登陆注册
5228200000037

第37章 CHAPTER XV--THE FEAST O' THE BABE(1)

It was sure to be a green Christmas in that sunny land, but not the sort of 'green Yule' that makes the 'fat kirkyard.' If the New Englanders who had been transplanted to that shore of the Pacific ever longed for a bracing snowstorm, for frost pictures on the window-panes, for the breath of a crystal air blown over ice-fields--an air that nipped the ears, but sent the blood coursing through the veins, and made the turkey and cranberry sauce worth eating,--the happy children felt no lack, and basked contentedly in the soft December sunshine. Still further south there were mothers who sighed even more for the sound of merry sleigh-bells, the snapping of logs on the hearth, the cosy snugness of a fire-lit room made all the snugger by the fierce wind without: that, if you like, was a place to hang a row of little red and brown woollen stockings! And when the fortunate children on the eastern side of the Rockies, tired of resisting the Sand Man, had snuggled under the great down comforters and dropped off to sleep, they dreamed, of course, of the proper Christmas things--of the tiny feet of reindeer pattering over the frozen crust, the tinkle of silver bells on their collars, the real Santa Claus with icicles in his beard, with red cheeks, and a cold nose, and a powder of snow on his bearskin coat, and with big fur mittens never too clumsy to take the toys from his pack.

Here the air blew across orange groves and came laden with the sweetness of opening buds; here, if it were a sunny Christmas Day, as well it might be, the children came in to dinner tired with playing in the garden: but the same sort of joyous cries that rent the air three thousand miles away at sight of hot plum-pudding woke the echoes here because of fresh strawberries and loquats; and although, in the minds of the elders, who had been born in snowdrifts and bred upon icicles, this union of balmy air, singing birds, and fragrant bloom might strike a false note at Christmastide, it brought nothing but joy to the children. After all, if it were not for old associations' sake, it would seem that one might fitly celebrate the birthday of the Christ-child under sunshine as warm and skies of the same blue as those that sheltered the heavenly Babe in old Judea.

During the late days of October and the early days of November the long drought of summer had been broken, and it had rained steadily, copiously, refreshingly. Since then there had been day after day of brilliant, cloudless sunshine, and the moist earth, warmed gratefully through to the marrow, stirred and trembled and pushed forth myriads of tender shoots from the seeds that were hidden in its bosom; and the tender shoots themselves looked up to the sun, and, with their roots nestled in sweet, fragrant beds of richness, thought only of growing tall and green, dreamed only of the time when pink pimpernels would bloom between their waving blades, and when tribes of laughing children would come to ramble over the hillsides. The streets of the city were full of the fragrance of violets, for the flower-vendors had great baskets of them over their arms, and every corner tempted the passers-by with the big odorous purple bunches that offered a royal gift of sweetness for every penny invested.

Atlantic and Pacific Simonson had previously known little, and Marm Lisa less, of Christmas-time, but the whole month of December in Mistress Mary's garden was a continual feast of the new-born Babe.

There was an almost oppressive atmosphere of secrecy abroad. Each family of children, working in the retirement of its particular corner, would shriek, 'Oh, don't come!' and hide small objects under pinafores and tables when Mary, Rhoda, Edith, or Helen appeared. The neophyte in charge was always in the attitude of a surprised hen, extending her great apron to its utmost area as a screen to hide these wonderful preparations. Edith's group was slaving over Helen's gift, Rhoda's over Edith's, and so on, while all the groups had some marvellous bit of co-operative work in hand for Mistress Mary. At the afternoon council, the neophytes were obliged to labour conscientiously on presents destined for themselves, rubbing off stains, disentangling knots, joining threads, filling up wrong holes and punching right ones, surreptitiously getting the offerings of love into a condition where the energetic infants could work on them again. It was somewhat difficult to glow and pale with surprise when they received these well-known and well-worn trophies of skill from the tree at the proper time, but they managed to achieve it.

同类推荐
  • 北京潭柘寺清拳

    北京潭柘寺清拳

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 开庆四明续志

    开庆四明续志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 重修凤山县志

    重修凤山县志

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 琴堂谕俗编

    琴堂谕俗编

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 如意宝珠转轮秘密现身成佛金轮咒王经

    如意宝珠转轮秘密现身成佛金轮咒王经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 我的世界之创世神记

    我的世界之创世神记

    风萧萧,创世的威力再闪耀;雷闪现;昨日的风貌已重见……
  • 雨中看牡丹

    雨中看牡丹

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 网游格斗之全职高手

    网游格斗之全职高手

    格斗网游《勇士激战》第一高手病逝,不想却重生在他人身上,是追寻更高境界的格斗秘技,还是为了重铸神话传说,且看主角如何游戏中叱咤风云,生活中更是香艳纷呈……
  • 婚姻治疗师(第1部)

    婚姻治疗师(第1部)

    留美心理学博士戚晏容婚姻失败,身心俱疲,静休几年之后,创办中途岛婚姻治疗中心,期望救人救己。前霸道总裁屠百药加盟中途岛之后,将公司从北京CBD搬到大运河森林公园,高举“婚姻治疗师”招牌,一时间,八方“病人”纷至沓来。小家小户、鸡毛蒜皮的“婚姻病案”好办,可是一群富豪客户,带着种种棘手问题前来,各个都像“踢馆”的。豪门贵妇自称被专横霸道的丈夫软禁并家暴,天价酬劳,只求闪离;建材老板外遇誓要离婚,担任董事长的妻子不肯,自杀未遂之后,为挽回丈夫,杀心四起;地产老总貌美妻子离奇失踪,毫无线索,高价限时寻人,不准拒单。每个案例背后都有令人瞠目结舌的隐情……
  • 大道禁区

    大道禁区

    生活,本不易。异界生活,更不易。到了异界后觉得……我……尼玛……
  • 互联网时代的企业转型

    互联网时代的企业转型

    本书围绕互联网的迅速发展对各行各业所产生的冲击和影响展开,重点关注知名传统企业在互联网时代所面临的挑战和应对,内容涵盖传统零售业、传统服装业、传统家电制造业、房地产业等十三个行业,通过大量热门案例来分析传统企业如何在互联网时代大潮下赢得转型机遇和发展,成功实现颠覆、变革、管理进化创新以及互联网化的转型。
  • 第二十九个

    第二十九个

    吴海中,吉林省梨树县人。在《山花》《鸭绿江》《芳草》《小说界》《小说林》等刊发表过中短篇小说。有作品被《小说选刊》转载。著有中短篇小说集《人面桃花》、评论文集《三国演义格言智慧》、长篇小说《职权》等。吉林省作家协会会员,中国民主同盟盟员。寓居贵州贵阳。八年前,房生杀了一个人,一个叫刑七的混蛋。房生要在清明这天回家给爷爷上坟,人已经到了客运站,脑子里突然泛起一堆白沫,想起给爹准备的虎骨膏药忘记带在身上了,转身回家去拿。刚到家门口,就听见青娅在屋里没好声地喊叫。
  • 上海特色餐厅

    上海特色餐厅

    本书选取了59家地处上海最热门消费娱乐区域的特色餐厅,荟萃了中外不同菜系,囊括了传统和创新各种烹饪流派,是探寻上海风味餐厅的可靠依据,也是了解上海美食潮流的极佳指南。无论你是想了解上海的饮食文化还是想为旅游准备实用的参考书,这都是不错的选择。
  • 拉钩兄弟

    拉钩兄弟

    红色夏利出租车在夜雨中奔驰,雨点“刷刷”地毫不留情地甩在风挡玻璃上,雨刷“咔咔”地毫不客气地刮去雨水。司机李仪瞪圆两眼,注视着雨雾茫茫的街道,不时瞥一眼后视镜——后排座上,一对老夫少妇毫不顾忌地在逗趣儿调情;李仪早就看出,那浓妆艳抹的妖媚女子不是“出台”小姐,就是“租窝”野鸡;那挺胸腆肚的老头子,肯定是社会上所说的那种“在职在位挺正派,下岗退休就学坏,怀里搂着下一代,嘴里唱着‘迟来的爱’”的老不正经。
  • 为将不为妃

    为将不为妃

    她是大姜唯一的女将军,一生戎马,征战四方,十五岁身披铠甲上阵杀敌,所求不过是护得这个已然风雨飘摇的大将军府百年安定。然而,她衷心以待的君主,原来只是把她当做镇守疆土的一颗棋子,最终落了个家破人亡的下场。幸得上苍怜悯,还她一世性命,这一世,且看她如何搅动满城风雨,动荡万里江山。唯一遗憾的是,前一世里,她一生一次的心动,落了个心灰意冷的结局。他生莫作有情痴,人间无地着相思。本想这一世封了心,不见他,不相识,不相知,如此便可不相思。可是,世事无常。后来,她才明白,原来她从来都不曾真正了解过他,真正被辜负的人,是他,不是她。