And, when my ship comes in, Sweetie used to say, Ill have the tallest and handsomest Christmas tree, filled to the top with candies and toys, and lighted all over with different-colored candles, and well sing and dance round it. Lets begin now, and get our voices in tune. Then they would all pipe up as loud as they could, and were as happy as if they half believed Sweeties ship was ready to land.
But there came a hard year for poor needle-women: it was the year I am writing about, and Sweeties mother found it almost impossible to get even the necessaries of life. Her childrens lips were bluer, their faces more pinched, and thin, threadbare clothes more patched than ever. Sweetie used to take the two boys, and hunt in the streets for bits of coal and wood; but often, the very coldest days, they would have no fire. It was very hard to bear, and especially for the poor mother, who still had to toil on, though she was so chilled, and her hands so numbed, she could hardly draw her needle through her work; and for Harry, who trudged through the streets from daylight until the street lamps were lighted.
The day before Christmas came. People were so busy cooking Christmas dainties that they did not stop to sift their cinders very carefully, and Sweetie and the boys had picked up quite a large bag full of half-burnt coal in the alleys, and were carrying it home as carefully as if it were a great treasure as, indeed, it was to them. Being very tired, they sat down to rest on the curbstone in front of an elegant mansion. One of the long windows was open.
Lets get close up under the window, said Sweetie. I guess its too warm inside, and may be we shall get some of the heat. O! O! dont it smell good? she cried, as the savory odors of the Christmas cooking stole out upon the air.
What is it, Sweetie? whispered Willie.
Coffee, said Sweetie, and turkeys, and jelly, perhaps.
I wish I had some, sighed Freddy, Im so cold and hungry!
Poor little man! he must come and sit in Sweeties lap; that will make him warmer, said his sister, wrapping her shawl around him.
Yes; thats nice, said the little fellow, hugging her tight.
Mr. Rogers, the owner of this fine house, had lost his wife and two dear children within the year. He lived here alone, with his servants, and was very desolate. When the children stopped under his window, he was lying on a velvet sofa near it, and, lifting himself up, he peeped out from behind the curtains just as Fred crept into his sisters arms; and he heard all they said.
When your ship comes in, Sweetie, will it have turkeys and jellies in it? said Willie, leaning against her.
Yes, indeed, said Sweetie. There will be turkeys almost as big as Jennie, and a great deal fatter.
But its so long coming, Sweetie; you tell us every time it will come, and it never comes at all.
O, no, Freddy. I dont ever say it will come, but its nice to think what we would do if it should come isnt it?
Wed buy a great white house, like this wouldnt we, Sweetie?
No, Willie. Id rather buy that nice little store over by the church, thats been shut up so long, and has FOR SALE on the door. Id furnish it all nice, and fill the shelves with beautiful goods, and trimmings for ladies dresses, and lovely toys. It shows so far that everybody would be sure to buy their Christmas things there. Its just the dearest little place, with two cosy rooms back of the shop, and three overhead; and Id put flour and sugar, and tea and coffee, and all sorts of goodies, in the kitchen cupboard, and new clothes for all of us in the closets up stairs. Then Id kindle a fire, and light the lamps, and lock the door, and go back to the dreary old garret once more poor mother would be sitting there, sad and sober, as she always is now, and I would say to her, Come, mother, before you light the candle, Jennie and I want you to go with us, and look at the lovely Christmas gifts in the shop windows. Then shed say, sorrowfully, I dont want to see them, dear; I cant buy any of them for you, and I dont want to look at them. But Id tease her till I made her go; and Id leave Harry, who would know all about it beforehand, to lock up the dismal old room, and bring all the rest of you over to the new house. Youd get there long before we did, and the light would be streaming out from the little shop windows O, so bright! Mother, Id say, lets go in here, and buy the cotton you wanted; and when I got her in, Id shut the door quick, and dance up and down, and say, Dear mother. Sweeties ships come in, and brought you this new home, and everything comfortable; and Sweetie will tend the shop, and you neednt sew any more day and night, for its going to be A Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year for us every one! Harry and all of you would shout, and our dear mother would cry for joy.
Will it come to pass soon, Sweetie? asked both the boys at once.
Not very, Im afraid, answered Sweetie, in a subdued tone; but, when she saw their look of disappointment, she brightened up in a moment, and added, Itll be all the better, when it does come, for waiting so long but look here! To-night is Christmas Eve, and weve got coal enough here to make a splendid fire. We wont light it till dark, and then it will last us all the evening. And Ive got a great secret to tell you: Harry made a whole dollar yesterday, and mother is going to give us each three big slices of fried mush, and bread besides, for supper; and, after supper, Ill tell you the prettiest story you ever heard, and well sing every song we know, and I guess well have a merry Christmas if nobody else does.
I wish it was Christmas all the time, said Freddy, faintly.
Christ was born that day, said Sweetie, softly, and that makes it best of all.
Yes, said Willie; the dear Lord who came from Heaven and, for our sakes, became poor, and had not where to lay his head, not even a garret as good as ours
I know, said Freddy; he was born in a manger, and a beautiful star shined right over it. I can sing a hymn about it.
Then they picked up their bag, and started for home, gay as larks over the prospect of the treat they were to have that night fried mush and a fire! that was all, you know.
Mr. Rogers, concealed by the heavy silk curtains, had heard every word they said, and his eyes were full of tears. He rang for his servant.
Harris, said he, when the man came in, follow those children, find out where they live, and what their neighbors say of the family.
When he was left alone again, he began to think,
Rich as I am, I have never yet done any great good to anybody. Who knows but God may have sent those children under my window to teach me that, instead of my own lost darlings, he means me to care for these and other suffering little ones who live in the lanes and alleys of this great city!
Harris soon came back, and told his master what he had learned about the circumstances of the family; and he added,
Everybody calls the oldest girl Sweetie, and they do say shes as good as gold.
Mr. Rogers went out, and, before night, had bought the little corner store, for which Sweetie had longed. Then, calling his servants together, he related what he had overheard the children say, and told them how anxious he was to grant Sweeties wish, and let her take her mother to her new home on Christmas Day.
But I cannot do it, said Mr. Rogers, unless you are willing to help me work on Christmas Eve, for there is a great deal to be done.
Harris soon came back, and told his master what he had learned about the circumstances of the family; and he added,
Everybody calls the oldest girl Sweetie, and they do say shes as good as gold.
Mr. Rogers went out, and, before night, had bought the little corner store, for which Sweetie had longed. Then, calling his servants together, he related what he had overheard the children say, and told them how anxious he was to grant Sweeties wish, and let her take her mother to her new home on Christmas Day.
But I cannot do it, said Mr. Rogers, unless you are willing to help me work on Christmas Eve, for there is a great deal to be done.
No one could refuse to aid in so good a cause; and besides, Mr. Rogers was always so considerate of his servants that they were glad to oblige him. They all went to work with a will, and soon the little house and store were put in perfect order.
There were ribbons, laces, buttons, needles, pins, tapes, and, indeed, all sorts of useful things in the store. In the cellar were coal and wood, two whole hams, a pair of chickens, and a turkey. The kitchen pantry was stocked with sugar and flour. There was one barrel of potatoes, and another of the reddest apples. Up stairs the closets and bureaus were bursting with nice things to wear, not quite made into garments, but ready to be made, as soon as Sweetie and her mother got time.
So rapidly and so completely was everything arranged, that it seemed as if one of those good fairies, of whom Sweetie had so often told the children, had been at work.
The money this has cost me, thought Mr. Rogers, will make a family of six happy, and do them good all the rest of their lives. I am glad the thought has come to my heart to celebrate Christs birthday in so pleasant a way.
Late in the afternoon he picked his way through the dull, dirty alley to the old gray house where Sweetie lived. As he went up the worn and dusty stairway, he heard the children singing their Christmas songs.
Poor little things! said he; and the tears stood in his eyes. Happy even in this miserable place, while I know so many surfeited with luxuries, and yet pining and discontented!
Harry jumped to open the door as he knocked; and Mr. Rogers, entering, apologized to the childrens mother for his intrusion by saying he had come to ask a favor.
It is but little we can do for any one, sir, replied Mrs. Lawson; but anything in our power will be cheerfully done.
Even if I propose to carry off this little girl of yours for a while? he asked; but, seeing the troubled look in the other childrens faces, he hastened to explain.
The truth is, said he, having no little folks of my own, I thought Id try and make other peoples happy to-day; so I set out to get up a Christmas tree; but I find I dont know how to go to work exactly, and I want Sweetie to help me.
He spoke so sadly when he said he had no children of his own, that Sweetie could not refuse to go.
O, yes, sir, said she; Ill go; that is, if I may come back this evening for I couldnt disappoint Freddy and all of them, you know!
They shant be disappointed, I promise you, said Mr. Rogers, as he took her down stairs.
Why, I never was in a carriage in all my life, said Sweetie, as he lifted her into his beautiful clarence, and sat down beside her.
I shouldnt wonder if you should ride in a carriage pretty often now, said Mr. Rogers, for your ships coming in.
Sweetie couldnt tell whether she was in a dream or not. Half crying, half laughing, her face flushed with surprise, she asked,
How did you know?
Know what? said her friend, enjoying her bewilderment.
Why, she answered, about the way I keep up the childrens spirits, and make them forget they are hungry and cold, while I tell them about my ship coming in?
A little bird told me, said he, and then was quiet.
Sweetie did not like to ask any more; so she sat quite still, leaning back in one corner of the carriage, among the soft, crimson cushions, and watched the people in the street, thinking how happy she was, and how strange it was that little Katie Lawson should be riding with a grand gentleman in a splendid carriage!
Suddenly, with a whirl and a turn, they stopped before a house. Mr. Rogers lifted her out, and led her up the broad steps; and she found he was taking her into the beautiful white house, under the windows of which she had sat with Willie and Fred the day before.
Now, said Mr. Rogers, rolling a comfortable arm-chair for Sweetie in front of a glowing fire, while you are getting warm, and eating your dinner, I am going to tell you about my Christmas tree, and how your ship came in.
A little table was brought in, and set between them, filled with so many delicacies, that Sweeties head grew dizzy at the sight. She thought of her little hungry brothers and sister, and would rather not have eaten, but Mr. Rogers made her.
My little girl, said he, finally, never forget this: God always rewards a faithful heart. If he seems to be a long time without caring for his children, he never forgets or forsakes them.
Then he told her that he had overheard her conversation with her brothers under his window, and that God had suddenly put it into his heart to take care of some of the poor and fatherless in that great city. And I am going to begin with Sweetie, said he, very tenderly; and this is the way her ship shall come in. She shall have a new home to give to her mother for a Christmas present, and the boys shall sing their Christmas hymns to-night in the bright little parlor of the corner store, instead of the dingy old garret; and here are the deeds made out in Katie Lawsons own name, and nobody can take it away from her. But come, little woman, he added, for Sweetie was sobbing for joy, and could not thank him, go and wash your face, for the horses are tired of standing in the cold, and we must go and fetch the boys, or I shall never get my Christmas tree set up.
An old lady, with a face beaming with kindness, it was Mr. Rogerss housekeeper, then took Sweetie, and not only washed her tear-stained cheeks, but curled her soft brown hair, and put on her the loveliest blue dress, with boots to match. All the time she was dressing her, Sweetie, who could not believe her senses, kept murmuring,
Its only a dream; its too good to be true; the boys wont believe it, I know; its just like a fairy story, and, of course, its only pretending.
No, indeed, said the old lady; its really true, my dear, and I hope youll be so grateful and kind to Mr. Rogers that he wont be so lonely as he has been without his own dear little children.
Sweetie could hardly realize her own good fortune; and, when she went down into the parlor, she burst into tears again, saying,
O, sir, I cant believe it. I am so happy!
So am I, Sweetie, said Mr. Rogers; and really it was hard to tell which was the happier it is always so much more blessed to give than to receive. Together they rode to the new home, and laughed and cried together as they went all over it. After they had been up stairs, and down stairs, and in my ladys chamber, as Mr. Rogers said, he put her into the carriage again.
James, said he to the coachman, you are under this young ladys orders to-night, and must drive carefully.
Then, kissing Sweetie, he put the key of her new home into her hand, and, telling her he should want her help to-morrow about his Christmas tree, he bade her good night.
James drove Sweetie home, for the last time, to the dilapidated old house. She ran up stairs, Freddy said afterwards, just as Harry always did when hed had a good day. Mother and children, said she, Mr. Rogers, the kind gentleman who was here, has sent me back in his carriage to take you all to see something beautiful he has been showing me. Harry, you be the gentleman of the house, and hand mother and Jennie to the carriage, and Ill come right along. She stopped long enough this good child, who, even in her own good fortune, did not forget the misfortunes of others to run into the next room, where an old woman lived, who was a cripple, and whose daughter supported her by sewing.