Chapter 20--Under The Mistletoe
Rose made Phebe promise that she would bring her stocking into the"Bower," as she called her pretty room, on Christmas morning, becausethat first delicious rummage loses half its charm if two littlenight-caps at least do not meet over the treasures, and two happy voicesOh and Ah together.
So when Rose opened her eyes that day they fell upon faithful Phebe,rolled up in a shawl, sitting on the rug before a blazing fire, with heruntouched stocking laid beside her.
"Merry Christmas!" cried the little mistress smiling gaily.
"Merry Christmas!" answered the little maid, so heartily that it did onegood to hear her.
"Bring the stockings right away, Phebe, and let's see what we've got,"said Rose, sitting up among the pillows, and looking as eager as achild.
A pair of long knobby hose were laid out upon the coverlet, and theircontents examined with delight, though each knew every blessed thingthat 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 luxurious sighof satisfaction, "Now, I believe I've got everything in the world that Iwant," and Phebe answered, smiling over a lapful of treasures, "This isthe most splendid Christmas I ever had since I was born." Then she addedwith an important air,
"Do wish for something else, because I happen to know of two morepresents outside the door this minute."
"Oh, me, what richness!" cried Rose, much excited. "I used to wish fora pair of glass slippers like Cinderella's, but as I can't have them, Ireally don't know what to ask for."
Phebe clapped her hands as she skipped off the bed and ran to the door,saying merrily, "One of them is for your feet, anyway. I don't know whatyou'll say to the other, but I think it's elegant."
So did Rose, when a shining pair of skates and a fine sled appeared.
"Uncle sent those; I know he did; and, now I see them, I remember thatI did want to skate and coast. Isn't it a beauty? See! they fit nicely,"and, sitting on the new sled, Rose tried a skate on her little barefoot, while Phebe stood by admiring the pretty tableau.
"Now we must hurry and get dressed, for there is a deal to do to-day,and I want to get through in time to try my sled before dinner."
"Gracious me, and I ought to be dusting my parlors this blessed minute!"and mistress and maid separated with such happy faces that anyone wouldhave known what day it was without being told.
"Birnam Wood has come to Dunsinane, Rosy," said Dr. Alec, as he left thebreakfast table to open the door for a procession of holly, hemlock, andcedar boughs that came marching up the steps.
Snowballs and "Merry Christmases!" flew about pretty briskly for severalminutes; then all fell to work trimming the old house, for the familyalways 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," saidCharlie, as he fastened a dull green branch to the chandelier in thefront parlor.
"It isn't very pretty," said Rose, who was trimming the chimney-piecewith glossy holly sprays.
"Never mind that, it's mistletoe, and anyone who stands under it willget kissed whether they like it or not. Now's your time, ladies,"answered the saucy Prince, keeping his place and looking sentimentallyat the girls, who retired precipitately from the dangerous 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 tone thatmade 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 teasing ended inthe plaintive ballad they all liked so well.
There was plenty of time to try the new skates before dinner, and thenRose took her first lesson on the little bay, which seemed to havefrozen over for that express purpose. She found tumbling down andgetting up again warm work for a time, but with six boys to teach her,she managed at last to stand alone; and, satisfied with that success,she refreshed herself with a dozen grand coasts on the Amazon, as hersled 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 as Phebe'scareful hands could make it.
"I'm glad to see that Alec allows the poor child to make herself prettyin spite of his absurd notions," added Aunt Clara, taking infinitesatisfaction in the fact that Rose's blue silk dress had three frills onit.
"She's a very intelligent child, and has a nice little manner of herown," observed Aunt Jane, with unusual affability; for Rose had justhanded 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 thenreproached herself for not being perfectly satisfied with her four bravelads.
Aunt Plenty was too absorbed in the dinner to have an eye for anythingelse; if she had not been, she would have seen what an effect her newcap produced upon the boys. The good lady owned that she did "love adressy cap," and on this occasion her head gear was magnificent; forthe towering structure of lace was adorned with buff ribbons to such anextent that it looked as if a flock of yellow butterflies had settled onher dear old head. When she trotted about the rooms the ruches quivered,the little bows all stood erect, and the streamers waved in the breezeso comically that it was absolutely necessary for Archie to smother theBrats in the curtains till they had had their first laugh out.
Uncle Mac had brought Fun See to dinner, and it was a mercy he did,for the elder lads found a vent for their merriment in joking the youngChinaman on his improved appearance. He was in American costume now,with a cropped head, and spoke remarkably good English after six monthsat school; but, for all that, his yellow face and beady eyes made acurious contrast to the blonde Campbells all about him. Will called himthe "Typhoon," meaning Tycoon, and the name stuck to him to his greatdisgust.
Aunt Peace was brought down and set in the chair of state at table, forshe never failed to join the family on this day, and sat smiling at themall, "like an embodiment of Peace on earth," Uncle Alec said, as he tookhis place beside her, while Uncle Mac supported Aunt Plenty at the otherend.
"I ate hardly any breakfast, and I've done everything I know to makemyself extra hungry, but I really don't think I can eat straightthrough, unless I burst my buttons off," whispered Geordie to Will, ashe surveyed the bounteous stores before him with a hopeless sigh.
"A fellow never knows what he can do till he tries," answered Will,attacking his heaped-up plate with an evident intention of doing hisduty like a man.
Everybody knows what a Christmas dinner is, so we need waste no words indescribing this one, but hasten at once to tell what happened at theend of it. The end, by the way, was so long in coming that the gas waslighted before dessert was over, for a snow flurry had come on and thewintry daylight faded fast. But that only made it all the jollier in thewarm, bright rooms, full of happy souls. Everyone was very merry, butArchie seemed particularly uplifted so much so, that Charlie confided toRose that he was afraid the Chief had been at the decanters.
Rose indignantly denied the insinuation, for when healths were drunkin the good old-fashioned way to suit the elders, she had observed thatAunt Jessie's boys filled their glasses with water, and had done thesame herself in spite of the Prince's jokes about "the rosy."
But Archie certainly was unusually excited, and when someone rememberedthat it was the anniversary of Uncle Jem's wedding, and wished he wasthere to make a speech, his son electrified the family by trying to doit for him. It was rather incoherent and flowery, as maiden speeches areapt to be, but the end was considered superb; for, turning to his motherwith a queer li
ttle choke in his voice, he said that she "deserved to beblessed with peace and plenty, to be crowned with roses and lads'-love,and to receive the cargo of happiness sailing home to her in spite ofwind or tide to add another Jem to the family jewels."
That allusion to the Captain, now on his return trip, made Mrs. Jessiesob in her napkin, and set the boys cheering. Then, as if that was notsensation enough, Archie suddenly dashed out of the room, as if he hadlost 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,