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Cover yersels, ma dearies, advised Mrs. MacCall, and leesten.
Oh, oh! whispered Agnes, fairly hugging herself as she sat upon the bed with her feet drawn up. Its just as though we lived in a castle and had a moat and drawbridge and fiefs
Oh, interposed Dot. Thats Mr. Joe Maroni strumming his guitar. Ive heard him before.
Why! gasped Ruth. Its the children from Meadow Street.
She ran to the window to peer out. It was a very cold morning, and there was only a narrow band of crimson, pink, and saffron light along the eastern horizon.
She could easily distinguish the sturdy Italian with his guitar which he touched so lightly in accord with the childrens voices. There were fully a dozen of the little singers German and Italian, Jew and Gentile singing the praise of Christ our Lord in an old Christmas carol.
A bulky figure in the background puzzled Ruth at first; but when a hoarse voice commanded: Now sing de Christ-childt song coom! Ein zwei drei! she recognized Mrs. Kranz, the proprietor of the delicatessen store.
The lustily caroling children were some of the Maronis, Sadie Goronofski and her half-brothers and sisters, and other children of the tenants in the Meadow Street property from which the Corner House girls collected rents.
Oh, my! murmured Agnes again. Isnt it great ? We ought to throw them largesse
Whats that, Aggie? demanded Dot. It it sounds like a kind of cheese. Mr. Maroni sells it.
No, no! gasped Tess. Thats gorgonzola I asked Maria. And it smells!
Goosey! laughed Agnes. Largesse is money. Rich folks used to throw it to the poor.
My! observed Dot. I guess they dont do it now. Poor folks have to work for money.
Its just dear of them to come and serenade us, Ruth declared. But its so cold! Do call them in to get warm, Mrs. Mac.
Already the housekeeper was scurrying downstairs. She had routed out Linda early to make coffee against this very emergency, for Mrs. MacCall had known that the Corner House girls were to be serenaded on Christmas morning.
The four sisters dressed hastily and ran down to greet their little friends from Meadow Street, as well as Mrs. Kranz and Joe Maroni. The latter had brought the leetla padrona, as he called Ruth, his usual offering of a basket of fruit. Mrs. Kranz kissed the Kenway girls all around, declaring:
Posies growing de garten in iss nodt so sveet like you kinder. Merry, merry Christmas!
While the carol singers drank cups of hot coffee the Corner House girls brought forth the presents they had intended to send over to Meadow Street later in the day, but now could give in person to each child.
The choristers went away with merry shouts just at sunrise, and then Dot and Tess insisted that the family should troop into the dining room to take down the rest of the stockings.
Breakfast this morning was a movable feast and lasted till nine oclock. Nobody expected to eat any luncheon; indeed, Mrs. MacCall declared she could not take the time to prepare any.
You bairns must tak a bit in your fistie, as we used to say, and be patient till dinner time, she said.
Dinner was to be early. Mrs. Eland and Miss Pepperill came in the doctors automobile soon after noon, and Tess and Dot were at once engaged in entertaining these guests in the sitting room.
It was a real blessing to the little Corner House girls, for it kept them out of the dining room, where they could not keep their eyes off the heavily laden tree, the fruit of which must not be touched until after dinner.
Neale ONeil had, of course, come over for his stocking and had expressed his gratitude to his friends at the old Corner House. But, as Ruth had been glum the day before, so Neale was silent now. Agnes became quite angry with him and sent him home in the middle of the forenoon.
And you
neednt come to dinner, sir nor afterward if you cant have a Christmas smile upon your face, she told him, severely.
It was while the preparations for dinner were in full progress, that Ruth heard voices on the side porch. Rather, a voice, resonant and commanding which said:
Hear ye! hear ye! hear ye! I proclaim good tidings to all creatures. Come! gather around me and list to my word. I bear gifts, frankincense and myrrh
Goodness me! cried Agnes. Thats Seneca Sprague. And look at the cats!
The girls ran out upon the porch to see a tall, thin, gray-haired man, his abundant hair sweeping his shoulders, dressed in a flapping linen duster and with list slippers on his feet a queer enough costume indeed for a sharp winters day. But Seneca Sprague was never more warmly clad than this, and had been known to plod barefooted through snowdrifts.
Your humble servant, Miss Ruth, said the queer old man, doffing the straw hat and bowing low, for he held the oldest Corner House girl in much deference. I came to bring you good cheer and wish you a multitude of blessings. Verily, verily, I say unto you, they that give of their substance to the poor shall receive again a thousand fold. May your cup of joy be full to overflowing, Miss Ruth.