American fiction -- 19th century; Christmas stories, American
It was early when Maggie and Bennie entered the church, but they found
it nearly full, and abashed at the sight of so many strangers and
attracted by the heat of the registers Bennie insisted upon staying by
them, near the door where he was jostled by the crowd and jeered at by
some thoughtless boys who made fun of his old clothes and asked “what he
would take for himself, rags and all.” But Bennie bore their jeers
meekly and only doubled his fist once, so intent was he upon the tree in
the chancel, bending with its hundreds of gifts. He had never dreamed of
anything like that, and his belief in Bethlehem’s baby grew stronger as
he saw this tangible commemoration of his birth night. How fine it all
was, and how splendidly the rector looked in his white robe, and how
grandly the music of the organ rolled through the aisles, making the
floor tremble under his feet, and causing him to start a little and look
down to see what was the matter. And when the children began one of
their Christmas carols and sang of the “Silent night, the holy night,”
Bennie felt a strange thrill creep over him and every nerve quivered
with excitement as he listened to the words:
“All is calm,—all is bright
· · · · ·
Glories stream from Heaven afar,
Heavenly hosts sing Alleluia,
Christ the Saviour is born.”
Was Heaven, of which Maggie had told him such wonderful things, any
better than this, or the children there happier than these whose faces
looked so eager and expectant as they went up to the tree, and so full
of joy when they came back? They were calling the names very rapidly
now, and Bennie held his breath to hear, and watched them anxiously.
Wallie Morgan seemed to be a favored one, for he was called many times,
and when he came back with a pair of red lines with little tinkling
bells, Bennie exclaimed aloud, “Oh, if they’d only call _me_!”
Would they? Was there anything for him on that heavily laden tree? There
were gifts for Johnnie and Jakie, and Susie and Freddie, and Sam, and
yes,—certain and true, he heard his name at last, or something like it,
and half started forward, when a rough boy caught his arm, saying,
“’Tain’t you. It’s a gal.”
No, it was not Bennie, but it was Maggie, his sister, whose name he had
heard and who received a Bible and a bundle of something which looked
like clothes.
“Maggie Hewitt; Maggie Hewitt,” Bennie heard a woman in front of him
say. “That is a new name. Who is she?”
“Oh, some waif Miss Nellie has picked up, I dare say,” was the reply.
“She is always doing such things, you know. Isn’t she beautiful to-night
with that long feather and jaunty sacque?”
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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