the peterkin papers-第7部分

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had　helped　him；　and　he　had　gathered　as　much　　as　a　bushel　of　bayberries。　He　had　put　them　in　water；　and　skimmed　off　the　wax；　　according　to　the　directions；　but　there　was　so　little　wax！

Solomon　John　had　given　the　little　boys　some　of　the　bits　sawed　off　from　the　legs　　of　the　chairs。　He　had　suggested　that　they　should　cover　them　with　gilt　paper；　to　　answer　for　gilt　apples；　without　telling　them　what　they　were　for。

These　apples；　a　little　blunt　at　the　end；　and　the　candles　were　all　they　had　for　　the　tree！

After　all　her　trips　into　town　Elizabeth　Eliza　had　forgotten　to　bring　anything　　for　it。

〃I　thought　of　candies　and　sugar…plums；〃　she　said；　〃but　I　concluded　if　we　made　　caramels　ourselves　we　should　not　need　them。　But；　then；　we　have　not　made　　caramels。　The　fact　is；　that　day　my　head　was　full　of　my　carpet。　I　had　bumped　it　　pretty　badly；　too。〃

Mr。　Peterkin　wished　he　had　taken；　instead　of　a　fir…tree；　an　apple…tree　he　had　　seen　in　October；　full　of　red　fruit。

〃But　the　leaves　would　have　fallen　off　by　this　time；〃　said　Elizabeth　Eliza。

　〃And　the　apples；　too；〃　said　Solomon　John。

〃It　is　odd　I　should　have　forgotten；　that　day　I　went　in　on　purpose　to　get　the　　things；〃　said　Elizabeth　Eliza；　musingly。　〃But　I　went　from　shop　to　shop；　and　　didn't　know　exactly　what　to　get。　I　saw　a　great　many　gilt　things　for　　Christmas…trees；　but　I　knew　the　little　boys　were　making　the　gilt　apples；　there　　were　plenty　of　candles　in　the　shops；　but　I　knew　Solomon　John　was　making　the　　candles。〃

Mr。　Peterkin　thought　it　was　quite　natural。

Solomon　John　wondered　if　it　were　too　late　for　them　to　go　into　town　now。

Elizabeth　Eliza　could　not　go　in　the　next　morning；　for　there　was　to　be　a　grand　　Christmas　dinner；　and　Mr。　Peterkin　could　not　be　spared；　and　Solomon　John　was　　sure　he　and　Agamemnon　would　not　know　what　to　buy。　Besides；　they　would　want　to　　try　the　candles　to…night。

Mr。　Peterkin　asked　if　the　presents　everybody　had　been　preparing　would　not　　answer。　But　Elizabeth　Eliza　knew　they　would　be　too　heavy。

A　gloom　came　over　the　room。　There　was　only　a　flickering　gleam　from　one　of　　Solomon　John's　candles　that　he　had　lighted　by　way　of　trial。

Solomon　John　again　proposed　going　into　town。　He　lighted　a　match　to　examine　the　　newspaper　about　the　trains。　There　were　plenty　of　trains　coming　out　at　that　hour；　　but　none　going　in　except　a　very　late　one。　That　would　not　leave　time　to　do　　anything　and　come　back。

〃We　could　go　in；　Elizabeth　Eliza　and　I；〃　said　Solomon　John；　〃but　we　should　not　　have　time　to　buy　anything。〃

Agamemnon　was　summoned　in。　Mrs。　Peterkin　was　entertaining　the　uncles　and　aunts　　in　the　front　parlor。　Agamemnon　wished　there　was　time　to　study　up　something　about　　electric　lights。　If　they　could　only　have　a　calcium　light！　Solomon　John's　candle　　sputtered　and　went　out。

At　this　moment　there　was　a　loud　knocking　at　the　front　door。　The　little　boys；　and　　the　small　cousins；　and　the　uncles　and　aunts；　and　Mrs。　Peterkin；　hastened　to　see　　what　was　the　matter。

The　uncles　and　aunts　thought　somebody's　house　must　be　on　fire。　The　door　was　　opened；　and　there　was　a　man；　white　with　flakes；　for　it　was　beginning　to　snow；　　and　he　was　pulling　in　a　large　box。

Mrs。　Peterkin　supposed　it　contained　some　of　Elizabeth　Eliza's　purchases；　so　she　　ordered　it　to　be　pushed　into　the　back　parlor；　and　hastily　called　back　her　guests　　and　the　little　boys　into　the　other　room。　The　little　boys　and　the　small　cousins　　were　sure　they　had　seen　Santa　Claus　himself。

Mr。　Peterkin　lighted　the　gas。　The　box　was　addressed　to　Elizabeth　Eliza。　It　was　　from　the　lady　from　Philadelphia！　She　had　gathered　a　hint　from　Elizabeth　Eliza's　　letters　that　there　was　to　be　a　Christmas…tree；　and　had　filled　this　box　with　all　　that　would　be　needed。

It　was　opened　directly。　There　was　every　kind　of　gilt　hanging…thing；　from　gilt　　pea…pods　to　butterflies　on　springs。　There　were　shining　flags　and　lanterns；　and　　birdcages；　and　nests　with　birds　sitting　on　them；　baskets　of　fruit；　gilt　apples　　and　bunches　of　grapes；　and；　at　the　bottom　of　the　whole；　a　large　box　of　candles　　and　a　box　of　Philadelphia　bonbons！

　Elizabeth　Eliza　and　Solomon　John　could　scarcely　keep　from　screaming。　The　little　　boys　and　the　small　cousins　knocked　on　the　folding…doors　to　ask　what　was　the　　matter。

Hastily　Mr。　Peterkin　and　the　rest　took　out　the　things　and　hung　them　on　the　tree；　　and　put　on　the　candles。

When　all　was　done；　it　looked　so　well　that　Mr。　Peterkin　exclaimed：…　　〃Let　us　light　the　candles　now；　and　send　to　invite　all　the　neighbors　to…night；　　and　have　the　tree　on　Christmas　Eve！〃

And　so　it　was　that　the　Peterkins　had　their　Christmas…tree　the　day　before；　and　on　　Christmas　night　could　go　and　visit　their　neighbors。

　MRS。　PETERKIN'S　TEA…PARTY。　　TWAS　important　to　have　a　tea…party；　as　they　had　all　been　invited　by　　everybody；…the　Bromwicks；　the　Tremletts；　and　the　Gibbonses。　It　would　be　such　a　　good　chance　to　pay　off　some　of　their　old　debts；　now　that　the　lady　from　　Philadelphia　was　back　again；　and　her　two　daughters；　who　would　be　sure　to　make　it　　all　go　off　well。

But　as　soon　as　they　began　to　make　out　the　list；　they　saw　there　were　too　many　to　　have　at　once；　for　there　were　but　twelve　cups　and　saucers　in　the　best　set。

〃There　are　seven　of　us；　to　begin　with；〃　said　Mr。　Peterkin。

〃We　need　not　all　drink　tea；〃　said　Mrs。　Peterkin。

〃I　never　do；〃　said　Solomon　John。　The　little　boys　never　did。

〃And　we　could　have　coffee；　too；〃　suggested　Elizabeth　Eliza。

〃That　would　take　as　many　cups；〃　objected　Agamemnon。

〃We　could　use　the　every…day　set　for　the　coffee；〃　answered　Elizabeth　Eliza；　〃they　　are　the　right　shape。　Besides；〃　she　went　on；　〃they　would　not　all　come。　Mr。　and　　Mrs。　Bromwick；　for　instance；　they　never　go　out。〃

　〃There　are　but　six　cups　in　the　every…day　set；〃　said　Mrs。　Peterkin。

The　little　boys　said　there　were　plenty　of　saucers；　and　Mr。　Peterkin　agreed　with　　Elizabeth　Eliza　that　all　would　not　come。　Old　Mr。　Jeffers　never　went　out。

〃There　are　three　of　the　Tremletts；〃　said　Elizabeth　Eliza；　〃they　never　go　out　　together。　One　of　them；　if　not　two；　will　be　sure　to　have　the　headache。　Ann　Maria　　Bromwick　would　come；　and　the　three　Gibbons　boys；　and　their　sister　Juliana；　but　　the　other　sisters　are　out　West；　and　there　is　but　one　Osborne。〃

It　really　did　seem　safe　to　ask　〃everybody。〃　They　would　be　sorry；　after　it　was　　over；　that　they　had　not　asked　more。

〃We　have　the　cow；〃　said　Mrs。　Peterkin；　〃so　there　will　be　as　much　cream　and　milk　　as　we　shall　need。〃

〃And　our　own　pig；〃　said　Agamemnon。　〃I　am　glad　we　had　it　salted；　so　we　can　have　　plenty　of　sandwiches。〃

〃I　will　buy　a　chest　of　tea；〃　exclaimed　Mr。　Peterkin。　〃I　have　been　thinking　of　a　　chest　for　some　time。〃

　Mrs。　Peterkin　thought　a　whole　chest　would　not　be　needed：　it　was　as　well　to　buy　　the　tea　and　coffee　by　the　pound。　But　Mr。　Peterkin　determined　on　a　chest　of　tea　　and　a　bag　of　coffee。

So　they　decided　to　give　the　invitations　to　all。　It　might　be　a　stormy　evening　and　　some　would　be　prevented。

The　lady　from　Philadelphia　and　her　daughters　accepted。

And　it　turned　out　a　fair　day；　and　more　came　than　were　expected。　Ann　Maria　　Bromwick　had　a　friend　staying　with　her；　and　brought　her　over；　for　the　Bromwicks　　were　opposite　neighbors。　And　the　Tremletts　had　a　niece；　and　Mary　Osborne　an　　aunt；　that　they　took　the　liberty　to　bring。

　The　little　boys　were　at　the　door；　to　show　in　the　guests；　and　as　each　set　came　　to　the　front　gate；　they　ran　back　to　tell　their　mother　that　more　were　coming。

Mrs。　Peterkin　had　grown　dizzy　with　counting　those　who　had　come；　and　trying　to　　calculate　how　many　were　to　come；　and　wondering　why　there　were　always　more　and　　never　less；　and　whether　the　cups　would　go　round。

The　three　Tremletts　all　came；　with　their　niece。　They　all　had　had　their　headaches　　the　day　before；　and　were　having　that　banged　feeling　you　always　have　after　a　　headache；　so　they　all　sat　at　the　same　side　of　the　room　on　the　long　sofa。

All　the　Jefferses　came；　though　they　had　sent　uncertain　answers。　Old　Mr。　Jeffers　　had　to　be　helped　in；　with　his　cane；　by　Mr。　Peterkin。

The　Gibbons　boys　came；　and　would　stand　just　outside　the　parlor　door。　And　Juliana　　appeared　afterward；　with　the　two　other　sisters；　unexpectedly　home　from　the　West。

　〃Got　home　this　morning！〃　they　said。　〃And　so　glad　to　be　in　time　to　see　　everybody；…a　little　tired；　to　be　sure；　after　forty…eight　hours　in　a　　sleeping…car！〃

〃Forty…eight！〃　repeated　Mrs。　Peterkin；　and　wondered　if　there　were　forty…eight　　people；　and　why　they　were　all　so　glad　to　come；　and　whether　all　could　sit　down。

Old　Mr。　and　Mrs。　Bromwick　came。　They　thought　it　would　not　be　neighborly　to　stay　　away。　They　insisted　on　getting　into　the　most　uncomfortable　seats。

Yet　there　seemed　to　be　seats　enough　while　the　Gibbons　boys　preferred　to　stand。

But　they　never　could　sit　round　a　tea…table。　Elizabeth　Eliza　had　thought　they　all　　might　have　room　at　the　table；　and　Solomon　John　and　the　little　boys　could　help　in　　the　waiting。

It　was　a　great　moment　when　the　lady　from　Philadelphia　arrived　with　her　　daughters。　Mr。　Peterkin　was　talking　to　Mr。　Bromwick；　who　was　a　little　deaf。　The　　Gibbons　boys　retreated　a　little　farther　behind　the　parlor　door。　Mrs。　Peterkin　　hastened　forward　to　shake　hands　with　the　lady　from　Philadelphia；　saying：…　　〃Four　Gibbons　girls　and　Mary　Osborne's　aunt；…that　makes　nineteen；　and　now〃…　　It　made　no　difference　what　she　said；　for　there　was　such　a　murmuring　of　talk　that　　any　words　suited。　And　the　lady　from　Philadelphia　wanted　to　be　introduced　to　the　　Bromwicks。

It　was　delightful　for　the　little　boys。　They　came　to　Elizabeth　Eliza；　and　asked：…　

〃Can't　we　go　and　ask　more　？　Can't　we　fetch　the　Larkins？〃

〃Oh；　dear；　no！〃　answered　Elizabeth　Eliza。　〃I　can't　even　count　them。〃

Mrs。　Peterkin　found　time　to　meet　Elizabeth　Eliza　in　the　side　entry；　to　ask　if　　there　were　going　to　be　cups　enough。

〃I　have　set　Agamemnon　in　the　front　entry　to　count；〃　said　Elizabeth　Eliza；　　putting　her　hand　to　her　head。

The　little　boys　came　to　say　that　the　Maberlys　were　coming。

〃The　Maberlys！〃　exclaimed　Elizabeth　Eliza。　〃I　never　asked　them。〃

〃It　is　your　father's　doing；〃　cried　Mrs。　Peterkin。　〃I　do　believe　he　asked　　everybody　he　saw！〃　And　she　hurried　back　to　her　guests。

〃What　if　father　really　has　asked　everybody？〃　Elizabeth　Eliza　said　to　herself；　　pressing　her　head　again　with　her　hand。

Ther