the ragged trousered philanthropists-第62章

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weather　were　not　fine。

In　addition　to　the　articles　already　mentioned；　they　had　to　spend　fourpence　for　half　a　gallon　of　paraffin　oil；　and　to　put　sixpence　into　the　slot　of　the　gas…stove。　　This　reduced　the　money　to　five　and　sevenpence　farthing；　and　of　this　it　was　necessary　to　spend　a　shilling　on　potatoes　and　other　vegetables。

They　both　needed　some　new　underclothing；　for　what　they　had　was　so　old　and　worn　that　it　was　quite　useless　for　the　purpose　it　was　supposed　to　serve；　but　there　was　no　use　thinking　of　these　things；　for　they　had　now　only　four　shillings　and　sevenpence　farthing　left；　and　all　that　would　be　needed　for　toys。　　They　had　to　buy　something　special　for　Frankie　for　Christmas；　and　it　would　also　be　necessary　to　buy　something　for　each　of　the　children　who　were　coming　to　the　party　on　the　following　Monday。　Fortunately；　there　was　no　meat　to　buy；　for　Nora　had　been　paying　into　the　Christmas　Club　at　the　butcher's　as　well　as　at　the　grocer's。　　So　this　necessary　was　already　paid　for。

They　stopped　to　look　at　the　display　of　toys　at　Sweater's　Emporium。　For　several　days　past　Frankie　had　been　talking　of　the　wonders　contained　in　these　windows；　so　they　wished　if　possible　to　buy　him　something　here。　　They　recognized　many　of　the　things　from　the　description　the　boy　had　given　of　them；　but　nearly　everything　was　so　dear　that　for　a　long　time　they　looked　in　vain　for　something　it　would　be　possible　to　buy。

‘That's　the　engine　he　talks　so　much　about；'　said　Non；　indicating　a　model　railway　locomotive；　that　one　marked　five　shillings。'

‘It　might　just　as　well　be　marked　five　pounds　as　far　as　we're　concerned；'　replied　Owen。

As　they　were　speaking；　one　of　the　salesmen　appeared　at　the　back　of　the　window　and；　reaching　forward；　removed　the　engine。　　It　was　probably　the　last　one　of　the　kind　and　had　evidently　just　been　sold。　　Owen　and　Nora　experienced　a　certain　amount　of　consolation　in　knowing　that　even　if　they　had　the　money　they　would　not　have　been　able　to　buy　it。

After　lengthy　consideration；　they　decided　on　a　clockwork　engine　at　a　shilling；　but　the　other　toys　they　resolved　to　buy　at　a　cheaper　shop。　Nora　went　into　the　Emporium　to　get　the　toy　and　whilst　Owen　was　waiting　for　her　Mr　and　Mrs　Rushton　came　out。　　They　did　not　appear　to　see　Owen；　who　observed　that　the　shape　of　one　of　several　parcels　they　carried　suggested　that　it　contained　the　engine　that　had　been　taken　from　the　window　a　little　while　before。

When　Nora　returned　with　her　purchase；　they　went　in　search　of　a　cheaper　place　and　after　a　time　they　found　what　they　wanted。　　For　sixpence　they　bought　a　cardboard　box　that　had　come　all　the　way　from　Japan　and　contained　a　whole　family　of　dolls　…　father；　mother　and　four　children　of　different　sizes。　　A　box　of　paints；　threepence：　a　sixpenny　tea　service；　a　threepenny　drawing　slate；　and　a　rag　doll；　sixpence。

On　their　way　home　they　called　at　a　greengrocer's　where　Owen　had　ordered　and　paid　for　a　small　Christmas　tree　a　few　weeks　before；　and　as　they　were　turning　the　corner　of　the　street　where　they　lived　they　met　Crass；　half…drunk；　with　a　fine　fat　goose　slung　over　his　shoulder　by　its　neck。　　He　greeted　Owen　jovially　and　held　up　the　bird　for　their　inspection。

‘Not　a　bad　tanner's…worth；　eh？'　he　hiccoughed。　　‘This　makes　two　we've　got。　　I　won　this　and　a　box　of　cigars　…　fifty　…　for　a　tanner；　and　the　other　one　I　got　out　of　the　Club　at　our　Church　Mission　'all：　threepence　a　week　for　twenty…eight　weeks；　that　makes　seven　bob。　　But；'　he　added；　confidentially；‘'you　couldn't　buy　'em　for　that　price　in　a　shop；　you　know。　　They　costs　the　committee　a　good　bit　more　nor　that　…　wholesale；　but　we've　got　some　rich　gents　on　our　committee　and　they　makes　up　the　difference；'　and　with　a　nod　and　a　cunning　leer　he　lurched　off。

Frankie　was　sleeping　soundly　when　they　reached　home；　and　so　was　the　kitten；　which　was　curled　up　on　the　quilt　on　the　foot　of　the　bed。　After　they　had　had　some　supper；　although　it　was　after　eleven　o'clock；　Owen　fixed　the　tree　in　a　large　flower…pot　that　had　served　a　similar　purpose　before；　and　Nora　brought　out　from　the　place　where　it　had　been　stored　away　since　last　Christmas　a　cardboard　box　containing　a　lot　of　glittering　tinsel　ornaments　…　globes　of　silvered　or　gilded　or　painted　glass；　birds；　butterflies　and　stars。　　Some　of　these　things　had　done　duty　three　Christmases　ago　and　although　they　were　in　some　instances　slightly　tarnished　most　of　them　were　as　good　as　new。　　In　addition　to　these　and　the　toys　they　had　bought　that　evening　they　had　a　box　of　bon…bons　and　a　box　of　small　coloured　wax　candles；　both　of　which　had　formed　part　of　the　things　they　got　from　the　grocer's　with　the　Christmas　Club　money；　and　there　were　also　a　lot　of　little　coloured　paper　bags　of　sweets；　and　a　number　of　sugar　and　chocolate　toys　and　animals　which　had　been　bought　two　or　three　at　a　time　for　several　weeks　past　and　put　away　for　this　occasion。　　There　was　something　suitable　for　each　child　that　was　coming；　with　the　exception　of　Bert　White；　they　had　intended　to　include　a　sixpenny　pocket　knife　for　him　in　their　purchases　that　evening；　but　as　they　had　not　been　able　to　afford　this　Owen　decided　to　give　him　an　old　set　of　steel　paining　combs　which　he　knew　the　lad　had　often　longed　to　possess。　　The　tin　case　containing　these　tools　was　accordingly　wrapped　in　some　red　tissue　paper　and　hung　on　the　tree　with　the　other　things。

They　moved　about　as　quietly　as　possible　so　as　not　to　disturb　those　who　were　sleeping　in　the　rooms　beneath；　because　long　before　they　were　finished　the　people　in　the　other　parts　of　the　house　had　all　retired　to　rest；　and　silence　had　fallen　on　the　deserted　streets　outside。　　As　they　were　putting　the　final　touches　to　their　work　the　profound　stillness　of　the　night　was　suddenly　broken　by　the　voices　of　a　band　of　carol…　singers。

The　sound　overwhelmed　them　with　memories　of　other　and　happier　times；　and　Nora　stretched　out　her　hands　impulsively　to　Owen；　who　drew　her　close　to　his　side。

They　had　been　married　just　over　eight　years；　and　although　during　all　that　time　they　had　never　been　really　free　from　anxiety　for　the　future；　yet　on　no　previous　Christmas　had　they　been　quite　so　poor　as　now。　During　the　last　few　years　periods　of　unemployment　had　gradually　become　more　frequent　and　protracted；　and　the　attempt　he　had　made　in　the　early　part　of　the　year　to　get　work　elsewhere　had　only　resulted　in　plunging　them　into　even　greater　poverty　than　before。　　But　all　the　same　there　was　much　to　be　thankful　for：　poor　though　they　were；　they　were　far　better　off　than　many　thousands　of　others：　they　still　had　food　and　shelter；　and　they　had　each　other　and　the　boy。

Before　they　went　to　bed　Owen　carried　the　tree　into　Frankie's　bedroom　and　placed　it　so　that　he　would　be　able　to　see　it　in　all　its　glittering　glory　as　soon　as　he　awoke　on　Christmas　morning。



Chapter　29

The　Pandorama


Although　the　party　was　not　supposed　to　begin　till　six　o'clock；　Bert　turned　up　at　half　past　four；　bringing　the　‘Pandoramer'　with　him。

At　about　half　past　five　the　other　guests　began　to　arrive。　　Elsie　and　Charley　Linden　came　first；　the　girl　in　a　pretty　blue　frock　trimmed　with　white　lace；　and　Charley　resplendent　in　a　new　suit；　which；　like　his　sister's　dress；　had　been　made　out　of　somebody's　cast…off　clothes　that　had　been　given　to　their　mother　by　a　visiting　lady。　　It　had　taken　Mrs　Linden　many　hours　of　hard　work　to　contrive　these　garments；　in　fact；　more　time　than　the　things　were　worth；　for　although　they　looked　all　right　…　especially　Elsie's　…　the　stuff　was　so　old　that　it　would　not　wear　very　long：　but　this　was　the　only　way　in　which　she　could　get　clothes　for　the　children　at　all：　she　certainly　could　not　afford　to　buy　them　any。　　So　she　spent　hours　and　hours　making　things　that　she　knew　would　fall　to　pieces　almost　as　soon　as　they　were　made。

After　these　came　Nellie；　Rosie　and　Tommy　Newman。　　These　presented　a　much　less　prosperous　appearance　than　the　other　two。　　Their　mother　was　not　so　skilful　at　contriving　new　clothes　out　of　old。　　Nellie　was　wearing　a　grown…up　woman's　blouse；　and　by　way　of　ulster　she　had　on　an　old…fashioned　jacket　of　thick　cloth　with　large　pearl　buttons。　　This　was　also　a　grown…up　woman's　garment：　it　was　shaped　to　fit　the　figure　of　a　tall　woman　with　wide　shoulders　and　a　small　waist；　consequently；　it　did　not　fit　Nellie　to　perfection。　　The　waist　reached　below　the　poor　child's　hips。

Tommy　was　arrayed　in　the　patched　remains　of　what　had　once　been　a　good　suit　of　clothes。　　They　had　been　purchased　at　a　second…hand　shop　last　summer　and　had　been　his　‘best'　for　several　months；　but　they　were　now　much　too　small　for　him。

Little　Rosie　…　who　was　only　just　over　three　years　old　…　was　better　off　than　either　of　the　other　two；　for　she　had　a　red　cloth　dress　that　fitted　her　perfectly：　indeed；　as　the　district　visitor　who　gave　it　to　her　mother　had　remarked；　it　looked　as　if　it　had　been　made　for　her。

‘It's　not　much　to　look　at；'　observed　Nellie；　referring　to　her　big　jacket；　but　all　the　same　we　was　very　glad　of　it　when　the　rain　came　on。'

The　coat　was　so　big　that　by　withdrawing　her　arms　from　the　sleeves　and　using　it　as　a　cloak　or　shawl　she　had　managed　to　make　it　do　for　all　three　of　them。

Tommy's　boots　were　so　broken　that　the　wet　had　got　in　and　saturated　his　stockings；　so　Nora　made　him　take　them　all　off　and　wear　some　old　ones　of　Frankie's　whilst　his　own　were　drying　at　the　fire。

Philpot；　with　two　large　paper　bags　full　of　oranges　and　nuts；　arrived　just　as　they　were　sitting　down　to　tea　…　or　rather　cocoa　…　for　with　the　exception　of　Bert　all　the　children　expressed　a　preference　for　the　latter　beverage。　　Bert　would　have　liked　to　have　cocoa　also；　but　hearing　that　the　grown…ups　were　going　to　have　tea；　he　thought　it　would　be　more　manly　to　do　the　same。　　This　question　of　having　tea　or　cocoa　for　tea　became　a　cause　of　much　uproarious　merriment　on　the　part　of　the　children；　who　asked　each　other　repeatedly　which　they　liked　best；　‘tea　tea？'　or　‘cocoa　tea？'　　They　thought　it　so　funny　that　they　said　it　over　and　over　again；　screaming　with　laughter　all　the　while；　until　Tommy　got　a　piece　of　cake　stuck　in　his　throat　and　became　nearly　black　in　the　face；　and　then　Philpot　had　to　turn　him　upside　down　and　punch　him　in　the　back　to　save　him　from　choking　to　death。　　This　rather　sobered　the　others；　but　for　some　time　afterwards　whenever　they　looked　at　each　other　they　began　to　laugh　afresh　because　they　thought　it　was　such　a　good　joke。

When　they　had　filled　themselves　up　with　the　‘cocoa…tea'　and　cakes　and　bread　and　jam；　Elsie　Linden　and　Nellie　Newman　helped　to　clear　away　the　cups　and　saucers；　and　then　Owen　lit　the　candles　on　the　Christmas　tree　and　distributed　the　toys　to　the　children；　and　a　little　while　afterwards　Philpot　…　who　had　got　a　funny…looking　mask　out　of　one　of　the　bon…bons　…　started　a　fine　game　pretending　to　be　a　dreadful　wild　animal　which　he　called　a　Pandroculus；　and　crawling　about　on　all　fours；　rolled　his　goggle　eyes　and　growled　out　he　must　have　a　little　boy　or　girl　to　eat　for　his　supper。

He　looked　so　terrible　that　although　they　knew　it　was　only　a　joke　they　were　almost　afraid　of　him；　and　ran　away　laughing　and　screaming　to　shelter　themselves　behind　Nora　or　Owen；　but　all　the　same；　whenever　Philpot　left　off　playing；　they　entreated　him　to　‘be　it　again'；　and　so　he　had　to　keep　on　being　a　Pandroculus；　until　exhaustion　compelled　him　to　return　to　his　natural　form。

After　this　they　all　sat　round　the