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curtain rolls itself up majestically； and The Play begins！ The devoted dog
of Montargis avenges the death of his master； foully murdered in the
Forest of Bondy； and a humorous Peasant with a red nose and a very little
hat； whom I take from this hour forth to my bosom as a friend （I think he
was a Waiter or an Hostler at a village Inn； but many years have passed
since he and I have met）； remarks that the sassigassity of that dog is
indeed surprising； and evermore this jocular conceit will live in my
remembrance fresh and unfading； overtopping all possible jokes； unto the
end of time。 Or now； I learn with bitter tears how poor Jane Shore；
dressed all in white； and with her brown hair hanging down； went starving
through the streets； or how George Barnwell killed the worthiest uncle that
ever man had； and was afterwards so sorry for it that he ought to have
been let off。 Comes swift to comfort me； the Pantomimestupendous
Phenomenon！when clowns are shot from loaded mortars into the great
chandelier； bright constellation that it is； when Harlequins； covered all
over with scales of pure gold； twist and sparkle； like amazing fish； when
Pantaloon （whom I deem it no irreverence to compare in my own mind to
my grandfather） puts red…hot pokers in his pocket； and cries 〃Here's
somebody coming！〃 or taxes the Clown with petty larceny； by saying；
〃Now； I sawed you do it！〃 when Everything is capable； with the greatest
ease； of being changed into Anything； and 〃Nothing is； but thinking makes
it so。〃 Now； too； I perceive my first experience of the dreary sensation
often to return in after…lifeof being unable； next day； to get back to the
dull； settled world； of wanting to live for ever in the bright atmosphere I
have quitted； of doting on the little Fairy； with the wand like a celestial
Barber's Pole； and pining for a Fairy immortality along with her。 Ah； she
comes back； in many shapes； as my eye wanders down the branches of my
Christmas Tree； and goes as often； and has never yet stayed by me！
Out of this delight springs the toy…theatre；there it is； with its familiar
proscenium； and ladies in feathers； in the boxes！and all its attendant
occupation with paste and glue； and gum； and water colours； in the
getting…up of The Miller and his Men； and Elizabeth； or the Exile of
Siberia。 In spite of a few besetting accidents and failures （particularly an
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Some Short Christmas Stories
unreasonable disposition in the respectable Kelmar； and some others； to
become faint in the legs； and double up； at exciting points of the drama）； a
teeming world of fancies so suggestive and all…embracing； that； far below
it on my Christmas Tree； I see dark； dirty； real Theatres in the day…time；
adorned with these associations as with the freshest garlands of the rarest
flowers； and charming me yet。
But hark！ The Waits are playing； and they break my childish sleep！
What images do I associate with the Christmas music as I see them set
forth on the Christmas Tree？ Known before all the others； keeping far
apart from all the others； they gather round my little bed。 An angel；
speaking to a group of shepherds in a field； some travellers； with eyes
uplifted； following a star； a baby in a manger； a child in a spacious temple；
talking with grave men； a solemn figure； with a mild and beautiful face；
raising a dead girl by the hand； again； near a city gate； calling back the son
of a widow； on his bier； to life； a crowd of people looking through the
opened roof of a chamber where he sits； and letting down a sick person on
a bed； with ropes； the same； in a tempest； walking on the water to a ship；
again； on a sea…shore； teaching a great multitude； again； with a child upon
his knee； and other children round； again； restoring sight to the blind；
speech to the dumb； hearing to the deaf； health to the sick； strength to the
lame； knowledge to the ignorant； again； dying upon a Cross； watched by
armed soldiers； a thick darkness coming on； the earth beginning to shake；
and only one voice heard； 〃Forgive them； for they know not what they
do。〃
Still； on the lower and maturer branches of the Tree； Christmas
associations cluster thick。 School…books shut up； Ovid and Virgil
silenced； the Rule of Three； with its cool impertinent inquiries； long
disposed of； Terence and Plautus acted no more； in an arena of huddled
desks and forms； all chipped； and notched； and inked； cricket…bats； stumps；
and balls； left higher up； with the smell of trodden grass and the softened
noise of shouts in the evening air； the tree is still fresh； still gay。 If I no
more come home at Christmas…time； there will be boys and girls （thank
Heaven！ ） while the World lasts； and they do！ Yonder they dance and
play upon the branches of my Tree； God bless them； merrily； and my heart
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Some Short Christmas Stories
dances and plays too！
And I do come home at Christmas。 We all do； or we all should。 We
all come home； or ought to come home； for a short holidaythe longer； the
betterfrom the great boarding…school； where we are for ever working at
our arithmetical slates； to take； and give a rest。 As to going a visiting；
where can we not go； if we will； where have we not been； when we would；
starting our fancy from our Christmas Tree！
Away into the winter prospect。 There are many such upon the tree！
On； by low…lying； misty grounds； through fens and fogs； up long hills；
winding dark as caverns between thick plantations； almost shutting out the
sparkling stars； so； out on broad heights； until we stop at last； with sudden
silence； at an avenue。 The gate…bell has a deep； half…awful sound in the
frosty air； the gate swings open on its hinges； and； as we drive up to a
great house； the glancing lights grow larger in the windows； and the
opposing rows of trees seem to fall solemnly back on either side； to give
us place。 A