A MARK Twain CHRISTMAS

Evening Post, Volume CXII, Issue 150, 22 December 1931, Page 25

A MARK Twain CHRISTMAS

"As I tliiuk back 011 the yeara spent in Father's company, I realise that there was rarely an. hour when something of hia genius did not ahino forth. Even when surrounded by comforts and luxuries, he never, sank into their clutches. Ho did not become 'coinfortablo' to the detriment of his intellect and soul. Both wore continually on fire. Wherever ho was, he created a world of oncrgisod thought." Olara Clemens, in tho "North American Boviow." "I shall never forget tho royal preparations for Christmas in our home. At that time I appreciated everything only as a thrilling oxporioneo that made up for trials endured during school hours. How could any one individual buy, wrap up, and expedito so many presents for ono single- day in tho your as my mother did1?" writes Clara Clemens, the daughter of Mark Twain, in the "North American. Review." Many will appreciate her picture of Christinas in tho Mark Twain household with its Dickensian, touch. "Presents for the family, for the sorvonts, i'or poor children and their parents, for friends abroad,, i'or the giek and insane. - • "The work began many weeks before tho holiday. Even so, there ■ seemed always to be a rush, at the end. A room wo called tho 'mahogany room' (because tho furniture and parts of the walls were' of this wood.) was used for tho storing of gifts and wrapping of packages. Mother had a German talent for thoroughness in any task ahe undertook. '' Her., energy and patience were incredible. Father did not approve oi1 her doing so much long-sustained work, because he always worried about hor health. But the Christmas complications seemed to increase rather than decrease as tho yoars went on, and I remember his saying many times after he lost his money and wo left liurope in order to live cheaply: fI am glud for one reason that financial losses havo struck us 1; Your mother will have to give up that Christmas suicide.' " 'TWAS THE NIGHT BEFORE CHRISTMAS." "When Christmas Eva arrived at last, wo children hung up our stockings in the schoolroom which was next our nursery, and did it with "great ceremony. Mother recited the welcome little poem, ' 'Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house,' etc. Father sometimes dressed up as Santa Claus, and after running about a dimly-lighted room (wo always turned the gas down low), trying to warm himself after the cold sleigh-drive through the snow, ho sat down and told some of his experiences on the way. "His little talk usually ended with words something like these: 'As I often lose tho letters I receivo, or get them mixed up, I may havo confused all your wishes, so that tho stocking which should havo bulged out with a donkey's head may bo depressed by a hair-ribbon: Therefore, I should like to gathor up your thanks now, as you may not1 feel like giving me any after Christmas. Anyway, I shall be gone then.' " Wo all squealed, 'Thank you, thank you, Santa Claus, for the things "we hope to like I' and then after a short game of tag Father ran away to remove his cotton beard and red coat. ORIENTAL CALM OF THE CAT. *' One of our cats; sarcastically named ' Apollinaris,'• was always pressed up in bows and invited in while wo pinned up our stockings. lie brought a certain balance of temperament with him that was very much needed. His Oriontal calm kept us from bursting with excitement. "My sisters and I were obliged to retire at an early hour every evening, not exoopting Christmas live. Therefore by.eight o'clock wo wero in bed launched on a long night of wakofulnoss, while Mother started on a night of work down in the mahogan/ room. "As a matter of fact w© should havo been tired enough to sleep, for the day before Christmas' was always spent in a very' strenuous way by my sistors and me. We; drove around with the coachman ;\vhilb he deliverefl some of tho Christmas packages that went to the poor—great baskets with the feet of turkeys protruding below blankets of flowers and fruit. * "Wrapped up in mufflers and snugly tucked in a fur robe, we children drove'far out into tho country in an open sleigh, tingling with delight at tho sound of tho bells. We absorbed tho beauty and charm of such a wintor's day, and could never get too much of the cTisp air that seemod to sparkle through tho rapid pace of tho horses over tho soft while ground. "Finally all became still in the schoolroom. Tho fairies must have gone. Not a sound. The forms left behind motionless, speechless. Are they pretty? ' Aro they useful? Shall wo love them 1 , "By and by, Susie whispers to me, •Let's take one little peek thrgugh tho door. With a tiny bit of light from the bathrooom we can get an idea of the shapes without seeing anything.' "It didn't take me long to say, 'Yes.' "Opening tho door a few inchos, and hy means of a dim ray. of light, we saw—■ "Oh, dear, shut the door quick 1 We must not look, that's wicked! What do you suppose that hugo black tiling can be? It scorns to fill the room I Come, lot's try to go to sleep.' Of course, that was impossible. "Eventually six o'clock came and we rang for the nurse to build a lire in the schoolroom, and help us dress with as little washing as possible. Now the door opens wide,! Tho groat moment of revealed mysteries has arrived. Joy blades supreme in that Christmas room, and natural instinct tells us to hold that first moment a little longer. Stop and gaze at tho beauty of tho unknown in undefined shapes and delicate tints. Do not roughen it with nioro intimate knowledge. "But, at last, oach makes a rush for her own table, scattering ribbons, papers and ejaculations with yehemont thanks. Think of it. Tho big object soeming to fill the centre of the room turned out to be a-lovely upright piano. Could it bo truoj Once I had said to my parents. 'How wonderful it must be to bo able to play on the piano, Do girls ever play?' And here was a real livo piano in front of my eyes, and I was only six years old. "Fathor and Mothor always roso very late on Christmas morning. So wo wore well acquainted with our presents, and had oven written several lottors of thanks, before our parents appeared. They inspected their gifts, which were clown in tho drawing room, and callors from the neighbourhood began to arrive. ,' "Father always drow a sigh of relief when tho holidays were over, for tho reasou that they included social festivities which were sometimes a burden to him, particularly if he happened to be in the mood of writing; and this mood, he was wont to declare, always attacked him when some 'mentally dead people brought their corpsos with them on a Iqng visit.' "His intimate friend, Joseph Twicholl, was our clergyman, and I remember feeling deeply embarrassed once when father said to Mr. Twiehell, 'Joe, that's a clever trick of yours to pound the pulpit extra hard when you haven't anything to say,'

, "I thought Mr. Twichell would show embarrassment, but, to my surprise, ho' laughed' quite loud and replied, 'Mark, it jvas clevei; of gou jto diseoyei; it/ __