登陆注册
5590700000019

第19章 Surprises(5)

A simple little thing enough,with one tiny turquoise forget-me-not,but something like a dew-drop fell on it when no one was looking,and she longed to say,"I'm sorry I was cross;forgive me,Jack."But it could not be done then,so she turned to admire Merry's bed-shoes,the pots of pansies,hyacinths,and geranium which Gus and his sisters sent for her window garden,Molly's queer Christmas pie,and the zither Ed promised to teach her how to play upon.

The tree was soon stripped,and pop-corns strewed the floor as the children stood about picking them off the red threads when candy gave out,with an occasional cranberry by way of relish.Boo insisted on trying the new sled at once,and enlivened the trip by the squeaking of the spotted dog,the toot of a tin trumpet,and shouts of joy at the splendor of the turn-out.

The girls all put on their necklaces,and danced about like fine ladies at a ball.The boys fell to comparing skates,balls,and cuff-buttons on the spot,while the little ones devoted all their energies to eating everything eatable they could lay their hands on.

Games were played till nine o clock,and then the party broke up,after they had taken hands round the tree and sung a song written by one whom you all know so faithfully and beautifully does she love and labor for children the world over.

THE BLESSED DAY

"What shall little children bring On Christmas Day,on Christmas Day?

What shall little children bring On Christmas Day in the morning?

This shall little children bring On Christmas Day,on Christmas Day;Love and joy to Christ their king,On Christmas Day in the morning!

"What shall little children sing On Christmas Day,on Christmas Day?

What shall little children sing On Christmas Day in the morning?

The grand old carols shall they sing On Christmas Day,on Christmas Day;With all their hearts,their offerings bring On Christmas Day in the morning."Jack was carried off to bed in such haste that he had only time to call out,"Good-night!"before he was rolled away,gaping as he went.Jill soon found herself tucked up in the great white bed she was to share with her mother,and lay looking about the pleasant chamber,while Mrs.Pecq ran home for a minute to see that all was safe there for the night.

After the merry din the house seemed very still,with only a light step now and then,the murmur of voices not far away,or the jingle of sleigh-bells from without,and the little girl rested easily among the pillows,thinking over the pleasures of the day,too wide-awake for sleep.There was no lamp in the chamber,but she could look into the pretty Bird Room,where the fire-light still shone on flowery walls,deserted tree,and Christ-child floating above the green.Jill's eyes wandered there and lingered till they were full of regretful tears,because the sight of the little angel recalled the words spoken when it was hung up,the good resolution she had taken then,and how soon it was broken.

"I said I couldn't be bad in that lovely place,and I was a cross,ungrateful girl after all they ve done for Mammy and me.Poor Jack was hurt the worst,and he was brave,though he did scream.

I wish I could go and tell him so,and hear him say,'All right.Oh,me,I've spoiled the day!"A great sob choked more words,and Jill was about to have a comfortable cry,when someone entered the other room,and she saw Frank doing something with a long cord and a thing that looked like a tiny drum.Quiet as a bright-eyed mouse,Jill peeped out wondering what it was,and suspecting mischief,for the boy was laughing to himself as he stretched the cord,and now and then bent over the little object in his hand,touching it with great care.

"Maybe it's a torpedo to blow up and scare me;Jack likes to play tricks.Well,I'll scream loud when it goes off,so he will be satisfied that I'm dreadfully frightened,"thought Jill,little dreaming what the last surprise of the day was to be.

Presently a voice whispered,Are you awake?""Yes."

"Anyone there but you?"

"Catch this,then.Hold it to your ear and see what you'll get."The little drum came flying in,and,catching it,Jill,with some hesitation,obeyed Frank's order.Judge of her amazement when she caught in broken whispers these touching words:

"Sorry I was cross.Forgive and forget.Start fair to-morrow.All right.Jack."Jill was so delighted with this handsome apology,that she could not reply for a moment,then steadied her voice,and answered back in her sweetest tone,"I'm sorry,too.Never,never,will again.Feel much better now.

Good-night,you dear old thing."

Satisfied with the success of his telephone,Frank twitched back the drum and vanished,leaving Jill to lay her cheek upon the hand that wore the little ring and fall asleep,saying to herself,with a farewell glance at the children's saint,dimly seen in the soft gloom,"I will not forget.I will be good!"

同类推荐
  • 过去庄严劫千佛名经

    过去庄严劫千佛名经

    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。
  • 天隐子

    天隐子

    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。
  • 佛说地藏菩萨发心因缘十王经

    佛说地藏菩萨发心因缘十王经

    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。
  • 邯郸遗稿

    邯郸遗稿

    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。
  • HERACLES

    HERACLES

    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
  • 微型小说一千零一夜(第六卷)

    微型小说一千零一夜(第六卷)

    本书中的每一篇小说都是一个贴近生活的精彩故事,反映着当代生活的广阔图景。它们不仅能教会你如何理解生活,更能教会你如何热爱生活。开阔读者的视野、启迪读者的心智、使读者得到精神享受,是编者编选此书的最大愿望。
  • 公子,借个火

    公子,借个火

    穿越过来砸中皇帝的不一定都是女人,比如我这倒霉的男主;皇帝的狗与后花园不是人人都爱,比如我这痴汉的女主。不是皇亲不是国戚,他只是一介小小低调的侍卫长;不爱皇帝不爱国师,她只舔屏皇帝身边的毒舌美男。外表痴憨智障实则腹黑狠毒的女主,遇到一个低调帅气又毒舌,撩妹技能满满的21世纪来客,会碰出什么样的火花?一个是心野天下的操棋女子,一个是不挂天下的闲散路人。当伪装撕破,狩猎易主,他和他还能否一如初见?--情节虚构,请勿模仿
  • 秦汉帝王文治武功全纪录

    秦汉帝王文治武功全纪录

    本书汇集了从秦到汉23位帝王的小传,涵盖了他们的人生轨迹、朝廷政务、后宫生活及得位根由、身死原因,截取他们生平中最得意之事、最失意之事、最痛心之事,历数品评他们的千秋功过,层层揭开他们的身后留下的谜团,以史实为依据,兼涉轶闻、生活。因而,具有史料性、知识性、趣味性、可读-陛。秦汉帝王的贤愚仁暴、国运的兴衰更迭、政治的清浊荣枯、民生的安乐艰辛,都能给后世以镜鉴。今天我们品读历史,钩沉帝王的史迹,传述他们的轶闻,小而言之,于今之借鉴、增知、休闲,不无裨益;大而言之,个人的修养成长,家庭的维系安顿,处世的进退取予,行事的韬略谋断,也都可以从中受到启迪!
  • 万古圣尊

    万古圣尊

    绝世强者林凡,被人偷袭陨落,十年后转世重生,附身在一名少年武徒身上,面对着今生同门的嘲笑和欺压,凭借前世的修为知识,将敌人狠狠踩踏,用他们的鲜血,成就自己万古圣尊的辉煌。
  • 混元造化诀

    混元造化诀

    【热血爽文,火爆连载】平凡少年偶得上古之神创立的逆天功法——混元造化诀。通玄诀炼神,神识外放,一念通天。锻气诀炼气,造化万物,所向披靡。淬体诀炼体,不死不灭,天下无敌。而吞噬诀,可吞天,可吞地,可吞尽世间一切不平事。还有天眼诀、淬火诀……“只要我能获得至高无上的力量,我不在乎这诸天万界,谁人称帝,谁人称王,谁掌天命,谁执地纲。”
  • 新编兽药安全使用手册

    新编兽药安全使用手册

    本系列图书涵盖了种植业、养殖业、加工和服务业, 门类齐全, 技术方法先进, 专业知识权威, 既有种植、养殖新技术, 又有致富新门路、职业技能训练等方方面面, 科学性与实用性相结合, 可操作性强, 图文并茂, 让农民朋友们轻轻松松地奔向致富路; 同时培养造就有文化、懂技术、会经营的新型农民, 增加农民收入, 提升农民综合素质, 推进社会主义新农村建设。
  • 大怪医

    大怪医

    以医入道未济世,功德十万方问仙!这是一个穿越修真者行走现代人间的有趣的故事。
  • 化石:生命演化的传奇

    化石:生命演化的传奇

    在漫长的地质年代里,地球上曾经生活过无数的生物,这些生物死亡后的遗体或是生活是遗留下来的痕迹,许多都被当时的泥沙掩埋起来。随着时间的沉淀,它们成为了生命岩画的记录仪……
  • 杜涯论

    杜涯论

    杜涯是在黑暗中写作的一位诗人,因为她的写作常常像是幽暗的世界里闪烁的星火,那样幽微、孤绝,但又隐隐发散着一种凛然的浩瀚之气。杜涯自述:“2002年秋天,我看到了宇宙的黑暗。早在1999年秋天,我看到了物质的最终崩解和消失,我感到心中的某种东西在轰隆轰隆地坍塌:我所信任的大自然,我一直相信那永恒不变的永不会消失的大自然,原来终有一天是要消失的,不存在的。”她的诗歌总是从具体的事物、身边卑微的事物出发,但仅仅是出发,然后她就引入了自己对人类生存意义的追问,展现尘世精华的、缄默不语的挽歌世界与无法摆脱的终极困惑。
  • 心欲成妖

    心欲成妖

    她天生一双阴阳眼,却因为这双眼失去双亲。她颠沛流离,周旋于魑魅魍魉、人妖仙鬼之间。离奇的红绳之下又悬着什么样的故事,古船的背后又生活着怎样一群异族。她本不欲踏足,奈何命运牵扯,深陷其中……她孤苦无依,直到遇见他……架空+玄幻··