There was plenty to do indeed. Mother was calling Arne even as he came out of the workshop. She had many errands for him, but her voice was so happy Arne felt he wouldn’t mind running his legs off. Anyway, Christmas errands were always fun.
There were baskets of good things to be carried to half a dozen houses. Mother delighted especially in remembering anyone less fortunate than themselves at Christmas time. And Arne went with Father to get the smoked and pickled herring that was a favorite part of the koltbord feast.
It was fun, too, to dash in and out of the kitchen where mutton was roasting for the Christmas Eve supper, where the lutfisk was soaking ready to be simmered and drenched with butter, where everything was in the most delightful bustle of preparation.
But whatever he was doing, his mind was not far from those ships he must get ready to smuggle into the parlor. It was well into the afternoon before he could find an opportunity to get out to the workshop. He worked fast yet carefully, grinning to himself as he bundled up the little ships.
Gustav was busy with affairs of his own, back and forth to the dock many times. Once Arne saw him whisk around the corner of the house with a large crated affair that made the boy’s hopes go way up. Could it be possible that the Stjerne had brought him his longed-for bicycle? That might mean he could take a holiday jaunt next summer, up the fjords and through the mountain valleys with some of the other boys. Herr Professor Engstrand was planning to conduct such a trip, he knew, and wouldn’t it be wonderful if he could go along?
His work was done now, and a good thing, too, for Mother was calling him to scrub himself thoroughly and get into his new Christmas clothes.
He was just ready when it was time for Father to fire that Christmas salute. Then Gustav was calling him, and together they went to the barn to get the two sheaves of grain that were ready to be put up on poles for the birds. To Arne’s annoyance, Margret for once insisted on helping with that. She ought to know it was men’s work. Perhaps it was because she was so glad to have Gustav safe home that she wanted to be with him more than usual. Arne looked at his brother in despair. How could they manage about those ships if Margret stuck with them?
But he could see Gustav wasn’t worried, just amused; so he dropped his own worries and enjoyed the little ceremony as much as the others did.
“I think Mother’s looking for you, Margret,” said Gustav, when the birds were swooping down on their feast. Margret picked up her full holiday skirts and ran to the house, while Gustav winked at Arne.
“It was all right, Arne. I did see Mother looking out and beckoning,” he said, as they hurried off to the workshop. “Now, boy, we work fast. You’ve got the bundle ready, I see. Good!”