CHAPTER SIXTEEN
CHRISTMAS EVE
I
IT was Christmas Eve again, and Mrs. Wood sat alone with Weejums before the fire downstairs. Franklin had stayed up to help fill the stockings; but now he too was gone, and the ticking of the clock sounded very loud.
It was the first Christmas Eve that she had ever spent by herself, and her thoughts went back to the time when the children’s father had been with her, and the last few hours of this day were the most beautiful in all the year.
When Grandmother was there, she kept one from thinking too much, although she too may have remembered other Christmases, spent with him who had been the children’s father,and her little boy. But Grandmother was not here to-night, and there was nothing to keep one from thinking—nothing at all.
“A CHRISTMAS PRESENT, WITH EUNICE’S LOVE”
“A CHRISTMAS PRESENT, WITH EUNICE’S LOVE”
Down on the rug Weejums was busily washing Octavius, the beautiful kitten who was to go as a Christmas present, with Eunice’s love, to Marian Armstrong. Weejums did not know why he was named Octavius, or that it was her own grandparent on whom she had called in New York, and at whom she had spit.
“Weejums!” called Mrs. Wood, softly, “dear little kitty, come and speak to me!”
Weejums rose with an answering purr, and, leaving Octavius asleep in a ring of his own baby tail, leaped upon her lap. It seemed to Mrs. Wood that Weejums’ attitude towards the children had changed since she grew older, and her kittens came. At first she had thought Eunice was her mother; but now she realized that Eunice was only a kitten, after all, and that Mrs. Wood was nearer her own age.
They sat watching the fire together until the coals whitened, and the clock slowly struck twelve. Then Mrs. Wood gave a few last touches to the stockings hung in the shadows, and went upstairs. But as she entered her room, there was a sound of soft little paws beside her, and a comforting “Pu-r-r-eow!” in the darkness, for Weejums had left her kitten, and gone with the companion who needed her most.
“She never followed me like this before,”Mrs. Wood thought. “Is it possible that she knew I was lonely to-night,—that she felt a difference?”
Weejums did not explain what she thought, but when Mrs. Wood was in bed, curled down beside her with a drowsy purr most soothing to hear.
“I’m glad she’s here,” thought Eunice’s mother. “I don’t feel much like sleep to-night, and it’s nice to have—somebody.”
“Purr-pu-r-r,” said Weejums, softly. “Purr-r-r-r.”
“It was just six years ago to-night—” Mrs. Wood began thinking.
“Pur-r-pu-r-r-r.”
Why, how loud that purr was growing! ever so much more like an alarm-clock than a purr, and it ended with a sharp “bu-r-r Ting!” Mrs. Wood sat up and rubbed her eyes. Yes, itwasthe alarm-clock that she had set last night; Weejums was no longer there, and she heard a joyous shout from Kenneth’s room.
“Why, I’ve been asleep!” she said with a laugh.
The Alley Cat’s kitten had done her work; for it was six o’clock, and Christmas morning.
WEEJUMS
WEEJUMS