The Brick Moon, and Other StoriesHale, Edward Everett
Science
The Brick Moon, and Other Stories
Hale, Edward Everett
Short stories; United States -- Social life and customs -- 19th century -- Fiction
As for Harrington, he bids good-by, wraps his tartan
around him, and is out in the snow again. Where Linwood
Street is he "knows no more than the dead." But somebody
will know.
Somerville car. Draw of bridge open. Man falls into
the river and has to be rescued. Draw closes. Snow-
drift at Margin Street. Shovels. Drift open. Centre of
Somerville. Apothecary's shop open. "Please, where is
Linwood Street?"
"Take your second left, cross three or four streets,
turn to the right by the water-pipe, take the third
right, go down hill by the schoolhouse and take second
left, and you come out at 11 Linwood Street."
All which Harrington does. He experiences one
continual burst of joy that his route does not take him
through these detours daily. But his professional
experience is good for him. We have no need to describe
his false turns. Even aniseed would have been useless in
that snow. At last, just as the Somerville bells ring
for nine o'clock, Harrington also rings triumphant at the
door of the little five-roomed cottage, where his lantern
has already revealed the magic number 99.
Ring! as for a gilt-edged special delivery! Door
thrown open by a solid man with curly red hair, unshaven
since Sunday, in his shirtsleeves and with kerosene lamp
in his hand.
"Are you John McLaughlin?"
"Indade I am; the same."
"And where's your sister Nora?"
The good fellow, who had been stern before, broke
down. "And indade I was saying to Ellen it's an awful
night for 'em all in the gale off the coast in the ship.
The holy Virgin and the good God take care of 'em!"
"They have taken care of them," said Harrington,
reverently. "The ship is safe in dock, and your sister
Nora is in Roxbury, at 99 Linwood Street!"
And a broad grin lighted his face as he spoke the words.
There was joy in every bed and at every door of the
five rooms. Then John hastily donned coat, cardigan, and
ulster. He persuaded Harrington to drink a cup of red-
hot tea which was brewing on the stove. While the good
fellow did so, and ate a St. Anne's bun, which Mrs.
McLaughlin produced in triumph, John was persuading
Hermann Gross, the expressman next door, to put the gray
into a light pung he had for special delivery. By the
time Harrington went to the door two lanterns were
flitting about in the snow-piled yard behind the two
houses.
Harrington assisted in yoking the gray. In five
minutes he and John were defying the gale as they sped
across the silent bridge, bound south to Roxbury. Poor
little Nora was asleep in the parlor on the sofa. She
had begged and begged that she need not be put to bed,
and by her side her protector sat reading about the
antarctic. But of a sudden Harrington reappeared.
Is it Santa Claus?
Indeed it is! Beard, hat, coat, all white with snow!
And Santa Claus has come for the best present he will
deliver that evening!
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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