the hall; falling upon the bright floor and the long row of servants and retainers that were ranged around, and glossily reflected from the sharp holly leaves and its bright red berries. The old portraits did not light up much, and looked very near as gloomy as ever; but a full halo of the fireshine was about the Squire’s chair, and upon my lady as she stood beside him. Two or three of the serving-men played a strange old tune upon as strange old instruments; and the forester now and then threw in a few wild notes of his bugle, that sounded through the house and aroused all the echoes: but the wind sighed outside still.

“And all this while the little dancers were going through the slow, graceful steps of their pretty dance; with the most respectful bows and courtesies, the most ceremonious presenting of hands and acceptance of the same, the most graceful and complicated turns and bends; till at last when the music suddenly struck into a quick measure, Edric presented his right hand to little May, and they danced gayly forward to where my lady stood near the Squire, and made their low reverence—first to her and then to each other. Then Edric led his little partner back to her seat and returned to his grandmother. For my lady was his grandmother, and he had no parents.

“As the Yule Clog snapped and crackled and blazed higher and higher, even so did the mirth of all in the great hall. They talked and laughed and sang and played games, and not an echo in the house could get leave to be silent.

“All of a sudden, in the midst of the fun, a little boy dressed like Robin Redbreast in a dark coat and bright red waistcoat, opened one of the hall doors; and just showing himself for a moment, he flung the door clear back and an old man entered. His hair was perfectly white, and so was his beard, which reached down to his waist. On his head was a crown of yew and ivy, and in his hand a long staff topped with holly berries; his dress was a long brown robe which fell down about his feet, and on it were sewed little spots of white cloth to represent snow. He made a low bow to the Squire and my lady, and when Robin Redbreast had discreetly closed the door so far that but a little wind could come in, he began to sing in a queer little cracked voice,—

“Oh! here come I, old Father Christmas, welcome or not, “I hope old Father Christmas will never be forgot. “Make room, room, I say, “That I may lead Mince Pye this way. “Walk in Mince Pye, and act thy part, “And show the gentles thy valiant heart.’

“With that Robin opened the door again and another figure came in, dressed like a woman in a dark purple gown bordered with light brownish yellow. A large apple was fastened on top of her head, and she wore bunches of raisins at her ears instead of ear-rings; while her necklace was of large pieces of citron strung together, and her bracelets of cloves and allspice and cinnamon. In her hand she carried a large wooden sword.”

“What was that for?” said Carl, who had listened with the most intense interest.

“Why to fight off the people that wanted to make her up into real mince pie, I suppose,” said the stocking. “She came into the room singing,—

“Room, room, you gallant souls, give me room to rhyme, “I will show you some festivity this Christmas time. “Bring me the man that bids me stand, “Who says he’ll cut me down with an audacious hand; “I’ll cut him and hew him as small as a fly, “And see what he’ll do then to make his mince pye. “Walk in, St. George.’

“Oh! in come I St. George, the man of courage bold. “With my sword and buckler I have won three crowns of gold; “I fought the fiery Dragon, and brought him to the slaughter, “I saved a beauteous Queen and a King of England’s daughter. “If thy mind is high, my mind is bold; “If thy blood is hot, I will make it cold.’”

“What did he want to do that for?” said Carl.

“O in the days when St. George lived,” replied the stocking, “the more men a man had killed the more people thought of him; and this man was trying to make himself like St. George. He had a great pasteboard helmet on his head, with a long peacock’s feather streaming from the top of it, and a wooden sword, and a tin-covered shield on which were nailed clusters of holly berries in the figure of a cross. His shoes were of wood too, and his jacket and small-clothes of buckskin, with sprigs of yew fastened down all the seams, and great knots of red and green ribbons at the knees. As soon as he had sung his song he began the fight with Mince Pye, and a dreadful fight it was, if one might judge by the noise; also Mince Pye’s sword became quite red with the holly berries. But St. George let his shield take all the blows, and when Mince Pye had spent her strength upon it, he thrust at her with his sword and down she came.”

“Who? Mince Pye?” said Carl. “Oh that’s too bad!”

“Mince Pye thought so too,” said the stocking, “for she cried out,—

“Oh! St. George, spare my life”—

“Then said old Father Christmas,—

“Is no Doctor to be found “To cure Mince Pye, who is bleeding on the ground?”

“Was there any?” said Carl.

“There was somebody who called himself one. He came running right into the hall the minute old Father Christmas called for him, and you never saw such a queer little figure. He had an old black robe, and a black cap on his head, and a black patch over one eye.”

“What was that for?” said Carl.

“He had been curing himself, I suppose,” said the stocking. “And it would seem that he wasn’t satisfied with any of his features, for he had put on a long pasteboard nose painted red, and a pointed pasteboard chin. In his hand he carried a great basket of bottles. If one might believe his own account, he was a doctor worth having:—

“Oh! yes, there is a doctor to be found “To cure Mince Pye, who is bleeding on the ground. “I cure the sick of every pain, “And none of them are ever sick again.”

“Father Christmas thought it must cost a good deal to be cured after that fashion, so like a prudent man he said,—

“Doctor, what is thy fee?”

“And the Doctor probably didn’t like to be questioned, for he answered,—

“Ten pounds is my fee; “But fifteen I must take of thee “Before I set this gallant free.”

“But as it was necessary that Mince Pye should be cured, Father Christmas only said,—

“Work thy will, Doctor.”

“Then the Doctor took a bottle out of his basket, and began to dance and sing round Mince Pye,—

“I have a little bottle by my side, “The fame of which spreads far and wide; “Drop a drop on this poor man’s nose.”

“And with that Mince Pye jumped up as well as ever.”

“But that wasn’t all?” said Carl. “What else?”

“That was not quite all,” said the stocking, “for another man came in, with a great basket of dolls at his back and a tall red cap on his head. And he sang, too,—

“‘Oh! in come I, little saucy Jack, “With all my family at my back; “Christmas comes but once a-year, “And when it does it brings good cheer, “Roast beef, plum pudding, and Mince Pye— “Who likes that any better than I? “Christmas makes us dance and sing; “Money in the purse is a very fine thing. “Ladies and gentlemen, give us what you please.’

“Then Squire Darlington and my lady each took out some money, and Edric carried it to the masquers, and as he hadn’t any money himself he told them that he was very much obliged to them; then they went off.”

“What did they give them money for?” said Carl.

“O they expected it—that was what they came for. People used to go about in that way to the rich houses at Christmas time, to get a little money by amusing the gentlefolks.”

“I s’pose they were very much amused,” said Carl with a little sigh.

“Very much—especially Edric. And after they were gone he came and stood before the great fire and thought it all over, smiling to himself with pleasure.

“‘Edric,’ said my lady, ‘it is time for you to go to bed.’

“‘Yes grandmother—but I’m afraid I can’t go to sleep.’

“‘Why not?’ said Squire Darlington. ‘What are you smiling at?’

“‘O we’ve had such a splendid time, grandfather!—the people were dressed so finely—and didn’t Mince Pye fight well? and wasn’t the Doctor queer! And I’m sure my stocking will be as full as _anything_.’

“Squire Darlington drew the boy towards him, and seated him on his knee while he spoke thus; and passing his hand caressingly over the young joyous head, and smoothing down the brown hair that was parted—child fashion—over the middle of the forehead, and came curling down upon the lace frill, he looked into Edric’s face with a world of pleasure and sympathy.

“‘And so you’ve enjoyed the evening, dear boy?’ he said.

“‘O yes! grandfather—so much! I’m sure Christmas is the very happiest time of the whole year!’

“Squire Darlington stroked down the hair again, and looked in the bright eyes, but with something of wistfulness now; and without stirring his hand from the boy’s head, his look went towards the fire.

“The Yule Clog was blazing there steadily, although it now shewed a great front of glowing coals that yet had not fallen from their place. A clear red heat was all that part of the log, and hardly to be distinguished from the bed of coals below; while bright points of flame curled and danced and ran scampering up the chimney, as if they were playing Christmas games. But each end of the log yet held out against the fire, and had not even lost its native brown.

“The Squire looked there with an earnest gaze that was not daunted by the glowing light; but his brows were slightly raised, and though the caressing movement of his hand was repeated, it seemed now to keep time to sorrowful music; and his lips had met on that boundary line between smiles and tears. Presently a little hand was laid against his cheek, and a little lace ruffle brushed lightly over its furrows.

“‘Grandfather, what’s the matter? What makes you look grave?’

“The Squire looked at him, and taking the hand in his own patted it softly against his face.

“‘The matter? my dear,’ he said. ‘Why the matter is that Christmas has come and gone a great many times.’

“‘But that’s good, grandfather,’ said Edric, clapping his hands together. ‘Just think! there’ll be another Christmas in a year, only a year, and we had one only a year ago—and such a nice time!’

“‘Only a year’—repeated the old man slowly. ‘No Edric, it is only sixty years.’

“‘What do you mean, grandfather?’ said the boy softly.

“‘Sixty years ago, my dear,’ said Squire Darlington, ‘there was just such a Yule Clog as that burning in this very fire-place. And the windows, and picture frames—there were not quite so many then—were trimmed with holly berries and yew from the same trees from which these wreaths have come to-day. And this old chair stood here, and everything in this old hall looked just as it does now.’

“‘Well, grandfather?’ said Edric catching his breath a little,—and the wind gave one of its lone sighs through the keyhole.

“‘Well my dear—Instead of one dear little couple on the floor’—and the old man drew the boy closer to him—‘there were six,—as merry-eyed and light-footed little beings as ever trod this green earth. At the head I stood with your grandmother, Edric—a dear little thing she was!’ said Squire Darlington with a kindly look towards my lady, whose eyes were cast down now for a wonder, and her lips trembling a little. ‘Her two brothers and my two, and the orphan boy that we loved like a brother; his sister, and my four little sisters—precious children! that they were—made up the rest. Light feet, and soft voices, and sweet laughter—they went through this old hall like a troop of fairies, I was going to say,—more like a ray of pure human happiness.

“‘My father sat here, and my mother opposite—her picture watches the very spot now; and of these good friends at the other end of the hall—Ay! old Cuthbert remembers it—there were two or three; but many others that bore their names.

“‘My child—that is sixty years ago.’

“‘And where are they now, grandfather?’ said Edric under his breath.

“‘In heaven—the most of them,’ said the old man solemnly. ‘But one couple remains of the six.—Of those other dear children not one is left—and not one but gave good hope in his death that he was going to be with Jesus. They remember yet that he came to earth, but they sing another song from ours—their hearts swell with a different joy. We shall know, one day—if we are faithful. They are exceeding fair to my remembrance,—they are fairer now in reality.’

“The old Squire was silent for a few minutes, with his eyes turned again towards the fire, while Edric looked up at the sweet portrait to which his grandfather had referred, and wondered how it was that those eyes always met his. Then Squire Darlington spoke again, and with a different manner.

“‘Everybody that has money makes Christmas a time of feasting and rejoicing, Edric,’ he said. ‘What does Christmas day celebrate?’

“‘The birth of Christ,’ said Edric gravely.

“‘Yes’—said Squire Darlington. ‘The birth of Christ. ‘Who though he was rich, yet for our sakes became poor; that we through his poverty might be made rich.’ There is a motto for Christmas-day!—ay—for one’s whole life.’

“‘Grandfather,’ said Edric, ‘does everybody that loves Christ love all the poor disagreeable people?’

“‘This is what the Bible says, Edric. ‘For if any man seeth that his brother have need, and shutteth up his bowels of compassion from him, how dwelleth the love of Christ in him?’’

“‘Grandfather,’ said Edric thoughtfully, ‘when I am a man I will take a great deal of care of poor people.’

“It was rather a sad smile that the old man gave him, and yet it was very tender.

“‘My dear Edric,’ he said, ‘never say, _when I am a man_ I will do good. There is hardly any kind of good work that a child may not help forward, or help to keep back. Will you wait till you are a man, Edric, before you begin to love Christ?’

“‘I think I do love him now, grandfather,’ said Edric. ‘I should think everybody would—he has done so much for us.’

“There was the same look of love and sadness for a moment in the old man’s face before he answered.

“‘My motto has another bearing, dear boy, and one which should be first in the heart of every man and every child in this world which Christ died to save,—‘_If ye love me_, keep my commandments.’’

“And when the Christmas eve was almost ended, Squire Darlington kissed and blessed his little grandson, and Edric went up-stairs to bed.

“And the wind sighed no more that night.”

“And did he do as he said he would, when he got to be a man?” inquired Carl.

“I don’t know”—said the stocking: “I never heard.”

THE END OF THE STOCKING.

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