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Were just going to make believe to be Santa, Sammy, she explained to that small boy. And were not going to be like you were last Christmas, Sammy, and fall down the chimney and frighten everybody so.
Huh! grumbled Sammy, to whom his fiasco as a Santa Claus in the old Corner House chimney was a sore subject. If that old brick hadnt fallen I wouldnt have come down so sudden. And my mom burned my Santa Claus suit up in the furnace because it was all over soot.
This night in the Meadow Street hall was long to be remembered. Mr. Howbridge made a speech. It was a winter when work was hard to get, and at Ruths personal request he announced that a dollar a month would be taken off every tenants rent during the hard times.
Mrs. Kranz and Joe Maroni, being in so much better circumstances than the majority of the Stower estate tenants, gave many things for the Christmas tree, too. There was candy, and cakes, and popcorn, and nuts for the little folk, and hot drinks and cake and sandwiches for the adults.
Altogether it was a night long to be remembered by the Corner House girls. Even the little ones had begun to understand their duty toward these poor people who helped swell the Kenway family bank account. The estate might not now draw down the fifteen per cent. that Uncle Peter Stower always demanded; but the income from the Meadow Street tenements was considerable, and the tenants were now happier and more content.
It must be lovely, Cecile Shepard confessed to Ruth and Agnes, to have so many folks to look out for, and be kind to, and who like you. And Ruthie has such a way with her. I can see the women all admire her.
Agnes began to giggle. Who wouldnt admire her? she said.
Ruth believes in helping folks just the way they want to be helped. She doesnt furnish only flannels and cough sirup to the poor. Oh, no!
Now, Agnes! admonished the older girl, blushing.
I dont care! Its too good a joke, and it shows just why those people over on Meadow Street worship Ruth, went on the younger sister. Did you see that biggest Pederman girl? Olga, the one with the white eyebrows and no lashes?
Yes, said Cecile. Her face looks almost like a blank wall.
And a white-washed wall at that, went on Agnes. Shes a grown woman, but she hasnt any too much intelligence. She was awfully sick with diphtheria last spring, and Ruth went to see her carrying gifts, of course.
Things to eat dont much appeal to you when you have diphtheria and cant swallow, put in Ruth.
I know that, chuckled Agnes. And what do you think, Cecile? Ruthie asked Olga what she would like to have if she could get her anything special?
Yes, Miss Wuth, she croaked. Olga cant pronounce her Rs very well. Yes, Miss Wuth, Ive been wantin a pair of them dangly jet eawins for so long! And what do you suppose? Agnes exploded in conclusion. Ruth went and bought them for her! She had them on tonight.
I dont care, Ruth said, with conviction. The earrings came nearer to curing Olga than all Dr. Forsyths medicine. He said so himself.
What do you think of that? giggled Agnes.
I think it was awfully sweet of our Ruth, declared Cecile, hugging the oldest Kenway sister.
Mrs. MacCall, for her part, was not at all sure that the Kenway sisters did not encourage pauperism in thus helping their tenants. Mrs. MacCall was conservative in the extreme.
No, Ruth said earnestly, the dear little babies, and the little folks with empty tummies, are not paupers, Mrs. MacCall. Nor are their parents such. We havent a lazy tenant family in the Stower houses.
That may be as may be, said the housekeeper, shaking her head. But they are too frequently out o work to suit me. And guidness knows theres plenty to do in the world.
Theyre just unfortunate, reiterated Ruth. We have been lucky. We never did a thing, we Kenways, to get Uncle Peters wealth. Weve had better luck than the Pedermans and Goronofskys.
Hush, my lassie! If you undertake to level things in this world for all, youve a big job cut out for you. Nae doot of that.
Although the housekeeper was often opposed both in opinion and practice to Ruth and her sisters, the latter were eager to have Mrs. MacCall go with the vacation party as chaperone and manager. And, indeed, had Mrs. MacCall not agreed, it is doubtful if Ruth would have accepted Mr. Howbridges invitation to go into the North Woods to Red Deer Lodge.
Mrs. MacCall sacrificed her own desires and some comfort to accompany the young folks; but she did it cheerfully because of her love for the Corner House girls.
Aunt Sarah Maltby would remain at home to oversee things at the Corner House; and of course Linda and Uncle Rufus would be with her.
Trunks had been packed the day before the early celebration of Christmas in the Meadow Street lodge room, and had been sent on by train with the serving people that Hedden, Mr. Howbridges butler and factotum, had engaged to go ahead of the vacation party and prepare Red Deer Lodge for occupancy over the holidays.
Of course, Neale ONeil and the older girls had their bags to carry with them, and Sammy Pinkney came over to the old Corner House bright and early on the morning of departure, lugging his bulging suitcase.