Chimes rang out in the distance, suddenly her knees collapsed3 and she burrowed4 her flushed face in the pillow. A miniature earthquake had leveled her make-believe land. Now it was raining on her pillow. What a great god she was to build country and shake it down and wash away the debris5 with rain.
After the deluge6 she was as alone as in the beginning. All of her best friends were gone. They had not been permitted in the ward7 to say goodbye. When Nurse relayed their farewells from the corridor to the patient some of the sadness melted away, but not all, not by any means.
She had begun all the make-believe nonsense to keep from remembering it was Christmas and that she was sick-a-bed without her family, without her chums. But it was no use. Stubbornly she put her mind back to her “Child’s Garden of Verse.” She said “The Friendly Cow,” “Singing in the Rain,” “Sea Cups,” and in spite of herself between each one she would revert8 to “When I was sick and lay abed——”
The siege of flu had begun to look like an epidemic9. There were six single beds in a row in the Infirmary and this Christmas morning each bed cradled a sick girl. Mimi, however, was the only one awake.
Ding, dong—ding, dong.
Mimi listened to the bells ring out. Perhaps they could do what trying-very-hard and poetry had failed to do. But she gave up. There was no use trying to forget it was Christmas for all day there would be reminders10. She must hope that somewhere in Leipzig Junior was dumping the contents of a bulging11 stocking on his bed instead of racing12 with her and winning by sliding down the bannisters to their usual tree at home. She hoped the gifts she had sent arrived in time. If it took as long for things to go to Leipzig as it did for them to come from there to America, the gifts would be late. Mimi knew that Mother Dear had sent her something in plenty of time but so far no package had reached her. As soon as Nurse would let her get up she would go to the Post Office and ask them to send a tracer. She was that sure Mother and Daddy had not failed her.
Gray morning was peeping around the cracks of the window shades. Mimi leaned over and eased her shade up the tiniest bit; at least that is what she intended to do but the shade slipped from her cold fingers and went whr-r-r—zip—all the way to the top. Mimi shut her eyes against the sound, and when she opened them and looked out, wonder of wonders a fairy world bade her good-morning. So softly the snow had fallen that no sleeper13 had heard.
Nose against the pane14, breath making fantastic wreaths on the glass, hands clutched as if praying, Mimi gasped15 in awe16. Then because she could never be unhappy long and because it was Christmas inside her, a WHITE Christmas, she sang out:
“Merry CHRISTMAS! Oh wake up, wake up, there is snow!”
Weak hands rubbing swollen17 eyes. Tousled heads rearing from pillows. Necks craned toward nearest windows.
“Merry Christmas yourself.” “Snow.” “Oh, SNOW!”
“Merry Christmas!” Nurse’s clear, crisp voice rose above the others. “What chance does an amateur Santa Claus have with all you girls already wide awake? I was outside in the hall hanging the last bangles on your tree when ‘there arose such a clatter18, I sprang to the DOOR to see what was the matter’!”
“Our tree?” came the chorus.
“Yes, your tree. You don’t think I’m mean enough to make you stay in bed and feast on orange juice instead of plum pudding without doing something for you?”
“May I come in?” It was Mrs. Cole in a fresh blouse and newly pressed skirt. She looked sweeter than Mimi had ever seen her. “Merry Christmas, girls. If you’ll help me, Nurse, we’ll roll the tree in.”
It was not a large tree; a living evergreen19 growing in a wooden tub and riding into the sick room on a rolling white hospital cart-table. Mimi had passed it by the steps many times scarcely noticing but today, decked so gayly and glittering so magnificently, it was as new as the snow. As they pushed the tree along the ornaments20 made an elfin jingle21.
Yesterday Mimi had wished her bed were at one end of the ward or the other so that she could lie on one side with her back to illness and forget it. Now she was glad that she was in the center of the room because the tree, placed in the middle of the room, was at the foot of her bed. If nurse had not made up the bed with tight square corners she could wriggle22 her toes free and touch it.
“There!”
Nurse and Mrs. Cole stood one to either side admiring their handiwork.
“But no presents or mail until baths, temperatures taken all around, and breakfast.”
Mimi knew Nurse meant exactly what she said and that no amount of begging would change her orders. Now if it were Mrs. Cole in charge.... But she wasn’t. Nurse’s word was law and obeyed to the letter. So was Dr. Ansley’s. Mimi tried not to show how impatient she was but eagerness danced in her merry blue eyes.
The hour finally came and for once, Mimi had more surprises than she could stand. The last one was the biggest and it brought tears.
First the mail was distributed. Nurse did not call out the names. She had it all sorted and handed each girl a neat stack. Otherwise, she would have read “Mimi Hammond” every other name for Mimi had as much mail as all the others put together.
Now for the packages.
The first one handed to Mimi made her heart leap. From Leipzig.—Careful not the tear the stamps, she ripped it open and lifted out three separate packages. She opened the lumpy one from Junior first. Not a guess what it was. It didn’t rattle23 or move about. What could it be? A peasant doll! Braided hair, crisp white cap, full skirts held in place by a tight bodice. Precious! The doll would sit on top of Mimi’s trunk in the living room so that all who opened the door of two hundred and seven could see and admire. And what could this one from Daddy be? Shake it. Feel it. No; guess again. Wrong both times. A Bohemian necklace with a crystal pendant to wear to Christmas parties. Daddy liked every one well and gay. He must realize, too, that she was growing up. This thin, flat package from Mother. Not as thick as a book but about that shape. Careful! Don’t tear. A picture and what a sweet one! Mimi did not fully24 appreciate what she had until the letter came telling about the trip to the Dresden Gallery to see Coregio’s, “The Holy Night,” and the “Sistine Madonna.” The print they sent Mimi was a Hanfstaengel called “The Cherubim,” artistically26 copying the little angels who hover27 around the Virgin28 in the full picture of the Madonna. Beaming faces. Mimi loved them. What wonderful gifts from Leipzig!
Then the small packages. Stationery29 from Chloe with Tumble Inn hand blocked in the upper left corner. Oh, these art students. Mimi’s fingers felt thick and clumsy as she untied30 Betsy’s package. It did not look neat but Mimi never judged inside by outside. An enviable black and white sport belt to wear with her riding habit. Two plain sport handkerchiefs from Madge with this verse printed on the card:
“Some hankies for show,
Some hankies for blow;
You know which to do
When you have flu.”
She hadn’t realized how clever Madge was. Olivia had left sealing wax and a Sheridan signet. Dit’s card was almost as good as a present. Under the greeting she had written, “To my Prep.” At first glance Mimi had interpreted the back handed phrase as “To my Pup.” She laughed aloud. She was reading the cards a second time. Surely that was all the packages but she was wrong. The too big surprise was coming up the steps now. Such a big box Mrs. Cole was having the janitor31 bring it up. Plop! He put it down beside Mimi’s bed.
“That’s right.” Mrs. Cole was directing behind him. “That’s the girl.”
“Miss MIMI HAMMOND,” the janitor read slowly.
The only reason Mimi didn’t guess was because, Christmas or any other time she wore an air of expecting-something-nice-to-happen. So often it did.
“Thank you.”
This looked like a crate32 of oranges. She could make out from the express label that whatever it was, it came from Bowling33 Green. Grand! Then a wave of suspicion swept over her. This might be a prank34. Not too many years ago when Sue played in her first recital35, Mimi herself had thought up the joke of sending Sue a box of weeds. Sue, unsuspecting, had opened them before her friends and cried with embarrassment36. Come to think of it, Sue had left no present. Maybe——
“I’ll pry37 the lid off, Miss,” the janitor was saying as he reached in his hip38 pocket for a hammer.
The squeak39 of the first nail drawn40 commanded silence. Every one in the room who could be up out of bed hovered41 near. The others sat up and craned their necks. Mimi with one hand held her robe together at the throat and with the other was squeezing the end of the pillow behind her back into a tight ball. Hurry, janitor, hurry but don’t get a splinter in your finger.
When he pulled the top off, the first thing Mimi saw was oranges, a whole half crate of them. It was a joke after all. Anyone with any sense would know that after four days of flu she never wanted to see an orange again. But what was under the red tissue covering the other half? One hand to her head to guard against dizzying weakness, Mimi peeked42 under the red paper. Presents, a whole array of them daintily tied up in green cellophane with silver ribbons and stars; almost the green and white of Sheridan. Mimi’s hands shook as she opened the note which lay unsealed atop the presents:
“A gift a day
The instructions followed. There was one package to be opened each day beginning now, Christmas, and every day thereafter until the holidays were over. The presents were labeled by days. She would find no cards as they had been bought by them all. The signatures which followed, Mimi kept and a year later they were the first page of the autograph book she prized so highly. Sue had planned the box, of course. She had rushed home breathless with the news that Mimi was quarantined. Dottie had taken charge (Mimi could picture her ordering the others around) and under Miss Jane’s supervision44 the gifts had been assembled. Racing down the list of names Mimi’s eyes clouded. A round tear splashed down and blurred45 the second name. She read, Miss Jane and Dick, Dottie, Jean, Margie, Sue, Miss Millie, and the last two surprised her most of all—Honky and Mammy Cissy. Bless their hearts! She had had none of Tiny Tim’s spirit when she awakened47, but now she was so touched by the thoughtfulness of her friends that she wanted to say aloud. “God bless you everyone. Bless Mother and Daddy and Sonny,” she tagged on at the end as if it were her bedtime prayer. Dottie had rounded them up to make the days come out correctly. One-two-three-four-five-six-seven-eight—eight days and Sue would be back knowing a thousand things Mimi was eager to find out.
How the days ever would have gone by without a daily surprise Mimi did not know. That certainly helped. She had been like old King Cole calling for his pipe and calling for his bowl. The difference was Mimi called for a “’sprise” and Nurse brought one. Now that she was better, writing letters of thanks filled much of her time. She used Tumble Inn stationery and sealed the envelopes with green wax imprinted48 with an old English “S.” Something else happened that helped more than that. Miss Millie paid her a “pop call”! That capped the climax49.
Mimi had been sitting in a big chair all wrapped up in her bathrobe studying. Yes, studying. But alas50 that Source Book. Every time she settled down to outside reading something happened.
“Pahdon Mah southe’n accent but is you all studyin’?”
Head around the door one second asking, the next entering and hugging Mimi, flu and all. That was Miss Millie, next-to-Miss-Jane-the-best-counsellor-in-the-world.
Blam!
Source Book to the floor—
“Millie—Oh—Millie! Am I seeing things?”
“No, ’tis I, Millie, former skipper of the Cuckoo’s Nest on Green River and now the most dignified51 member of the faculty52 ’way down yonder where I teach.”
It wouldn’t be Miss Millie if she wasn’t clowning.
“I hardly recognize you without your silly sailor hat but oh, Millie! Tell me the news. Where have you been? Where are you going? And that rudest question of all, how long can you stay?”
“Large order but I’ll try. I have been in Bowling Green for Christmas, am en route to the high school where I earn my daily bread, can stay here fifteen minutes. There is a taxi waiting at your door now. He promised to get me to the train in plenty of time. If I stay a second past my allotted53 fifteen minutes he is to begin blowing and not stop until I appear. One way for a homely54 girl to cause a panic.”
“Millie, you’re not homely. You look wonderful to me. I never was so glad to see any one! Don’t waste a minute. Tell me everything. How is Miss Jane?”
“You should see her apartment. The McIntosh’s moved out of Mrs. Herold’s house so Jane has her own apartment but she still lives at home. She has everything Early American. Maple55 beds pegged56 together instead of screwed or nailed. An elegant Chintz chaise longue with soft pillows. You just sink down to heaven in it. I had tea with Jane and sat on it. She says that after supper she and Dick scramble57 for it but usually end up by both of them sitting on it. She looks prettier than she ever did in her life—rested, fresh and has more pep! She’s been making curtains, made a tufted candlewick bed spread, and now is hooking a rug—whatta’ gal25!”
“Isn’t she though?”
One by one Mimi went down the list. How was each? Who gave parties? What was served? What was worn?
When Millie sprang up and jerked her hat forward at the first honk46 of the taxi, there were still things left unsaid.
“Muchas gracias—er-r-r—for the presents,” Mimi added in English—“and adios.”
She was grateful for the presents and she hated to say goodbye. But it had been an interesting visit. Next to the excitement of opening all the presents, Millie’s “pop call” was the high light of the holidays. One can weary even of holidays but they would soon be over now. Nurse had promised Mimi she could meet the trains and she could hardly wait.
“Imagine me, me of all people, anxious for holidays to end, but I am, Nursie, I sincerely am.”
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1
dents
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| n.花边边饰；凹痕( dent的名词复数 )；凹部；减少；削弱v.使产生凹痕( dent的第三人称单数 )；损害；伤害；挫伤（信心、名誉等） | |
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2
lodge
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| v.临时住宿，寄宿，寄存，容纳；n.传达室，小旅馆 | |
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3
collapsed
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| adj.倒塌的 | |
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burrowed
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| v.挖掘（洞穴），挖洞( burrow的过去式和过去分词 )；翻寻 | |
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debris
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| n.瓦砾堆，废墟，碎片 | |
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6
deluge
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| n./vt.洪水，暴雨，使泛滥 | |
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7
ward
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| n.守卫，监护，病房，行政区，由监护人或法院保护的人（尤指儿童）；vt.守护，躲开 | |
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8
revert
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| v.恢复，复归，回到 | |
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9
epidemic
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| n.流行病；盛行；adj.流行性的，流传极广的 | |
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10
reminders
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| n.令人回忆起…的东西( reminder的名词复数 )；提醒…的东西；（告知该做某事的）通知单；提示信 | |
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11
bulging
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| 膨胀； 凸出（部）； 打气； 折皱 | |
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12
racing
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| n.竞赛，赛马；adj.竞赛用的，赛马用的 | |
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13
sleeper
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| n.睡眠者，卧车，卧铺 | |
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14
pane
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| n.窗格玻璃，长方块 | |
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15
gasped
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| v.喘气( gasp的过去式和过去分词 )；喘息；倒抽气；很想要 | |
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16
awe
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| n.敬畏，惊惧；vt.使敬畏，使惊惧 | |
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17
swollen
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| adj.肿大的，水涨的；v.使变大，肿胀 | |
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18
clatter
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| v./n.(使)发出连续而清脆的撞击声 | |
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evergreen
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| n.常青树；adj.四季常青的 | |
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20
ornaments
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| n.装饰( ornament的名词复数 )；点缀；装饰品；首饰v.装饰，点缀，美化( ornament的第三人称单数 ) | |
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21
jingle
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| n.叮当声，韵律简单的诗句；v.使叮当作响，叮当响，押韵 | |
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22
wriggle
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| v./n.蠕动，扭动；蜿蜒 | |
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23
rattle
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| v.飞奔，碰响；激怒；n.碰撞声；拨浪鼓 | |
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24
fully
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| adv.完全地，全部地，彻底地；充分地 | |
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25
gal
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| n.姑娘，少女 | |
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artistically
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| adv.艺术性地 | |
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27
hover
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| vi.翱翔，盘旋；徘徊；彷徨，犹豫 | |
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28
virgin
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| n.处女，未婚女子；adj.未经使用的；未经开发的 | |
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29
stationery
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| n.文具；(配套的)信笺信封 | |
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30
untied
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| 松开，解开( untie的过去式和过去分词 )； 解除，使自由； 解决 | |
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31
janitor
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| n.看门人，管门人 | |
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32
crate
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| vt.(up)把…装入箱中；n.板条箱，装货箱 | |
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33
bowling
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| n.保龄球运动 | |
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34
prank
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| n.开玩笑，恶作剧；v.装饰；打扮；炫耀自己 | |
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35
recital
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| n.朗诵，独奏会，独唱会 | |
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36
embarrassment
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| n.尴尬；使人为难的人(事物)；障碍；窘迫 | |
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37
pry
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| vi.窥(刺)探，打听；vt.撬动(开，起) | |
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38
hip
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| n.臀部，髋；屋脊 | |
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39
squeak
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| n.吱吱声，逃脱；v.（发出）吱吱叫，侥幸通过；（俚）告密 | |
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40
drawn
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| v.拖，拉，拔出；adj.憔悴的，紧张的 | |
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41
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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42
peeked
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| v.很快地看( peek的过去式和过去分词 )；偷看；窥视；微露出 | |
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43
blues
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| n.抑郁，沮丧；布鲁斯音乐 | |
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44
supervision
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| n.监督，管理 | |
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45
blurred
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| v.（使）变模糊( blur的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）难以区分；模模糊糊；迷离 | |
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46
honk
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| n.雁叫声，汽车喇叭声 | |
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47
awakened
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| v.（使）醒( awaken的过去式和过去分词 )；（使）觉醒；弄醒；（使）意识到 | |
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48
imprinted
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| v.盖印（imprint的过去式与过去分词形式） | |
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49
climax
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| n.顶点；高潮；v.(使)达到顶点 | |
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50
alas
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| int.唉(表示悲伤、忧愁、恐惧等) | |
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51
dignified
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| a.可敬的，高贵的 | |
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52
faculty
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| n.才能；学院，系；(学院或系的)全体教学人员 | |
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53
allotted
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| 分配，拨给，摊派( allot的过去式和过去分词 ) | |
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54
homely
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| adj.家常的，简朴的；不漂亮的 | |
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55
maple
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| n.槭树，枫树，槭木 | |
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56
pegged
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| v.用夹子或钉子固定( peg的过去式和过去分词 )；使固定在某水平 | |
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57
scramble
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| v.爬行，攀爬，杂乱蔓延，碎片，片段，废料 | |
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