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Christmas Holidays at Merryvale - Alice Hale Burnett · Optimism, An Essay

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  Speaker 1: Chapter one of Christmas Holidays at Merryvale. This is a
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  Speaker 1: LibriVox recording. All LibriVox recordings are in the public domain.
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  Speaker 1: For more information are to volunteer, please visit LibriVox dot org.
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  Speaker 1: Christmas Holidays at Merryvale by Alice Hale Burnett, Chapter one.
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  Speaker 1: Toad's wish Hurrah, shouted Reddy. School is out and no
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  Speaker 1: more lessons for two weeks. And he threw his cap
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  Speaker 1: into the air. Let's go home by way of the
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  Speaker 1: village so we can look into Daddy William's toy shop,
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  Speaker 1: suggested his friend Thomas Brown, better known as Toad, who
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  Speaker 1: ran up to join him. All right, agreed Reddy, and
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  Speaker 1: I'll show you what I want for Christmas. And they
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  Speaker 1: started down the street. Looks as though it might snow
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  Speaker 1: by night, said Toad. Don't you wish there would be
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  Speaker 1: a big one. Then we could get all the boys
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  Speaker 1: together and have a battle. It's the best fun I
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  Speaker 1: know of, next to swimming in the creek. Was the answer.
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  Speaker 1: Here we are, he cried a few minutes later, and
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  Speaker 1: both boys stopped in front of a small shop window
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  Speaker 1: that looked very gay with a wonderful display of Christmas toys.
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  Speaker 1: See those skates hanging up by that sled, that's the
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  Speaker 1: kind I want, pointed out Reddy. You screw them right
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  Speaker 1: into the heels of your shoes, and you bet they
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  Speaker 1: can't ever come off. They're fine, agreed Toad. But look
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  Speaker 1: at that engine and train. It goes right through the
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  Speaker 1: tunnel and up over the bridge. I wonder how fast
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  Speaker 1: it can run. That's a dandy, mit there, said the other,
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  Speaker 1: pointing to a baseball outfit. I wouldn't be afraid to
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  Speaker 1: stop any kind of a ball with that on. Wish
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  Speaker 1: my dad would get me a new sled like that flyer,
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  Speaker 1: sighed Toad. I finished mine last winter when I ran
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  Speaker 1: into that tree with you and Herbie on board. You
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  Speaker 1: surely did, was the laughing answer. I remember how we
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  Speaker 1: all went flying head first into a snow drift. There's
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  Speaker 1: a nice pocket knife, was Toad's next remark. I mean
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  Speaker 1: the one with a pearl handle, just next to that
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  Speaker 1: doll with a pink dress on. Oh, exclaimed Reddy. Here's
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  Speaker 1: what just suits me. Catching sight for the first time
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  Speaker 1: of a punching bag. How do you work it? Why
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  Speaker 1: you see, there's an elastic rope on each end of it,
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  Speaker 1: and one of them you tied to a ring in
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  Speaker 1: the floor and the other to something overhead. Then when
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  Speaker 1: you give it a punch, it comes back to you
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  Speaker 1: with a bang. Well, I'd rather have a football. Then
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  Speaker 1: maybe we could get up a regular team, remarked Toad.
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  Speaker 1: I'll bet all those reels would cost about ten dollars,
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  Speaker 1: ventured the other, pointing to a box of marbles toward
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  Speaker 1: the front of the window. If I was rich, i'd
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  Speaker 1: buy them what for you have plenty? You want nearly
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  Speaker 1: all mine away from me. Look, he added in a
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  Speaker 1: low voice. There goes Herbie's mother into the store. Let's
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  Speaker 1: see what she buys. Hello, Daddy greeted both the boys
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  Speaker 1: as old mister Williams, with his white hair, red cheeks
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  Speaker 1: and dancing blue eyes, came to the doorway of the
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  Speaker 1: shop and smiled at them. Merry Christmas. Merry Christmas, he replied.
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  Speaker 1: Have you been good boys? I should say we have,
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  Speaker 1: cried Toad, everybody's good before Christmas. Well, run along home then,
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  Speaker 1: and I'll tell your mas just what you want, promised Daddy.
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  Speaker 1: Herbie's ma's in here now, and she doesn't want you
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  Speaker 1: boys to know what she buys, all right, answered Reddy,
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  Speaker 1: don't forget to say. I want a punching bag and
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  Speaker 1: a pair of skates, and I want a new sledge.
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  Speaker 1: Chimed in Toad as they both started off shocks. I
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  Speaker 1: didn't see half the things, did you, protested Reddy. Oh, well,
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  Speaker 1: we can come down again this afternoon, was the cheering answer.
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  Speaker 1: Come on over to my house anyway, he called, as
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  Speaker 1: they parted. End of chapter one, chapter two of Christmas
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  Speaker 1: Holidays at Merryvale. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.
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  Speaker 1: Christmas Holidays at Merryvale by Alice Hale Burnett, Chapter two,
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  Speaker 1: The snow Fight. By evening, the snow that Toad and
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  Speaker 1: Reddy had so eagerly awaited had come, and by morning
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  Speaker 1: many inches had fallen. A crowd of boys had gathered
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  Speaker 1: on the Brown's lawn, for the news of a snow
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  Speaker 1: battle had carried far. First chooser cried Charlie Brown, a
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  Speaker 1: happy faced boy who bore the name of Chuck among
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  Speaker 1: his friends. Second shouted Reddy, And when the sides were chosen,
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  Speaker 1: Toad found himself with herby, a boy with whom he
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  Speaker 1: played very often, and four others on Reddy's side. It
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  Speaker 1: was then decided by the choosers, who were also the
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  Speaker 1: captain's to build two forts ten yards apart, and a
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  Speaker 1: half hour was agreed upon as time enough in which
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  Speaker 1: to do the work. We must hurry, Reddy told the
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  Speaker 1: boys he had chosen, and I think, he added in
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  Speaker 1: a low voice, three of us had better build the
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  Speaker 1: fort while the other three make snowballs, as we want
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  Speaker 1: a lot on hand so we won't have to stop
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  Speaker 1: firing to make them work fast, he ordered, as he
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  Speaker 1: selected two of them to help him build the fort.
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  Speaker 1: Toad piled up great heaps of snow while Reddy and
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  Speaker 1: Herby packed it down with wooden spades into a wall
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  Speaker 1: which curved like a new moon. How are the snowballs
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  Speaker 1: getting on, boys, asked Toad of the three boys who
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  Speaker 1: were working hard making them. We're stacking them up so
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  Speaker 1: they'll be easy to get at. Answered one. They're good,
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  Speaker 1: hard ones said another. It's fine packing snow. We're going
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  Speaker 1: to have plenty too, laughed the third. Wonder what Fat's doing,
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  Speaker 1: cried Reddy. He's bringing a pail of water from the house. Frank,
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  Speaker 1: called fat by the other boys because of his size,
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  Speaker 1: was Reddy's older brother. I wonder, mused Toad. He's pouring
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  Speaker 1: it on the walls of their fort. Oh don't you see,
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  Speaker 1: he added a moment later, it's to make it freeze.
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  Speaker 1: Let's do that too, proposed Herby. I'll get the water,
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  Speaker 1: and he started for the house. Ten minutes later, the
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  Speaker 1: walls of the fort were like a solid mass of ice,
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  Speaker 1: and the snow balls were inside in four heaps. So
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  Speaker 1: all were anxious for the fun to begin. End of
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  Speaker 1: chapter two chapter three of Christmas Holidays at Merryvale. This
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  Speaker 1: LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Christmas Holidays at
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  Speaker 1: Meryvale by Alice Hale Burnett, Chapter three, The victory, Hey,
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  Speaker 1: captain of the enemy shouted chuck from the other fort.
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  Speaker 1: Are you ready? Already? Came the answer fire. A storm
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  Speaker 1: of snowballs flew through the air, and Ready barely had
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  Speaker 1: time to duck his head as they whizzed by. Looks
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  Speaker 1: as though they had plenty of balls, too, exclaimed Toad,
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  Speaker 1: hastily picking up an armful and running outside to get
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  Speaker 1: within closer range. I don't think so, protested Herby. I
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  Speaker 1: could see all of them working on the fort. We
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  Speaker 1: have lots more, I'm sure well, cried the captain. Let
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  Speaker 1: everybody take a pile of snowballs, and we'll run out
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  Speaker 1: together and maybe we can drive them from their fort.
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  Speaker 1: Each boy carried as many as he could in one arm,
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  Speaker 1: thus leaving the other one free to throw with. We'll
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  Speaker 1: have to make a quick run for it, and throw
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  Speaker 1: just as fast and hard as we can, said Herby
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  Speaker 1: as Toad, who had at that moment returned to the
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  Speaker 1: fort in a great hurry, his hat covered with snow, exclaimed,
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  Speaker 1: they got me, but I hit two or three of
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  Speaker 1: them all ready, shouted the captain, and the others, following
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  Speaker 1: close on his heels, dashed out. Such a hail of
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  Speaker 1: snowballs met them that they halted for a moment, then
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  Speaker 1: dashed onward, right up to the enemy's fort. Don't waste
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  Speaker 1: any ammunition until you get close, ordered Reddy, and his
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  Speaker 1: company obeyed. Now let her fly, he directed. As they
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  Speaker 1: surrounded the fort. The boys threw with a will and
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  Speaker 1: were vigorously answered by the defenders of the fort, and
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  Speaker 1: for a time it was hard to see which side
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  Speaker 1: would win. Finally, after the ammunition of the attacking force
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  Speaker 1: was used up, Captain Ready ordered a retreat back to
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  Speaker 1: their own fort. I have a better plan this time,
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  Speaker 1: he announced, after they were safely inside, When we charge again,
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  Speaker 1: two of you fellows must keep running back to our
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  Speaker 1: own fort so as to bring us supplies of snowballs.
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  Speaker 1: Then we can keep up a much longer fight. And
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  Speaker 1: when anyone gets tired of throwing, he added, he can
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  Speaker 1: change places with one of the fellows that have been
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  Speaker 1: carrying the balls. At this moment, Herby, who had been
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  Speaker 1: on the look out, suddenly cried, they're coming to charge us.
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  Speaker 1: Get ready to give it to them, ordered the captain,
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  Speaker 1: and each boy, snatching up an armful of snowballs, prepared
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  Speaker 1: to repel the attack. Fire ready shouted as the enemy
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  Speaker 1: drew near, and when they met that rain of balls,
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  Speaker 1: it didn't take them long to get back to the
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  Speaker 1: cover of their own fort. That was great, cried Herby.
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  Speaker 1: Come on, let us charge this time before they have
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  Speaker 1: a chance to get ready for us. Hey, i'm the captain,
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  Speaker 1: insisted Reddy. Nobody gives any orders but me, and he
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  Speaker 1: pulled his woolen cap well down over his ears in
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  Speaker 1: preparation for the coming attack. Well hurry up and give them, then,
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  Speaker 1: shouted Toad. I'm all loaded up. Charge charge on, shouted Reddy,
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  Speaker 1: starting out on the run with the others close upon
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  Speaker 1: his heels, and after a few minutes of hard fighting,
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  Speaker 1: they had forced their way to the walls of the fort.
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  Speaker 1: The balls were flying so thick and so fast from
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  Speaker 1: both sides that it looked like a snow storm of
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  Speaker 1: enormous flakes, shooting in all directions. The boys carrying balls
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  Speaker 1: to supply the invaders, were kept busy, but before long
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  Speaker 1: it was noticed that there were fewer coming from inside
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  Speaker 1: the fort. They've used up all they have, shouted Toad.
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  Speaker 1: Let's get closer. Close in, cried Captain Reddy, and aim well.
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  Speaker 1: In another minute, you could plainly tell that each of
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  Speaker 1: the enemy, after throwing one snowball, had to stop long
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  Speaker 1: enough to make another one. And this was the time
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  Speaker 1: for which Captain Reddy had been waiting. Charge to the
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  Speaker 1: walls he ordered, and with wild cries, the boys dashed forward.
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  Speaker 1: Up over the walls they went, and once inside, the
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  Speaker 1: victory was easily won, for the boys inside the fort
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  Speaker 1: were empty handed and couldn't defend themselves. We win, we win,
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  Speaker 1: exclaimed Toad, throwing his hat into the air. Three cheers
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  Speaker 1: for Captain Reddy. Hurrah, shouted all the boys. End of
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  Speaker 1: Chapter three chapter four of Christmas Holidays at Meryvale. This
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  Speaker 1: LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Christmas Holidays at
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  Speaker 1: Maryvale by Alice Hale Burnett, Chapter four, Chuck's rude awakening.
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  Speaker 1: The day before Christmas dawned bright and cold. Mother Brown,
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  Speaker 1: who had been up early, made some wonderful Christmas pies
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  Speaker 1: and a pudding before Toad and Chuck were awake. It
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  Speaker 1: was eight a clock before Toad opened one eye. What's
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  Speaker 1: the use of getting up, he thought, I'm so warm
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  Speaker 1: and comfortable here in bed my but something smells awfully good.
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  Speaker 1: Wonder if it's breakfast. Suddenly he sat up straight in bed.
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  Speaker 1: Look at that lazy thing, he declared. Bet he'd sleep
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  Speaker 1: until noon if I'd let him, And with all we
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  Speaker 1: have to do to day, Chuck continued to snore peacefully.
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  Speaker 1: But I won't. I'll have some fun, thought Toad. As quietly,
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  Speaker 1: with as little noise as possible, he crept from his
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  Speaker 1: bed to the basin in one corner of the room.
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  Speaker 1: It took him only a few seconds to wet a
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  Speaker 1: large sponge with cold water, Then creeping very carefully back
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  Speaker 1: to the foot of Chuck's bed, he took careful aim,
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  Speaker 1: The sponge flew through the air true to its mark,
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  Speaker 1: and landed curse splash, on Chuck's tousled brown head. Wah wah,
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  Speaker 1: what's the matter? Spluttered Chuck, sitting up and blinking his eyes. Then,
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  Speaker 1: as he felt the water trickling down his cheeks and
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  Speaker 1: caught sight of Toad, doubled up with laughter. He jumped
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  Speaker 1: out of bed and running across the room. He pushed
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  Speaker 1: Toad flat on his back on the bed and sat
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  Speaker 1: upon his chest. Let me up, pleaded Toad. I couldn't
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  Speaker 1: help it. You looked so sweet. What'll you give me
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  Speaker 1: if I do? Laughed Chuck. You've got to pay for
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  Speaker 1: that smart trick before I let you up. Nothing, gasped Toad,
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  Speaker 1: trying very hard to free himself. Oh ho, laughed Chuck.
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  Speaker 1: You won't, eh well, he added, I don't mind sitting
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  Speaker 1: here all day. I'm real comfortable. At this moment, there
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  Speaker 1: came a knock at the door, and before either of
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  Speaker 1: the boys could answer, Father Brown entered. What's up? He inquired.
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  Speaker 1: Toad hit me in the face with a wet sponge
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  Speaker 1: while I was asleep, explained Chuck, and he's going to
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  Speaker 1: give me something for it. Then Why are you sitting
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  Speaker 1: on him, asked Father, because he says he won't, replied
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  Speaker 1: Chuck with a grin. I suppose you'll have to pay up,
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  Speaker 1: Thomas father. Anyway, I hope you'll both be down to
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  Speaker 1: breakfast soon, he added, before all the cakes are gone.
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  Speaker 1: I've a terrible appetite this morning. And with these words,
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  Speaker 1: he left the room. Do you give up now, asked Chuck, No, sir,
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  Speaker 1: persisted Toad. Remember what he said about the cakes. They'll
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  Speaker 1: be hot ones with lots of maple syrup, teased Chuck.
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  Speaker 1: Well you're missing them, too, retorted Toad. I guess I'll
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  Speaker 1: let you off this time, relented Chuck. But if you
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  Speaker 1: ever do it again, he threatened, I'll hold you down
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  Speaker 1: for a week. Cakes or no cakes. You'd starve to
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  Speaker 1: death in that time, argued Toad with a laugh as
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  Speaker 1: he commenced to hurry into his clothing. The boys were
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  Speaker 1: seated at the table a half hour later and had
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  Speaker 1: just eaten the last of the griddle cakes when Reddy's
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  Speaker 1: whistle was heard. Toad, jumping up from the table, ran
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  Speaker 1: over to the window and beckoned to Reddy to come
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  Speaker 1: into the house. What are you going to do this?
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  Speaker 1: Morning was Reddy's first room. As he entered the room,
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  Speaker 1: We're going for Christmas greens, and Dad's going to cut
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  Speaker 1: our tree from away up on the hillside, Toad told him,
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  Speaker 1: and he added, we're going to take one of the
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  Speaker 1: horses with us to drag it home. Oh that's great,
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  Speaker 1: replied Reddy. Do you start soon? Don't you want to
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  Speaker 1: go too, asked Chuck. And maybe we can get Fat
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  Speaker 1: and her be too, he added. If such a crowd
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  Speaker 1: goes and everybody gathers greens, laughed Toad, what will we
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  Speaker 1: ever do with all of them? Mother Brown answered him
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  Speaker 1: from the doorway. Why not take some of them to
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  Speaker 1: the church. I'm sure the ladies who are trimming it
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  Speaker 1: will be glad to use all that you can give them.
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  Speaker 1: That's a splendid idea, declared Father Brown, rising from his
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  Speaker 1: seat by the fireplace. Come, boys, bundle up well, because
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  Speaker 1: it's going to be a cold drive. I'll run ahead
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  Speaker 1: to get the others, called Chuck as he hurried from
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  Speaker 1: the room. End of chapter four, chapter five of Christmas
• 15:02
  Speaker 1: Holidays at Merryvale. This LibriVox recording is in the public domain.
• 15:06
  Speaker 1: Christmas Holidays at Merryvale by Alice Hale Burnett, Chapter five,
• 15:11
  Speaker 1: The Adventure in the Snow. I'm glad we brought the sleigh,
• 15:17
  Speaker 1: Father Brown remarked, as they were driving along at a
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  Speaker 1: fair pace. A little later, as we never could have
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  Speaker 1: gotten through with a wagon in this deep snow. They
• 15:26
  Speaker 1: were now starting up the hill, and the horse's feet
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  Speaker 1: sank deeply into the snow drifts, although his load was
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  Speaker 1: not heavy, as the boys took turns walking so that
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  Speaker 1: only two of them were riding at a time. When
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  Speaker 1: we reach the first clearing, father proposed, we'll cut the
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  Speaker 1: greens and then leave them in a pile by the roadside,
• 15:44
  Speaker 1: for it is likely we shall have to go up
• 15:45
  Speaker 1: still higher before we can find the tree we want.
• 15:49
  Speaker 1: After going on a few yards more, he shouted, here's
• 15:52
  Speaker 1: the place. All hands to work, and the boys started
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  Speaker 1: in with a will, bringing to the roadside great heaps
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  Speaker 1: of bow and wood vines, some of them covered with
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  Speaker 1: red berries and others with gray. Within a short time
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  Speaker 1: they had gathered a large pile of the greens, so
• 16:09
  Speaker 1: they decided it was time to start out to find
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  Speaker 1: the tree. The tree must be full and the top perfect,
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  Speaker 1: declared father Brown, So keep your eyes open for it
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  Speaker 1: what's the matter with that one, demanded Toad, pointing to
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  Speaker 1: a big fur some distance away. Nothing at all the
• 16:26
  Speaker 1: matter with it, laughed Chuck. Only the house is too
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  Speaker 1: small to hold it. There's a nice one, called out Herbie,
• 16:33
  Speaker 1: pointing to the one. He meant, Yes, that's a beauty,
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  Speaker 1: agreed Father Brown. And easy to get at too. After
• 16:40
  Speaker 1: clearing away the smaller branches near the ground by chopping
• 16:43
  Speaker 1: them off with the axe, Father Brown then started to
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  Speaker 1: work on the trunk of the tree. Wouldn't it be nice,
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  Speaker 1: suggested Fat if we didn't have to cut it down
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  Speaker 1: at all, just trim it outside. It would save so
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  Speaker 1: much time and trouble. Oh, yes, that would be great,
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  Speaker 1: agreed Reddy. We us sit around on the snow eating
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  Speaker 1: ice cream and look at the tree. And he gave
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  Speaker 1: a hearty laugh, in which all the others joined. Well,
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  Speaker 1: I'll bet they'd do it in Greenland and Iceland, persisted Fat.
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  Speaker 1: So why couldn't we because we don't wear white polar
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  Speaker 1: bear clothes, laughed Chuck. There she comes, she's falling, cried
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  Speaker 1: The boys. Stay where you are until it's down, called
• 17:23
  Speaker 1: Father Brown to the boys. There was a sharp creek
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  Speaker 1: and a swish of branches as the tree came down,
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  Speaker 1: and the boys now rushed over to help tie up
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  Speaker 1: the branches. When that part of the work was finished,
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  Speaker 1: ready sang out all together, lift her up on the sleigh, one, two, three,
• 17:41
  Speaker 1: and up it went. Nobody gets a ride home, called
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  Speaker 1: out Chuck, because the greens have to go on top
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  Speaker 1: of the tree. Oh, wailed fat. If I can't ride,
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  Speaker 1: I'll roll down. I hate to walk. By the time
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  Speaker 1: they had reached the fields, the worst part of the
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  Speaker 1: trip was over. We'll cut over to the road that
• 18:01
  Speaker 1: runs past the church, said Father brown and leave some
• 18:04
  Speaker 1: of the greens there, at which the horse was headed
• 18:06
  Speaker 1: in that direction. As they came to the road, they
• 18:10
  Speaker 1: saw a short distance from them an object in the snow,
• 18:13
  Speaker 1: and as they drew nearer, it proved to be a
• 18:15
  Speaker 1: little fellow deep in a snow drift. His hands were
• 18:19
  Speaker 1: blue with the cold, and as Father Browne picked him
• 18:21
  Speaker 1: up in his arms, he tried to speak, but couldn't
• 18:25
  Speaker 1: I know who he is, volunteered Herbiy, he's Patsy O'Reilly,
• 18:29
  Speaker 1: and he lives over there, pointing to a small house
• 18:32
  Speaker 1: up the road. His brother Mike goes to school with me,
• 18:35
  Speaker 1: he continued. I'll carry him home, said father, as you
• 18:39
  Speaker 1: boys are able to handle things all right now, saying
• 18:42
  Speaker 1: which he started off to the little house with Patsy
• 18:45
  Speaker 1: in his arms. Chalk, to whom Father Brown had handed
• 18:49
  Speaker 1: the reins, now started to drive the horse toward home.
• 18:53
  Speaker 1: When the boys arrived at the church and had carried
• 18:56
  Speaker 1: in the greens, the ladies were delighted, and one of
• 18:59
  Speaker 1: them even tried to kicks ready, but he hurried away
• 19:02
  Speaker 1: just in time. End of chapter five, chapter six of
• 19:12
  Speaker 1: Christmas Holidays at Maryvale. This LibriVox recording is in the
• 19:16
  Speaker 1: public domain. Christmas Holidays at Meryvale by Alice Hale Burnett,
• 19:22
  Speaker 1: Chapter six, Toad's unselfishness. When they reached home, Chuck drove
• 19:28
  Speaker 1: the sleigh up to the side door, where the boys
• 19:30
  Speaker 1: quickly unloaded the greens. They then lifted the tree to
• 19:34
  Speaker 1: the piazza, and when this had been done, Chuck drove
• 19:37
  Speaker 1: the horse to the stable. Let's go in and get
• 19:40
  Speaker 1: our hands warm before we take in the greens, suggested Toad,
• 19:43
  Speaker 1: and soon they were all laughing and talking before the
• 19:45
  Speaker 1: great fire in the library. Fat had just asked the
• 19:49
  Speaker 1: others if they remembered the day, mister Brown had told
• 19:51
  Speaker 1: them about the Indians that used to live in the
• 19:53
  Speaker 1: woods where they found the tree. When a man's voice
• 19:56
  Speaker 1: was heard from the hall, It's going to be a
• 19:59
  Speaker 1: sad Christmas for them. I'm afraid, for both parents are ill,
• 20:03
  Speaker 1: and the three helpless children are waiting for Santa Claus
• 20:06
  Speaker 1: to come. The boys heard father Brown say how sad
• 20:11
  Speaker 1: was missus Brown's answer as they both went into the kitchen,
• 20:14
  Speaker 1: and the boys could hear no more. They must be
• 20:18
  Speaker 1: talking about the O'Reilly's commented Fat Mike's a friend of mine,
• 20:21
  Speaker 1: and I'm sorry he isn't going to have any Christmas
• 20:25
  Speaker 1: so am I echoed Herbie. After a short silence, Chuck
• 20:29
  Speaker 1: said he'd hate to awaken Christmas morning and not find
• 20:32
  Speaker 1: any presents. Guess I've been mighty selfish, wanting so many things,
• 20:37
  Speaker 1: he thought. Toad and Reddy, who had moved away from
• 20:41
  Speaker 1: the other boys, were talking together in low, excited whispers.
• 20:45
  Speaker 1: Then when the others went to the window to look
• 20:47
  Speaker 1: at the greens outside, they slipped from the room and
• 20:50
  Speaker 1: hurried down the hall to the kitchen. Mother called Toad
• 20:54
  Speaker 1: from the doorway. May we speak to you for a minute,
• 20:58
  Speaker 1: Mother Brown handed the bowl in which she had i'd
• 21:00
  Speaker 1: been stirring something to the cook, and crossed the room
• 21:02
  Speaker 1: toward the boys, saying, as she did so, I can
• 21:06
  Speaker 1: only spare a few minutes to day Thomas, for I
• 21:08
  Speaker 1: am very busy. But mother exclaimed Toad, we have a
• 21:12
  Speaker 1: great idea. It's a Christmas surprise party. Chimed in, ready
• 21:16
  Speaker 1: for the O'Reillys, and together the two boys went on
• 21:19
  Speaker 1: to tell missus Brown of their plans. If we could
• 21:23
  Speaker 1: just have the horse and sleigh to get around, in
• 21:26
  Speaker 1: ventured Toad. Do you think Father would allow us to
• 21:28
  Speaker 1: hitch Old Meg to the big sleigh. It's a wonderful idea,
• 21:32
  Speaker 1: agreed Mother Brown. Suppose you ask him? But how about
• 21:36
  Speaker 1: presents for the three children? Have you thought of that?
• 21:40
  Speaker 1: If it were only after Christmas, we could give away
• 21:43
  Speaker 1: some of our new things, sighed Toad. But would you
• 21:47
  Speaker 1: give them away? Asked his mother, supposing you were going
• 21:50
  Speaker 1: to get a sled the kind you have been wanting,
• 21:54
  Speaker 1: and she paused to hear Toad's answer. He thought very
• 21:59
  Speaker 1: hard for a moment, then answered yes, because I always
• 22:04
  Speaker 1: get a lot of things, and it might be the
• 22:06
  Speaker 1: only present Mike would get. Well, remarked his mother, I
• 22:10
  Speaker 1: have bought you a sled, and you may give it
• 22:13
  Speaker 1: to him. Reddy looked at Toad as Mother Brown turned
• 22:17
  Speaker 1: toward the kitchen. Are you sorry now that you said yes?
• 22:21
  Speaker 1: He asked, No, I'm not returned Toad. Well, I'll ask
• 22:27
  Speaker 1: mother to let me give them something new of mine, too,
• 22:29
  Speaker 1: declared Reddy, consolingly, putting his arm about Toad's shoulder. End
• 22:36
  Speaker 1: of chapter six, chapter seven of Christmas Holidays at Maryvale.
• 22:45
  Speaker 1: This LibriVox recording is in the public domain. Christmas Holidays
• 22:50
  Speaker 1: at Maryvale by Alice Hale Burnett. Chapter seven, The boys
• 22:55
  Speaker 1: plan a surprise. At two o'clock. The sleigh was ready
• 23:00
  Speaker 1: for Father Brown had willingly given the boys permission to
• 23:03
  Speaker 1: use it that afternoon. It was planned to have Chuck
• 23:06
  Speaker 1: drive for Toad. Ready, Fat and Herbi expected to be
• 23:10
  Speaker 1: too busy calling at the different houses to gather the
• 23:12
  Speaker 1: presents which they hoped to collect for the O'Reillys. Let's
• 23:17
  Speaker 1: stop at Bailey's first, suggested Fat, as we're sure to
• 23:20
  Speaker 1: get something there. Who'll go to the door, questioned Herby
• 23:25
  Speaker 1: all go, answered Chuck, that's the best way. So in
• 23:28
  Speaker 1: a group they rang the bell and waited Chuck, remaining
• 23:31
  Speaker 1: in the sleigh. No one came in answer to their ring.
• 23:36
  Speaker 1: All out sighed fat, but Toad gave the bell another pull.
• 23:41
  Speaker 1: Bet they're all in the kitchen baking things, and didn't
• 23:43
  Speaker 1: hear it, He remarked. There's some one coming now, whispered Reddy,
• 23:48
  Speaker 1: And as the door opened, good afternoon, said all the
• 23:51
  Speaker 1: boys in chorus. Mercy upon us. Where did you all
• 23:55
  Speaker 1: come from? Exclaimed Missus Bailey, And as Toad held forth
• 23:59
  Speaker 1: a that Father Brown had printed for them, she asked,
• 24:03
  Speaker 1: am I to read this? Yes, Missus Bailey, that explains everything?
• 24:07
  Speaker 1: Ready told her. She read In one little home there
• 24:12
  Speaker 1: may be no Christmas cheer. The father and mother are
• 24:15
  Speaker 1: both ill. There are three children, a boy of nine years,
• 24:19
  Speaker 1: another of five, and a girl of seven. They need coal, clothing, food,
• 24:23
  Speaker 1: and toys. What will you give? So you're all playing
• 24:29
  Speaker 1: at being Santa Claus, remarked Missus Bailey with a smile. Well,
• 24:32
  Speaker 1: I believe I can find something that will please you,
• 24:35
  Speaker 1: So just stop in on your way back and I'll
• 24:37
  Speaker 1: have it all ready for you. Oh thank you, cried
• 24:41
  Speaker 1: all the boys together as they started for the sleigh,
• 24:43
  Speaker 1: happy over the success of their first call, have any luck,
• 24:48
  Speaker 1: asked Chuck. But I can see you did, because you're
• 24:51
  Speaker 1: all grinning, he added, as they told him what missus
• 24:53
  Speaker 1: Bailey had promised. After several more visits with the promise
• 24:58
  Speaker 1: of something from each place if they would call later,
• 25:01
  Speaker 1: Herbie proposed that they stop at missus Lee's home, as
• 25:04
  Speaker 1: Mary Lee had a great many dolls and might give
• 25:07
  Speaker 1: them one of them for the little O'Reilly girl. That's
• 25:10
  Speaker 1: a good idea, they all agreed, and the idea was
• 25:13
  Speaker 1: carried out. When missus Lee had read the card, she
• 25:17
  Speaker 1: asked the boys if there was anything they needed that
• 25:20
  Speaker 1: had not been promised. We wondered, replied Herbie, if Mary
• 25:24
  Speaker 1: would give us a doll for that little girl. Missus
• 25:28
  Speaker 1: Lee smiled and said, I think I can promise you
• 25:31
  Speaker 1: that she will. If you will call later. It will
• 25:33
  Speaker 1: give me a chance to get her. We'll be glad
• 25:36
  Speaker 1: to promised the boys, and thank you. At five o'clock,
• 25:40
  Speaker 1: a sleigh piled high with bundles and boys was seen
• 25:43
  Speaker 1: turning into the Brown's driveway. What'll we do now, asked
• 25:48
  Speaker 1: Toad of the others. Let's drive into the barn and
• 25:51
  Speaker 1: leave the things in the sleigh. Suggested Chuck. Then we
• 25:54
  Speaker 1: can meet here early tonight and take the things to
• 25:56
  Speaker 1: the O'Reilly's all right, assented the others. What time shall
• 26:01
  Speaker 1: we meet at seven o'clock? Said Toad. End of chapter seven,
• 26:13
  Speaker 1: Chapter eight of Christmas Holidays at Merryvale. This LibriVox recording
• 26:17
  Speaker 1: is in the public domain. Christmas Holidays at Merryvale by
• 26:21
  Speaker 1: Alice Hale Burnett, Chapter eight, What Mike Found. After dinner
• 26:27
  Speaker 1: that night, Chuck and Toad spent a little time helping
• 26:30
  Speaker 1: to trim the big tree that had been put in
• 26:32
  Speaker 1: place in the library during their absence of the afternoon.
• 26:37
  Speaker 1: Chuck was on the top of a step ladder tying
• 26:39
  Speaker 1: shiny colored balls to the upper branches, when Toad, who
• 26:43
  Speaker 1: had been busy with the candy canes and popcorn balls,
• 26:46
  Speaker 1: suddenly stopped and looked at the clock on the mantel.
• 26:50
  Speaker 1: It's seven o'clock, Chuck, he cried, and the others will
• 26:53
  Speaker 1: be wondering why we don't come out. And at this
• 26:56
  Speaker 1: he ran into the hall to get into his coat
• 26:58
  Speaker 1: and cap. Chuck took but a second to follow Toad
• 27:02
  Speaker 1: out into the yard to meet the boys. Mother Brown
• 27:06
  Speaker 1: had sent her bundle and Toad's new sledge to the
• 27:08
  Speaker 1: barn by John, the stableman, who put them into the
• 27:11
  Speaker 1: sleigh with the other things while the boys were at dinner.
• 27:15
  Speaker 1: Hello boys, everybody here, inquired Toad as he joined the
• 27:18
  Speaker 1: group of boys in front of the barn. All but Fat, laughed, Reddy,
• 27:23
  Speaker 1: and he'll be along in a minute, he said, I
• 27:25
  Speaker 1: walked too fast for him. Is everything in the sleigh,
• 27:29
  Speaker 1: asked Herbie, as John was hitching up. Everything's in all right,
• 27:33
  Speaker 1: Toad assured him. When about to start, they found that
• 27:37
  Speaker 1: the sleigh was so full of bundles that some of
• 27:39
  Speaker 1: the boys had to stand on them runners. Just as
• 27:42
  Speaker 1: they reached the street, Fat was seen coming toward them.
• 27:46
  Speaker 1: Hurry up, lazy bones, called Reddy, or you'll get left.
• 27:50
  Speaker 1: But John good naturedly stopped the horse until Fat had
• 27:53
  Speaker 1: climbed aboard. There was a full moon and the sky
• 27:57
  Speaker 1: was bright with stars. The snow was hard beneath the
• 28:00
  Speaker 1: horse's feet, which made the going easy, so they traveled
• 28:03
  Speaker 1: along at a brisk pace. Where shall I stop, asked
• 28:07
  Speaker 1: John as they drew near the O'Reilly's cottage. Just a
• 28:11
  Speaker 1: little this side of the house, directed Toad, so they
• 28:14
  Speaker 1: won't hear us all off now, ordered Reddy, as John
• 28:18
  Speaker 1: pulled up the horse and help unload. Don't let's make
• 28:21
  Speaker 1: any more noise than we can help. We can pile
• 28:24
  Speaker 1: everything on the front steps, whispered Herbie. As the boys,
• 28:27
  Speaker 1: each heavily laden with packages of all sizes and shapes,
• 28:31
  Speaker 1: walked very quietly up the path toward the house. Each
• 28:35
  Speaker 1: carefully placed his bundles or boxes where Herbie had suggested,
• 28:39
  Speaker 1: and just as silently they now returned to the sleigh.
• 28:43
  Speaker 1: Suppose some one comes along and takes all the things
• 28:46
  Speaker 1: before they get up in the morning, argued Fat. I
• 28:48
  Speaker 1: don't think it's safe to leave them there all night,
• 28:50
  Speaker 1: do you well. Maybe we'd better throw some snowballs at
• 28:55
  Speaker 1: the door, proposed Chuck to bring them out now. This
• 28:59
  Speaker 1: was accepted as a good plan, and bang, bang, bang
• 29:02
  Speaker 1: went the balls against the door. The sleigh in which
• 29:06
  Speaker 1: the boys took refuge was well hidden behind a pine tree,
• 29:09
  Speaker 1: so they could not be seen from the house. There's
• 29:13
  Speaker 1: a light, said Reddy in a low voice. Some one
• 29:15
  Speaker 1: is opening the door. It's Mike, answered Herbie excitedly. I'll
• 29:20
  Speaker 1: bet he can't believe his eyes. It did seem to
• 29:23
  Speaker 1: the others that what herby said was true. For framed
• 29:27
  Speaker 1: in the doorway of the cottage stood a boy gazing
• 29:30
  Speaker 1: at a great heap of bundles and boxes on the
• 29:32
  Speaker 1: steps before him, as if dazed. Once he rubbed his
• 29:36
  Speaker 1: eyes as if to make sure he was awake. Then
• 29:39
  Speaker 1: he slowly stretched out one hand toward the beautiful new sled,
• 29:43
  Speaker 1: hardly daring to believe it was real. Then suddenly, as
• 29:47
  Speaker 1: the boys watched eagerly, the sled was in his arms,
• 29:50
  Speaker 1: and he was jumping up and down with joy, calling
• 29:53
  Speaker 1: to those of his family who could to come out
• 29:55
  Speaker 1: to see the wonderful surprise. Time for us to be
• 29:58
  Speaker 1: getting home now, whispered Chuck, and Toad, feeling very happy, answered,
• 30:04
  Speaker 1: I guess you're right. By nine o'clock, Chuck and Toad
• 30:09
  Speaker 1: were sound asleep, and the stockings tied to the end
• 30:12
  Speaker 1: of each bed fell limp and empty. End of chapter
• 30:18
  Speaker 1: eight Chapter nine of Christmas Holidays at Merryvale. This LibriVox
• 30:27
  Speaker 1: recording is in the public domain. Christmas Holidays at Merryvale
• 30:32
  Speaker 1: by Alice Hale Burnett. Chapter nine. Christmas Morning, Merry Christmas,
• 30:39
  Speaker 1: Merry Christmas, shouted Toad. It was seven o'clock and Chuck
• 30:44
  Speaker 1: awoke with a start and looked around him. Merry Christmas,
• 30:48
  Speaker 1: he answered, and both boys scrambled down to the foot
• 30:51
  Speaker 1: of their beds to untie the stockings, full to overflowing
• 30:55
  Speaker 1: with candies, nuts, oranges, and many small gifts. Oh, cried Chuck.
• 31:01
  Speaker 1: See what I have, holding his stocking up by the
• 31:04
  Speaker 1: foot and shaking the contents out on the bed. A
• 31:07
  Speaker 1: big knife and a top and some reels. So have
• 31:12
  Speaker 1: I buy jinks. I'm glad to get the knife. It's
• 31:15
  Speaker 1: a beauty three blades. Chuck, who by this time had
• 31:20
  Speaker 1: a whole candy apple in his mouth, could only nod
• 31:23
  Speaker 1: his head in reply. Let's hurry up and dress so
• 31:27
  Speaker 1: we can go down to see the tree, proposed Toad.
• 31:30
  Speaker 1: I'll bet there will be lots more things for us
• 31:32
  Speaker 1: down there, and this the boys hastened to do. Merry Christmas,
• 31:38
  Speaker 1: greeted Mother Brown a few minutes later, as the boys,
• 31:41
  Speaker 1: now fully dressed, came to her door. Merry Christmas, boys
• 31:45
  Speaker 1: called their father from the hall below. As Mother Brown
• 31:48
  Speaker 1: and the boys hurried downstairs. As they entered the library,
• 31:52
  Speaker 1: the very first thing that met Toad's eyes was a
• 31:55
  Speaker 1: beautiful new sled, much larger than the one he had
• 31:58
  Speaker 1: given the night before to Michael. O'Reilly, Oh is that
• 32:03
  Speaker 1: for me? He cried in delight as he pounced upon it.
• 32:06
  Speaker 1: I didn't expect to get one, Yes, my son, answered
• 32:10
  Speaker 1: his father, it is for you. Oh wait until Reddy
• 32:14
  Speaker 1: sees this, and Toad fairly hopped about in his delight.
• 32:19
  Speaker 1: Chuck was very much excited over a new building game,
• 32:22
  Speaker 1: the very thing he had hoped for, But Toad hardly
• 32:25
  Speaker 1: had time to look at his other gifts from his
• 32:27
  Speaker 1: many aunts and uncles, so anxious was he to go
• 32:30
  Speaker 1: outdoors to try his new sled. After breakfast, Mother Brown
• 32:34
  Speaker 1: helped him into his coat and found his mittens and cap,
• 32:37
  Speaker 1: for they always seemed to run away and hide while
• 32:40
  Speaker 1: Toad slept. Come on, Chuck, he cried, aren't you coming out? Nope,
• 32:45
  Speaker 1: I'm going to see if I can build a derrick,
• 32:47
  Speaker 1: was the reply. So Toad started off alone. As he
• 32:52
  Speaker 1: reached the hill down which most of the boys liked
• 32:54
  Speaker 1: best to coast, he met Reddy trudging along with his sled. Hey,
• 32:58
  Speaker 1: Merry Christmas, he shared, Look at what Dad gave me
• 33:02
  Speaker 1: Merry Christmas? Answered Reddy, jingoes, that's a beauty. Did you
• 33:06
  Speaker 1: get the football? You wanted, he was asked, you bet
• 33:09
  Speaker 1: I did. And a punching bag too, like the one
• 33:13
  Speaker 1: in Daddy William's window, inquired Toad. Just like it, and
• 33:16
  Speaker 1: when you give it a punch whack, it comes back
• 33:19
  Speaker 1: at you quick as a flash. What did Fat get? Oh?
• 33:23
  Speaker 1: A lot of books and a pair of ice skates,
• 33:25
  Speaker 1: replied Reddy. So he's gone over to White's pond to
• 33:28
  Speaker 1: try them. Chuck got his building game, you know, the
• 33:31
  Speaker 1: one he wanted. And he wouldn't come out, declared Toad,
• 33:35
  Speaker 1: in fine disgust. He's making things with it. Who's that
• 33:39
  Speaker 1: just starting? And Reddy pointed up the long hill where
• 33:43
  Speaker 1: some one was getting ready to coast down. Well, if
• 33:46
  Speaker 1: it isn't Mike, O'Reilly, he exclaimed here ahead of us.
• 33:51
  Speaker 1: Then as the sled, with Mike lying flat on it,
• 33:54
  Speaker 1: shot past them, they greeted him with a shout Hello,
• 33:58
  Speaker 1: returned Mike, his face all a glow with joy. Look
• 34:02
  Speaker 1: at what I got for Christmas. Bet you're glad now
• 34:06
  Speaker 1: that you gave it to him, said Reddy, as the
• 34:08
  Speaker 1: two boys reached the top of the hill. Let me
• 34:10
  Speaker 1: go down with you the first trip, you bet, Toad,
• 34:13
  Speaker 1: assented Merry Christmas, Reddy shouted, giving the sledge a push
• 34:18
  Speaker 1: from behind. One, two, three, We're off and down they flew.
• 34:24
  Speaker 1: She's speedy, all right, he declared, as the cold north
• 34:27
  Speaker 1: wind stung his cheeks. And she steers like a bird,
• 34:31
  Speaker 1: echoed Toad. End of Chapter nine and the end of
• 34:37
  Speaker 1: Christmas Holidays at Merryvale, read by Kara Shallenberg w w
• 34:42
  Speaker 1: W dot kay dot org, November thirtieth, two thousand nine,
• 34:47
  Speaker 1: in San Diego, California,