more light shining brightly
The next thing was to carry the gifts to thestockings where they belonged. Wherever she went, there was the brightness of noonday, so she never had a fear. Even the closet with the skeleton in it did not make her tremble. Beginning with father and mother, she visited every stocking, and put each gift in its proper place; then she carried the baby to bed, and left Turk and Satan snuggled up together in front of the fire; and then it seemed to her that she floated away in a sea of light; and then mounting upon the wings of the wind, she suddenly met the sand man who pushed her into the Land of Nod.
The last that she remembered was blue sky, gems of poetry, rainbows, shooting stars, flowers of rhetoric, strains of music, sunsets, closets, stockings, Christmas cheer, sunshine, and a great many other things, all standing around the type-writer in her father's study, telling the machine what to say, and begging that everything might be set down in a book and live forever.
HAPPY DAY.
HAPPY DAY.
Now, when it grew toward morning Ruth awakened first, and what did she do but jump out of bed and feel of her stocking; the thing which she found was a book, and she knew without looking into it that the book told all about the Judge and the pictures, the house and the children, and the strange things that had happened on this eventful night.
Later there was the sound of many voices, scores of "I wish you a merry Christmas," went flying through the air, carols burst upon the ear, and a whole host of happy, loving children shifted from one room to another, and finally gathered beneath the pictures of the Judge and his lady. Did the good man lift his hands in benediction? Didhe beam with the joy of the Christ-life? The light was rather dim in the parlor, for it was early in the morning. But the children were constantly turning their eyes to the portraits. It seemed to them that new life throbbed within their souls, that grand purposes had been awakened, that charity and tenderness, the love of God and the love of one another, were moving to all kinds of well-doing. They felt as never before that they were living in the home of this great, good man, and that they must go forth into the world as his manly and womanly representatives. Peace not only filled the house, but it rested upon them. It was the most joyful day of all the years. Never a quarrel darkened a heart. Never a harsh word fell from any lips. Never a mean thought rose in their breasts. It was real Christmas cheer. And I believe that every child of them was made richer by the blessed presence (presents) of the Judge and his lady.
Transcriber's Note:Repeated chapter titles were retained as some were laid out differently than at the chapter itself.Page 58, "Clause" changed to "Claus" (as Santa Claus)Page 71, "to" changed to "too" (think so too)Page 88, "bookcase" changed to "book-case" to match rest of usage in text (a low book-case beneath)Page 95, extraneous quotation mark removed before (I'll call 'Greece')Page 109, "surpressed" changed to "suppressed" (with suppressed excitement)Page 145, "everthing" changed to "everything" (everything under the sun)Page 152, single closing quotation mark changed to double (and use them?")Page 192, closing quotation mark added (it means.")Page 201, closing quotation mark added (is!" As she said this)
Transcriber's Note:
Repeated chapter titles were retained as some were laid out differently than at the chapter itself.
Page 58, "Clause" changed to "Claus" (as Santa Claus)
Page 71, "to" changed to "too" (think so too)
Page 88, "bookcase" changed to "book-case" to match rest of usage in text (a low book-case beneath)
Page 95, extraneous quotation mark removed before (I'll call 'Greece')
Page 109, "surpressed" changed to "suppressed" (with suppressed excitement)
Page 145, "everthing" changed to "everything" (everything under the sun)
Page 152, single closing quotation mark changed to double (and use them?")
Page 192, closing quotation mark added (it means.")
Page 201, closing quotation mark added (is!" As she said this)