“I DID try to keep 'em in order,” she said, “but they seem to bash things when you're not looking.”
But Gissing was too happy to stew2 about such trifles. When the inspection3 was over, they all sat down by the chimney and he piled on more logs.
“Well, chilluns,” he said, “what do you want Santa Claus to bring you for Christmas?”
“An aunbile!” exclaimed Groups
“A little train with hammers!” exclaimed Yelpers
“A little train with hammers?” asked Gissing. “What does he mean?”
“Oh,” said Groups and Bunks, with condescending5 pity, “he means a typewriter. He calls it a little train because it moves on a track when you hit it.”
A painful apprehension6 seized him, and he went hastily to his study. He had not noticed the typewriter, which Mrs. Spaniel had—too late—put out of reach. Half the keys were sticking upright, jammed together and tangled7 in a whirl of ribbon; the carriage was strangely dislocated. And yet even this mischance, which would once have horrified8 him, left him unperturbed. It's my own fault, he thought: I shouldn't have left it where they could play with it. Perhaps God thinks the same when His creatures make a mess of the dangerous laws of life.
“A Christmas story!” the children were clamouring.
Can it really be Christmas Eve? Gissing thought. Christmas seems to have come very suddenly this year, I haven't really adjusted my mind to it yet.
“All right,” he said. “Now sit still and keep quiet. Bunks, give Yelpers a little more room. If there's any bickering9 Santa Claus might hear it.”
He sat in the big chair by the fire, and the three looked upward expectantly from the hearthrug.
“Once upon a time there were three little puppies, who lived in a house in the country in the Canine10 Estates. And their names were Groups, Bunks, and Yelpers.”
The three tails thumped11 in turn as the names were mentioned, but the children were too excitedly absorbed to interrupt.
“What's a rumour?” cried Yelpers, alarmed.
This was rather difficult to explain, so Gissing did not attempt it. He began again.
“They heard that Santa Claus might not be able to come because he was so behind with his housework. You see, Santa Claus is a great big Newfoundland dog with a white beard, and he lives in a frosty kennel13 at the North Pole, all shining with icicles round the roof and windows. But it's so far away from everywhere that poor Santa couldn't get a servant. All the maids who went there refused to stay because it was so cold and lonely, and so far from the movies. Santa Claus was busy in his workshop, making toys; he was busy taking care of the reindeer14 in their snow-stables; and he didn't have time to wash his dishes. So all summer he just let them pile up and pile up in the kitchen. And when Christmas came near, there was his lovely house in a dreadful state of untidiness. He couldn't go away and leave it like that. And so, if he didn't get his dishes washed and the house cleaned up for Christmas, all the puppies all over the world would have to go without toys. When Groups and Bunks and Yelpers heard this, they were very much worried.”
“How did they hear it?” asked Bunks, who was the analytical15 member of the trio.
“A very sensible question,” said Gissing, approvingly. “They heard it from the chipmunk16 who lives in the wood behind the house. The chipmunk heard it underground.”
“In his chipmonastery?” cried Groups. It was a family joke to call the chipmunk's burrow17 by that name, and though the puppies did not understand the pun they relished18 the long word.
“Yes,” continued Gissing. “The reindeer in Santa Claus's stable were so unhappy about the dishes not being washed, and the chance of missing their Christmas frolic, that they broadcasted a radio message. Their horns are very fine for sending radio, and the chipmunk, sitting at his little wireless19 outfit20, with the receivers over his ears, heard it. And Chippy told Groups and Bunks and Yelpers.
“So these puppies decided21 to help Santa Claus. They didn't know exactly where to find him, but the chipmunk told them the direction, and off they went. They travelled and travelled, and when they came to the ocean they begged a ride from the seagulls, and each one sat on a seagull's back just as though he was on a little airplane. They flew and flew, and at last they came to Santa Claus's house. Through the stable-walls, which were made of clear ice, they could see the reindeer stamping in their stalls. In the big workshop, where Santa Claus was busy making toys, they could hear a lively sound of hammering. The big red sleigh was standing23 outside the stables, all ready to be hitched24 up to the reindeer.
“They slipped into Santa Claus's house quickly and quietly, so no one would see or hear them. The house was in a terrible state, but they set to work to clean up. Groups found the vacuum cleaner and sucked up all the crumbs25 from the dining-room rug. Bunks ran upstairs and made Santa Claus's bed for him and swept the floors and put clean towels in the bathroom. And Yelpers hurried into the kitchen and washed the dishes, and scrubbed the pots, and polished the egg-stains off the silver spoons, and emptied the ice-box pan. All working hard, they got through very soon, and made Santa Claus's house as clean as any house could be. They fixed26 the window-shades so that they would all hang level, not just anyhow, as poor Santa had them. Then, when everything was spick and span, they ran outdoors again and beckoned27 the seagulls. They climbed on the gulls22' backs, and away they flew homeward.”
“Was Santa Claus pleased?” asked Bunks.
“Indeed he was, when he came back from his workshop, very tired after making toys all day.”
“What kind of toys did he make?” exclaimed Yelpers anxiously. “Did he make a typewriter?”
“He made every kind of toy. And when he saw how his house had been cleaned up, he thought the fairies must have done it. He lit his pipe, and filled a thermos28 bottle with hot cocoa to keep him warm on his long journey. Then he put on his red coat, and his long boots, and his fur cap, and went out to harness the reindeer. That very night he drove off with his sleigh packed full of toys for all the puppies in the world. In fact, he was so pleased that he loaded his big bag with more toys than he had ever carried before. And that was how a queer thing happened.”
“You know, Santa Claus always drives into the Canine Estates by the little back road through the woods, where the chipmunk lives. You know the gateway30, at the bend in the lane: well, it's rather narrow, and Santa Claus's sleigh is very wide. And this time, because his bag had so many toys in it, the bag bulged31 over the edge of the sleigh, and one corner of the bag caught on the gatepost as he drove by. Three toys fell out, and what do you suppose they were?”
“An aunbile!”
“An elphunt!”
“A typewriter!”
“Yes, that's quite right. And it happened that the chipmunk was out that night, digging up some nuts for his Christmas dinner, a little sad because he had no presents to give his children; and he found the three toys. He took them home to the little chipmunks32, and they were tremendously pleased. That was only fair, because if it hadn't been for the chipmunk and his radio set, no one would have had any toys that Christmas.”
“Did Santa Claus have any more typewriters in his bag?” asked Yelpers gravely.
“Oh, yes, he had plenty more of everything. And when he got to the house where Groups and Bunks and Yelpers lived, he slid down the chimney and took a look round. He didn't see any crumbs on the floor, or any toys lying about not put away, so he filled the stockings with all kinds of lovely things, and an aunbile and an elphunt and a typewriter.”
“What did the puppies say?” they inquired.
“They were sound asleep upstairs, and didn't know anything about it until Christmas morning. Come on now, it's time for bed.”
“We can undress ourselves now,” said Groups.
“Will you tuck me in?” said Bunks.
“You're sure he had another typewriter in his bag?” said Yelpers.
Later, when the house was quiet, Gissing went out to the kitchen to see Mrs. Spaniel. She was diligently34 rolling pastry35, and her nose was white with flour.
“Oh, sir, I'm glad you got home in time for Christmas,” she said. “The children were counting on it. Did you have a successful trip, sir?”
“Every trip is successful when you get home again,” said Gissing. “I suppose the shops will be open late to-night, won't they? I'm going to run down to the village to get some toys.”
Before leaving the house, he went down to the cellar to see if the furnace was all right. He was amazed to see how naturally and cheerfully he had slipped back into the old sense of responsibility. Where was the illusory freedom he had dreamed of? Even the epiphany on the hilltop now seemed a distant miracle. That fearful happiness might never come again. And yet here, among the familiar difficult minutiae36 of home, what a lightness he felt. A great phrase from the prayer-book came to his mind—“Whose service is perfect freedom.”
Ah, he said to himself, it is all very well to wear a crown of thorns, and indeed every sensitive creature carries one in secret. But there are times when it ought to be worn cocked over one ear.
He opened the furnace door. A bright glow filled the fire-box: he could hear a stir and singing in the boiler37, and the rustle38 of warm pipes that chuckled39 quietly through winter nights of storm. Over the coals hovered40 a magic evasive flicker41, the very soul of fire. It was a Pentecostal flame, perfect and heavenly in tint42, the essence of pure colour, a clear immortal43 blue.
THE END
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1
wreckage
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| n.（失事飞机等的）残骸，破坏，毁坏 | |
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2
stew
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| n.炖汤，焖，烦恼；v.炖汤，焖，忧虑 | |
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3
inspection
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| n.检查，审查，检阅 | |
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bunks
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| n.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的名词复数 )；空话，废话v.（车、船等倚壁而设的）铺位( bunk的第三人称单数 )；空话，废话 | |
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5
condescending
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| adj.谦逊的,故意屈尊的 | |
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6
apprehension
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| n.理解，领悟；逮捕，拘捕；忧虑 | |
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7
tangled
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| adj. 纠缠的，紊乱的 动词tangle的过去式和过去分词 | |
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8
horrified
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| a.(表现出)恐惧的 | |
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9
bickering
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| v.争吵( bicker的现在分词 )；口角；（水等）作潺潺声；闪烁 | |
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10
canine
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| adj.犬的，犬科的 | |
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thumped
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| v.重击， （指心脏）急速跳动( thump的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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12
rumour
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| n.谣言，谣传，传闻 | |
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13
kennel
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| n.狗舍，狗窝 | |
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reindeer
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| n.驯鹿 | |
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15
analytical
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| adj.分析的；用分析法的 | |
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16
chipmunk
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| n.花栗鼠 | |
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17
burrow
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| vt.挖掘(洞穴)；钻进；vi.挖洞；翻寻；n.地洞 | |
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18
relished
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| v.欣赏( relish的过去式和过去分词 )；从…获得乐趣；渴望 | |
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19
wireless
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| adj.无线的；n.无线电 | |
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outfit
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| n.（为特殊用途的）全套装备，全套服装 | |
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21
decided
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| adj.决定了的，坚决的；明显的，明确的 | |
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gulls
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| n.鸥( gull的名词复数 )v.欺骗某人( gull的第三人称单数 ) | |
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23
standing
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| n.持续，地位；adj.永久的，不动的，直立的，不流动的 | |
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24
hitched
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| （免费）搭乘他人之车( hitch的过去式和过去分词 )； 搭便车； 攀上； 跃上 | |
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25
crumbs
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| int. (表示惊讶)哎呀 n. 碎屑 名词crumb的复数形式 | |
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26
fixed
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| adj.固定的，不变的，准备好的；(计算机)固定的 | |
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27
beckoned
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| v.（用头或手的动作）示意，召唤( beckon的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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28
thermos
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| n.保湿瓶，热水瓶 | |
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29
suspense
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| n.（对可能发生的事）紧张感，担心，挂虑 | |
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30
gateway
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| n.大门口，出入口，途径，方法 | |
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31
bulged
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| 凸出( bulge的过去式和过去分词 )； 充满； 塞满（某物） | |
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32
chipmunks
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| n.金花鼠( chipmunk的名词复数 ) | |
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33
scrambled
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| v.快速爬行( scramble的过去式和过去分词 )；攀登；争夺；（军事飞机）紧急起飞 | |
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34
diligently
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| ad.industriously;carefully | |
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35
pastry
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| n.油酥面团，酥皮糕点 | |
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36
minutiae
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| n.微小的细节，细枝末节；（常复数）细节，小事( minutia的名词复数 ) | |
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37
boiler
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| n.锅炉；煮器(壶，锅等) | |
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38
rustle
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| v.沙沙作响；偷盗(牛、马等)；n.沙沙声声 | |
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39
chuckled
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| 轻声地笑( chuckle的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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40
hovered
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| 鸟( hover的过去式和过去分词 )； 靠近（某事物）； （人）徘徊； 犹豫 | |
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41
flicker
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| vi./n.闪烁，摇曳，闪现 | |
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42
tint
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| n.淡色，浅色；染发剂；vt.着以淡淡的颜色 | |
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43
immortal
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| adj.不朽的；永生的，不死的；神的 | |
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