Christmas with Grandma Elsie

Martha Finley

Description

It was about the middle of November. There had been a long rain storm, ending in sleet and snow, and now the sun was shining brightly on a landscape sheeted with ice: walks and roads were slippery with it, every tree and shrub was encased in it, and glittering and sparkling as if loaded with diamonds, as its branches swayed and tossed in the wind. At Ion Mrs. Elsie Travilla stood at the window of her dressing-room gazing with delighted eyes upon the lovely scene. How beautiful! she said softly to herself; and my Father made it all. 'He gives snow like wool: he scattereth the hoar frost like ashes. He casteth forth his ice like morsels.' Ah, good morning, my dears, as the door opened and Rosie and Walter came in together. Good morning, dearest mamma, they returned, hastening to her to give and receive the affectionate kiss with which they were accustomed to meet at the beginning of a new day. I'm so glad the long storm is over at last, said Rosie; it is really delightful to see the sunshine once more

Sujets

• Philosophie et théologie

Informations

• Publié par: Pub One Info
• Date de parution: 23 octobre 2010
• Nombre de lectures: 0
• EAN13: 9782819901082
• Langue: English

Extrait

CHAPTER I.
It was about the middle of November. There had beena long rain storm, ending in sleet and snow, and now the sun wasshining brightly on a landscape sheeted with ice: walks and roadswere slippery with it, every tree and shrub was encased in it, andglittering and sparkling as if loaded with diamonds, as itsbranches swayed and tossed in the wind. At Ion Mrs. Elsie Travillastood at the window of her dressing-room gazing with delighted eyesupon the lovely scene. "How beautiful!" she said softly to herself;"and my Father made it all. 'He gives snow like wool: he scattereththe hoar frost like ashes. He casteth forth his ice like morsels.'"Ah, good morning, my dears," as the door opened and Rosie andWalter came in together. "Good morning, dearest mamma," theyreturned, hastening to her to give and receive the affectionatekiss with which they were accustomed to meet at the beginning of anew day. "I'm so glad the long storm is over at last," said Rosie;"it is really delightful to see the sunshine once more." "And thebeautiful work of the Frost king reflecting his rays," added hermother, calling their attention to the new beauties of the everattractive landscape spread out before them.
Both exclaimed in delight "How beautiful, mamma!"Rosie adding, "It must be that the roads are in fine condition forsleighing. I hope we can go." "O mamma, can't we?" cried Walter."Won't you give us a holiday?" "I shall take the question intoconsideration," she answered with an indulgent smile; "we willperhaps discuss it at the breakfast table: but now we will have ourreading together."
At that very time Capt. Raymond and Violet in herboudoir at Woodburn, were also discussing the state of the roadsand the advisability of dispensing with school duties for the daythat all the family might enjoy the rather rare treat of asleigh-ride. "You would enjoy it, my love?" he said inquiringly."Very much – in company with my husband and the children," shereturned; "yet I would not wish to influence you to decide againstyour convictions in regard to what is right and wise." "We willgo," he said, smiling fondly upon her, "I can not bear to have youmiss the pleasure; nor the children either for that matter, thoughI am a little afraid I might justly be deemed weakly indulgent inaccording them a holiday again so soon: it is against my principlesto allow lessons to be set aside for other than very weightyreasons; it is a matter of so great importance that they be trainedto put duties first, giving pleasure a secondary place." "But theyare so good and industrious," said Violet, "and the sleighing isnot likely to last long. It seldom does with us." "And they havebeen so closely confined to the house of late, by the inclemency ofthe weather," he added. "Yes: they shall go; for it will do them agreat deal of good physically, I think, and health is, after all,of more consequence for them than rapid advancement in theirstudies." "I should think so indeed," said Violet. "Now the nextquestion is where shall we go?" "That is a question for my wife tosettle," returned the captain gallantly. "I shall be most happy toaccompany her wherever she decides that she wishes to be taken.""Thank you, sir. I want to see mamma, of course." "Then we willcall at Ion, and perhaps may be able to persuade mother to join usin a longer ride." "Oh couldn't we hire an omnibus sleigh and askthem all to join us? It would just about hold the two families.""It is a trifle odd that the same idea had just occurred to me," heremarked pleasantly. "I will telephone at once to the town, and ifI can engage a suitable sleigh, will call to Ion and give ourinvitation."
The reply from the village was satisfactory; alsothat from Ion, given by Grandpa Dinsmore, who said he would ventureto accept the invitation for all the family without waiting toconsult them.
The captain reported to Violet, then passed on intothe apartments of his little daughters. He found them up anddressed, standing at the window of their sitting-room gazing outinto the grounds. "Good morning, my darlings," he said. "Oh goodmorning, papa," they cried, turning and running into hisoutstretched arms to give and receive tenderest caresses. "Whatwere you looking at?" he asked presently. "Oh! oh! the loveliestsight!" cried Lulu. "Do, papa, come and look," taking his hand anddrawing him toward the window. "There, isn't it?" "Yes; I haveseldom seen a finer," he assented. "And the sun is shining sobrightly; can't I take a walk with you to-day?" she asked, lookingcoaxingly up into his face. "Why, my child, the walks and roads aresheeted with ice; you could not stand, much less walk on them." "Ithink I could, papa, if – if you'd only let me try. But oh don'tlook troubled, for indeed, indeed, I'm not going to be naughtyabout it, though I have been shut up in the house for so long,except just riding in the close carriage to church yesterday.""Yes; and I know it has been hard for you," he said, smoothing herhair with caressing hand.
Then sitting down he drew her to one knee, Gracie tothe other. "How would my little girls like to be excused fromlessons to-day and given, instead, a sleigh-ride with papa, mamma,Max and little Elsie?" "Oh ever so much, papa!" they cried,clapping their hands in delight. "How good in you to think of it!""'Specially for me, considering how very, very naughty I was onlylast week," added Lulu, in a remorseful tone. "Papa, I really thinkI oughtn't to be let go." "And I really think I should not bedeprived of the pleasure of having my dear eldest daughter with meon this first sleigh-ride of the season," returned her father,drawing her into a closer embrace. "And it would spoil all the funfor me to have you left at home, Lu," said Grace. "And that mustnot be; we will all go, and I trust will have a very pleasanttime," the captain said, rising and taking a hand of each to leadthem down to the breakfast-room, for the bell was ringing.
At Ion the family were gathering about the table topartake of their morning meal. Walter waited rather impatientlytill the blessing had been asked, then, with an entreating look athis mother, said, "Mamma, you know what you promised?" "Yes, myson; but be patient a little longer. I see your grandpa hassomething to say." "Something that Walter will be glad to hear, Imake no doubt," remarked Mr. Dinsmore, giving the child a kindlylook and smile. "Capt. Raymond and I have had a little chat throughthe telephone this morning. He invites us all to join the Woodburnfamily in a sleigh-ride, he is coming for us in an omnibus sleigh;and I accepted for each and every one of you."
Zoe, Rosie and Walter uttered a simultaneousexclamation of delight, while the others looked well pleased withthe arrangement. "At what hour are we to expect the captain?" askedMrs. Dinsmore. "About ten." "And where does he propose to take us?"inquired Zoe. "I presume wherever the ladies of the party decidethat they would like to go." "Surely, papa, the gentlemen alsoshould have a voice in that," his daughter said, sending him abright, affectionate look from behind the coffee-urn, "you atleast, in case the question is put to vote." "Not I more than therest of you," he returned pleasantly. "But I have no doubt we wouldall enjoy the ride in any direction where the sleighing is good.""I think it will prove fine on all the roads," remarked Edward,"and I presume everybody, would enjoy driving over to Fairview, theLaurels and the Oaks to call on our nearest relatives; perhaps tothe Pines and Roselands also, to see the cousins there." "Thatwould be nice," said Zoe, "but don't you suppose they may beimproving the sleighing opportunity as well as ourselves? may bedriving over here to call on us?" "Then, when we meet, the questionwill be who shall turn round and go back, and who keep on," laughedRosie. "But to avoid such an unpleasant state of affairs we haveonly to ask and, answer a few questions through the telephone,"said Edward. "Certainly," said his grandfather, "and we'll attendto it the first thing on leaving the table."
Everybody was interested, and presently all weregathered about the telephone, while Edward, acting as spokesman ofthe party, called to first one and then another of the householdsnearly related to themselves.
The answers came promptly, and it was soon evidentthat all were intending to avail themselves of the somewhat rareopportunity offered by the snow and ice covered roads, noneplanning to stay at home to receive calls. They would all visit Ionif the ladies there were likely to be in. "Tell them," said GrandmaElsie, "to take their drives this morning, come to Ion in time fordinner, and spend the rest of the day and evening here. I shall bemuch pleased to have them all do so."
The message went the rounds, everybody accepted theinvitation, and Elsie's orders for the day to cook and housekeeper,were given accordingly.
The Woodburn party arrived in high spirits, asleigh, containing the Fairview family, driving up at the sametime. They had room for one more and wanted "mamma" to occupy it;but the captain and Violet would not resign their claim, and Evelynand Lulu showed a strong desire to be together; so the former wastransferred to the Woodburn sleigh, and Zoe and Edward took thevacant seats in that from Fairview.
The two vehicles kept near together, theiroccupants, the children especially, were very gay and lively. Theytalked of last year's holiday sports, and indulged in pleasinganticipations in regard to what might be in store for them in thosenow drawing near. "We had a fine time at the Oaks, hadn't we,girls?" said Max, addressing Evelyn and Rosie. "Yes," they replied,"but a still better one at Woodburn." "When are you and Lu going toinvite us again?" asked Rosie. "When papa gives permission,"answered Max, sending a smiling, persuasive glance in his father'sdirection. "It is quite possible you may not have very long to waitfor that, Max," was the kindly indulgent rejoinder from thecaptai