The Storyteller

New Zealand Tablet, 18 December 1913, Page 5

The Storyteller

HETTY ANN'S CHRISTMAS Hetty Ann pulled her short, scrubby little braid as far over her shoulder as it would come, patting and smoothing it in unconscious imitation of her companion. ■ r .. ■ Winny swung her own soft, thick yellow braid back impatiently she wished Hetty Ann would stop doing everything she did. She liked Hetty Ann, but she couldn't help wishing she had more —spunk. They were at the top of the long white hill leady ing up from tlie village ; a little further on stood the ). big white house where Winny lived, and a quarter of a mile beyond, the smaller one where Hetty Ann lived. Everything about Hetty Ann seemed brown—even the house she lived in. Her worsted tam-o'-shanter was brown, her coat and skirt were brown, her woollen mittens were brown, so was the narrow ribbon at the end of her diminutive braid and from her small brown face looked out a pair of honest, dog-like brown eyes. - Winny picked up a handful of the freshly fallen snow, rolling it into a hard ball. Should she, or ; shouldn't she?. It seemed a horrid sort of thing to do; and yet if she didn't it would be more horrid for Hetty someone had to look out' for Hetty Ann.

Hetty Ann was making a' ball too. The touch of irritation this fact gave Winny settled the matter. She stopped, her hand on the gate : ‘ Come on in,’ she said, ‘ I’ve something to tell you.’' ‘ I ’ Hetty Ann hesitated. ‘You must. It's important.’ . Hetty Ann followed Winny up the path to the side door doubtfully. Miss Amanda expected her straight home after school. ‘ Mother’s gone to town shopping,’ Winny explained as they went into the sitting room. ‘Christmas shopping!’ Hetty Ann’s voice was eager.

‘Of course! It’s only four days to Christmas.’ Winny pulled Hetty Ann down Beside her on the sofa. ‘ I — know what you’re going to get for Christmas, Hetty Ann ! ’ ‘ Oh!’ Hetty Ann cried. ‘ls it nice, Winny?’ ‘lt’s horrid! That’s why I’m going to tell you. I heard Miss Amanda telling mother about it last night. They were out in the kitchen, and I was studying my lessons in here, and I couldn’t help hearing.’ ‘ Please,’ Hetty Ann broke in, ‘ I guess I’d rather you. didn’t tell me, Winny; 1 don’t believe Miss Amanda ’

‘ I wouldn’t if —it’s part of Christmas the being surprised, only the surprises ought to be nice—l can’t bear to have you disappointed, Hetty Ann.’ ‘ I—guess I haven’t any right to be disappointed at —anything,’ Hetty Ann said slowly. At that Winny actually shook her. ‘You have, too, Hetty Ann! Hasn’t Miss Amanda regularly adopted you? Don’t you belong to her? When you belong to folks and they’re not poor you have got a right to be disappointed if they make Christmas presents out of tiresome things they’d have to buy you anyhow. Hetty Ann, what do you want for Christmas?’

Hetty Ann drew a long breath, twisting and untwisting her brown fingers in the lap of her brown dress; her brown eyes were on the broad stretch of snowcovered garden outside in the centre of it stood a slender fir tree. It made her think of Christmas trees. Hetty Ann had never seen a Christmas tree in all its glory, but she had read about them. She had only been Miss Amanda's 'adopted' since last summer; before that she had lived with Tier great-aunt over at the cross-roads. Aunt Elvira had been" old and sick and poor, and had long since'forgotten the days when she had been young. When she had died last June Miss Amanda Speir, taking a liking, to the sober, silent Hetty Ann, had adopted her, to save her from going to the poor farm. „ What do you want for Christmas?' Winny repeated. ' I ' ' Haven't you thought V T Y—yes—a little.' ' Then tell me.' . ' ' Just thinking things ain't really —expecting them,' Hetty Ann protested. . ' See here!' Hetty Ann, if you won't tell me what you want 'l'm going to tell you what you're going to get. You're going to get a dress for best—brown, because " it's such a good wearing colour," and a pair of shoes and some woollen stockings and some woollen —brown. Miss Amanda said she'd calculated tHat your school things, being all new this fall, ought to do you for best and school.too up to the new year. She says she doesn't believe in bringing young folks up to be " notiony." ' For a moment Hetty Ann said nothing. She Was trying loyally to acquiesce in this arrangement of Miss Amanda's, telling herself that she had no right to expect a best —never in all her life before had she had two new dresses in one season. Two really new dresses, bought' and made just for her; and not the sometimes misguided,offering of a charitably disposed neighbour-. ~,'..'; V ~'", . -' /Well!' Winny demanded. ■ ;- 1 1,' -Hetty Ann began then, inborn honesty of ./speech getting the better of her, ' I wish they weren't

ail to bebrown. I’m sort of tired of—brown. I—wish red went. Winny, I daren't, truly.’ ‘Hetty Ann!’ vVinny sprang up. ‘Oh, Hetty Ann, I’ve a perfectly splendid idea!’ Catching hold of Hetty Ann’s hands, Winny pulled her to her feet, whispering something in her ear with as much mystery of manner two were not in sole possession of the big, quiet house. ‘Oh!’ Hetty Ann’s colour came and went. ‘ Winny, I daren't, truly.’ ‘ Yes, you do dare. Mind you do it to-night.’ . : / Oh, Winny ! I daren’t—l -’ , ■ * Promise. If you promise, you’ll do it. If you won t promise, I won’t be friends with you foreverso nowT

If Hetty Ann was good at keeping promises, Winny w as equally good at fulfilling threats. Hetty Ann wavered. All the girls liked to be friends with Winny Dunbar, and Hetty Ann had never had a friend of her own before. Then she glanced at the clock. ‘I must go,’ she declared. ‘lt’s half-past four, Winny.’ But Winny was standing in front of the door, both hands outstretched. Please, Hetty Ann,’ she coaxed, ‘ I do want you to Lave a nice Christmas. I shan’t enjoy mine half as much if you don’t, and Miss AmandaTl be glad afterwards — anyhovj, if she ain’t she ought to be-=— so it’s really for her good, you see.’ And Hetty Ann promised. ‘ Only 1 wish I hadn’t gone in,’ she thought, running swiftly up the road. ‘ Oh, I hope Miss Amanda won’t be vexed about my being late. If she is vexed about that and then ’ Miss Amanda looked up from her sewing as Hetty Ann made her breathless appearance. ‘ Been kept after?’ she asked. No m. I stopped In over to Winny Dunbar’s a few moments. Hetty Ann hung up her cap and coat and put away her books. She had taken kindly to the regular, orderly routine of Miss Amanda’s extremely limited household. Now she began to lay the table for the early supper, •glancing a little anxiously from time to time at the tall, upright figure sewing beside the window. Miss Amanda hadn’t scolded her for being late, but what would she say when- She wished she hadn’t promised. Miss Amanda folded up her work and drew down the shades; then. she lighted the hanging lamp, with its crimson shade. /The low, square room looked very warm and snug, the big stove sending out a cheerful glow through Its rounding front of isinglass. Hetty Ann loved this time of the day—the sense of comfort and protection the homely old room breathed. . If she only hadn’t promised ! Why it seemed as if it ought to be Christmas enough— just to be Miss Amanda’s‘adopted.’ Miss Amanda glanced in her turn more than once at Hetty Ann’s troubled face. Not even to herself was she willing to admit now fond she was growing of the child, so deep was the interest her advent had brought into her lonely life. \ ‘-Know your lessons all right to-day, Hetty Ann?’ she asked as they sat down to supper. The brown face opposite brightened. ‘I was head of the spelling, and I didn’t miss in anything.’ Hm, Miss Amanda said ‘I was always pretty good at spelling myself.’ / There was distinct approval in her voice, and Hetty Ann glowed. But after supper, washing up the dishes in the kitchen, with only old Tabby lapping her saucer of milk on the hearth for company, the troubled look came back to Hetty Ann’s face. Would Miss Amanda think Her ungrateful ? Would she wish sue had not adopted her ? Still, Winny had said that at Christmas—if Wnm}' - hadn’t told hera new dress for Best, that would make two new dresses this winter.

Shaking the dishwater from her fingers, Hetty Ann drew up her long gingham apron. Below, tie long, straight folds of her brown flannel skirt hung down nearly to the tops of her stout, serviceable shoes. Winny s school afess was a bright plaid, and her ribbons

were red. Winny had made her promiseit was wuked to break promises. Suppose—a red dress that was soft and planed, with lace at the neck and sleeves—perhaps Miss Amanda would let her wear it next speaking day.’ Hetty Ann Miss Amanda called from the sit-ting-room. ‘Ain’t you got those dishes washed up yet V And Hetty Ann came back to the present. She was strapping up her books the next morning when Winny came over. ‘Did you do it?’ Winny demanded the moment Hetty opened the 1 door. * I-—it’s ready. 1 haven’t ’ ‘ See here, Hetty Ann! I’ll let you off from that promise.’ 1 Oh, Winny Hetty Ann’s relief was evident. * * * * «

As she settled herself in the train and opened her bag to take out her ticket Miss Amanda caught "ight of a folded slip of paper. She took it out, opening it wonderingly. Who could have put it in her bag ? Then her brows contracted. —red*. Gloves tan-coloured. Shoes—shiny tips. Stockings— ribbed. 1 Little Women.' Cologne. Handkerchiefs—pretty, ones. Candy. Under the Lilacs.' . Pretty box. There was a bright spot of color on both Miss Amanda's cheeks when she finished reading that list. Hetty Ann should go without any Christmas whatever; but she should not go without the reason why.: Miss Amanda returned the slip of paper to her bag, snapping the clasp sharply. She would attend to some shopping for herself, and return home by the noon train. Miss Amanda sat up very straight, her eyes on the long line of white fields bordering the track. She was disappointed in Hetty Ann. It had been a mistake, perhaps, taking the child. And then a sudden thought came to her. Miss Amanda took out the list again, studying the writing carefully. No, that was not Hetty Ann's writing. Winny Dunbar had been over that morning, and—Miss Amanda's thoughts worked rapidly, searching for evidence in favour of Hetty Ann. She remembered now finding Winny alone in the sit-ting-room. Her bag had been on the side table, too. She had brought it down before breakfast; and Winny had looked as if sue were up to some mischief. Winny was a

The flush on Miss Amanda’s face was not all of anger now. But why should Winny have taken it for granted that she didn’t intend giving Hetty Ann any Christmas, or had Winny overheard that night, and chosen this way to show Her disapproval of Miss Amanda’s plans ? Of course, she should not take any notice of such a piece of impertinence. She was glad, however, not to be obliged to deprive Hetty Ann of the Christmas she had already planned for her.

The clerk took down a heavy piece of brown serge in response to Miss Amanda’s request, unrolling and holding it up before her. It was the exact shade she was looking for, and yet Hetty Ann would look good in red. Quite inconsequently Miss Amanda’s thoughts went back to a red dress she had Bad the winter she was fourteen. She turned to the waiting clerk: ‘ Show me this quality in a deep red, if you please.’ ' From the dress goods Miss Amanda made her way to the ribbon counter, and the ribbons she bought were red. At the glove counter she made,one last stand, asking for woollen/gloves; but somehdw they seemed very woolleny; and, ‘in for a penny in for a pound,’ Miss Amanda pushed aside the woollen gloves, asking for kid, tan-coloured. v

And all the while she told herself that she was a foolish, soft-hearted old maid to be swayed by what was neither more nor less than a piece of childish pre-

« , , : sumption on Winny Dunbar's part. And all the while she knew that never in her life had she enjoyed a shoppings expedition so much. People were certainly very friendly; one anxious-eyed mother at the book counter actually asked her advice. , 1 How old is your daughter Miss Amanda questioned. ;* / - Fifteen," the other answered. Miss Amanda held out Little Women' and Under the Lilacs.' ' I am choosing these for my —■ adopted —niece.' The words sent a pleasant thrill through her. Later, sipping her tea in one corner of the crowded restaurant, Miss Amanda suddenly decided to postpone the rest of her shopping until the next day, bringing Hetty Ann in town with her. Hetty Ann had never been in town at Christmas time . Hetty Ann was at the station to meet her, with old Bob and the cutter. She tried dutifully not to see Miss Amanda's bundlesrather a difficult task, considering how bundle-laden Miss Amanda was. There was no shadow on the little brown face and one glance at it convinced Miss Amanda that, whoever had put that paper in her bag, it had not been Hetty Ann, 'Hetty Ann,' she asked abruptly as old Bob picked his slow way up the hill toward home, ' would you like to go in town with me to-morrow?' Hetty Ann's brown eyes shone. Oh, Miss Amanda 1'

‘ I’ve got some more shopping to do. It’s past belief how crowded the stores are ; it takes a sight of time to get anything done. We’ll take that early train.’

* Yes’m,’ Hetty Ann answered and lost herself in dreams of the coming treat. She was glad Winny had let her off from that promiseshe could do her shopping in town now, instead of down at the village store.

When she came to say good-night that evening Miss Amanda slipped a crisp new bill into her hand : * I reckon you’ll want to do some buying on your own account to-morrow, she said.

, Hetty Ann flushed with pleasure. ‘But Miss Amanda, I’ve got something saved up— ’most three dollars. —yon— wouldn't want me to spend nearly eight qouars, would you?’ 4 Her day’s experiences had swept Miss Amanda far out from her quiet, accustomed channel. ‘ Well,’ she said slowly, ‘ I shouldn’t like you to. spend it foolishly, Hefty Ann; but— I reckon there ain’t much use laying down hard and fast rules at Christmas time. After all, Christmas only comes once a year.’ Hetty Ann. came home from that shopping expedition in much the same state of mental bewilderment, as to her personal identity, as had perplexed the old woman who r went to market all on a market day.’ Never in all her fourteen and a half years had " Hetty Ann known such a day of varying and bewildering delights. The busy streets, the shop windows with their glimpses into wonderlands Hetty Ann had never dreamed of as existing, the crowded stores, the shopping itself, with its sense of mystery, when at times she and Miss Amanda went their separate ways. And through it all, intensifying the pleasure, the recognition of something different, hardly to be defined, in Miss Amanda’s manner.

‘As if,’ Hetty Ann snuggled down still further /under the warm bedclothes, ‘ as if we really and truly did belong to each other.’ Christmas was a beautiful time, Hetty Ann thought; if only Winny hadn’t told her what her presents were to be still, they were Christmas presents from Miss Amanda, and she should love them— one; after all, it was not so much what they were, as that Miss Amanda was giving them to her, that counted. And if Miss Amanda liked, Hetty Ann decided sleepily, why, she would wear brown all her life. When Hetty Ann came downstairs on Christmas morning, she found the sitting-room wearing a most unmistakable air of Christmas festivity. There were wreaths of evergreen at the windows; and here and there about the room Miss Amanda had fastened

sprays of holly. And at Hetty Ann’s place oa the breakfast table was an array of parcels, ■ large and small.

Hetty Ann caught her breath; she couldn’t know what was in them all! She had brought down a little pile of packages for Miss Amanda’s end of the table. Hetty Ann had spent all her money for Miss Amanda and Winny, and the neighbors’ children and Jake, the hired man she hoped Miss Amanda wouldn’t think she had spent it foolishly.

Evidently, Miss Amanda did not. She looked with pleased, approving eyes -at the fur-lined slippers, the pretty neckwear, and all her other new possessions. 1 I must say, Hetty Ann,’ she said heartily, ‘ you spent your money real sensibly.’ Hetty Ann’s presents were unwrapped by now; in her brown cheeks was a glow just the color of the crimson holly berries. Miss Amanda had bought everything on that list of Winny’s, not frqgetting the candy; and she had even added one or two articles of her own choosing. ‘Oh!’ Hetty Ann cried, ‘how did you know just what I wanted ?’ She stroked the folds of her red serge lovingly. ‘ I found out —quite by— accident,’ Miss Amanda answered. ‘ Hetty Ann, I reckon if you help real good, we ought to get that dress done for you to wear to the Christmas tree on Wednesday night. You might run over after breakfast and ask Mrs. Dunbar to let me take the pattern of Winny’s dress. We might as well make this up a bit tasty, I suppose.’ ‘Oh !’ Hetty Ann cried again. ‘ I just can’t thank you, Miss Amanda.’ Miss Amanda flushed. ‘lt seems to me, Hetty Ann, that you might make it, Aunt Amanda; it Wouldn’t sound so sort offormal.’

And Hetty Ann’s Christmas cup of joy was full.