按键盘上方向键 ← 或 → 可快速上下翻页，按键盘上的 Enter 键可回到本书目录页，按键盘上方向键 ↑ 可回到本页顶部！
————未阅读完？加入书签已便下次继续阅读！
e navy had the vouchers；〃 that was Tom's theory。 He knew a chief clerk in the navy； and Tom was going at once round there。
But Matty held him in check at least for the moment。 Whatever else he did； he must come home first； he must see mamma and he must see the children； and he must have dinner。 She had not told him yet how well he looked； and how handsome he was。
But after Tom had seen them he slipped off； pretended he had unfinished preparations to make； and went right to the Department； forced his way in because he was Mr。 Molyneux's son； and found his poor father with Zeigler； the chief clerk； still on this wretched and fruitless overhaul of the old files。 Tom stated frankly； in his off…hand； business…like way； what his theory was。 Neither Zeigler nor Tom's father believed in it in the least。 Tom knew nothing； they said； the Navy paid the money； but the Navy was satisfied with our receipt； and should be。
Tom continued to say； 〃If the Navy paid the money the Navy must have the vouchers；〃 and at last； more to be rid of him than with any hope of the result； Mr。 Molyneux let the eager fellow go round to his friend； Eben Ricketts； and see if Eben would not give an hour or two of his Christmas to looking up the thing。 Mr。 Molyneux even went so far as to write a frank line to Mr。 Ricketts； and enclosed a letter which he had had that day from the chairman of the House Committee；a letter which was smooth enough in the language； but horrible enough in the thing。
Ah me！ Had not Ricketts read it all already in the evening 〃Argus〃？ He was willing； if he could； to serve。 So he with Tom went round and found the Navy Department messenger； and opened and lighted up the necessary rooms； and they spent three hours of their Christmas there。 Meanwhile Beverly had arrived from Norfolk。 He had a frolic with the children； and then called his mother and Matty away from them。
〃What in thunder is the matter？〃 said the poor boy。
And they told him。 How could they help telling him？ And so soon as the story was finished； the boy had his coat on and was putting on his boots。 He went right down to his father's office； he made old Stratton admit him； and told his father he too had reported for duty。
CHAPTER II
CHRISTMAS MORNING
And at last Christmas morning dawned；gray enough and grim enough。
In that house the general presenting was reserved for evening after dinner；when in olden days there had always been a large Christmas…tree lighted and dressed for the children and their little friends。 As the children had grown older； and the trees at the Sunday…school and elsewhere had grown larger； the family tree had grown smaller； and on this day was to be simply atypical tree； a little suggestion of a tree； between the front windows； while most of the presents of every sort and kind were to be dispersedwhere room could be made for themin any part of the front parlors。 All the grand ceremonial of present…giving was thus reserved to the afternoon of Christmas； because then it was certain papa would be at home； Tom and Beverly would both be ready； and； indeed； as the little people confessed； they themselves would have more chance to be quite prepared。
But none the less was the myth of Santa Claus and the stockings kept up； although that was a business of less account； and one in which the children themselves had no share； except to wonder； to enjoy； and to receive。 You will observe that there is a duality in most of the enjoyments of life；that if you have a long…expected letter from your brother who is in Yokohama； by the same mail or the next mail there comes a letter from your sister who is in Cawnpore。 And so it was of Christmas at this Molyneux house。 Besides the great wonders； like those wrought out by Aladdin's slave of the lamp； there were the wonders； less gigantic but not less exquisite； of the morning hours； wrought out by the slave of the ring。 How this series of wonders came about； the youngest of the children did not know； and were still imaginative enough and truly wise enough not to inquire。
While； then； the two young men and their father were at one or the other Department； now on step…ladders； handing down dusty old pasteboard boxes； now under gaslights； running down long indexes with inquiring fingers and unwinking eyes； Matty and her mother watched and waited till eleven o'clock came； not saying much of what was on the hearts of both； but sometimes just recurring to it； as by some invisible influence；an influence which would overcome both of them at the same moment。 For the mother and daughter were as two sisters； not parted far； even in age； and not parted at all in sympathy。 For occupation； they were wrapping up in thin paper a hundred barley dogs； cats； eagles； locomotives； suns； moons； and stars；with little parcels of nuts； raisins； and figs； large red apples； and bright Florida oranges；all of which were destined to be dragged out of different stockings at daybreak。
〃And now； dear； dear mamma；〃 said Matty； 〃you will go to bed；please do； dear mamma。〃 This was said as she compelled the last obstinate eagle to accept his fate and stay in his wrapping…paper； from which he had more than once struggled out； with the instincts of freedom。
〃Please do； dear mamma； I will sort these all out； and will be quite sure that each has his own。 At least； let us come upstairs together。 I will comb your hair for you； that is one of the little comforts。 And you shall get into bed and see me arrange them； and if I do it wrong you can tell me。〃
Poor mamma； she yielded to heras who does not yield； and because it was easier to go upstairs than to stay。 And the girl led her up and made herself a toilet woman indeed； and did put her worn…out mamma into bed； and then hurried to the laundry； where she was sure she could find what Diana had been bidden to reserve therea pair of clean stockings belonging to each member of the family。 The youngest children； alas； who would need the most room for their spread…eagles and sugar locomotives； had the smallest feet and legs。 But nature compensates for all things； and Matty did not fail to provide an extra pair of her mother's longest stockings for each of 〃the three；〃 as the youngest were called in the councils of their elders。 So a name was printed by Santa Claus on a large red card and pinned upon each receptacle； FLOSSY or LAURA； while all were willing to accept of his bounties contained within； even if they did not recognize yarn or knitting as familiar。 Matty hurried back with their treasures。 She brought from her own room the large red tickets； already prepared； and then； on the floor by her mother's bedside； assorted the innumerable parcels； and filled each stocking full。
Dear girl！ she had not wrongly guessed。 There was just occupation enough； and just little enough； for the poor mother's anxious； tired thought。 Matty was wise。 She asked fewer and fewer questions； fewer and fewer she made her journeys to the great high fender； where she pinned all these stiff models of gouty legs。 And when the last hung there quietly； the girl had the exquisite satisfaction of seeing that her mother was fast asleep。 She would not leave the room。 She turned the gas…