Christmas at Cedar Hill

by Lucy Ellen Guernsey

"'Something new might have happened, you know,' said Miss Gibson. In her heart, she felt hurt that her friends should have treated her so unceremoniously—inviting her for a visit, and then going away from home on the very day she was expected. But she had abundance of that charity which thinketh no evil. She presently made up her mind that something unforeseen must have happened which made it necessary for Fanny to go with her parents to Rockville, and wisely resolved to think no more of the matter till she saw her friends again. That Jake had made up the whole story was an idea which never entered her mind."

"Meantime Fanny, in the old red house on the hill, found the time pass rather slowly. The storm did not abate as she expected; on the contrary, the snow seemed to fall faster mid faster all the time, and the wind, catching it up, spun it in whirls and eddies round the house, and then piled it up in great drifts under the windows and along the fences. There was no use in looking out of the window, for nothing was to be seen. Long before noon, Fanny had given up all idea of Miss Gibson's arriving that day. It was clear she could not come out in such a storm. Fanny could not help crying a little over her disappointment; but she soon wiped her eyes."

"'There is no use in crying,' said she to herself, briskly and cheerfully. 'I must just make the best of it, that's all. I mean to work at my cushion till it is time for dinner, and then make myself some batter slap-jacks. Mother said I might get anything I liked, and I mean to have slap-jacks and maple molasses.'"

"Fanny got out her work-basket, sorted her worsteds—crewels she called them, and went industriously to work. She was embroidering a pretty pattern, and she soon fell to singing cheerfully over her work. By-and-by old Bose, the dog, came to the door and scratched to come in. As Fanny opened the door, the wind pulled it out of her hand and slammed it back against the wall, while what seemed a whole snow-drift came whirling in at the door."

"'Whew!' exclaimed Fanny. 'This rather beats all I ever saw, even on Bolt's Hill! Come in, Bose, you good old dog! You shall have your dinner with me. I declare!' said Fanny, struck with a sudden thought, 'I mean to have a dinner party.'"

"No sooner said than done. Fanny ran upstairs to the garret, and presently came down carefully carrying a large basket, and followed by a very large and beautiful yellowish-white cat, with long hair and a long, bushy tail. She set the basket down in a warm corner by the fire. It contained a bunch of yellowish-white fur, which presently began to move and showed itself to be composed of three plump kittens, about four weeks old, which stretched themselves, crept out of the basket, and began playing about the floor. The old cat was evidently greatly pleased, and showed her satisfaction in cat fashion by purring, making pretty little coaxing noises, rubbing her head, and finally mounting in Fanny's lap and sitting on her shoulder. She was a foreigner, a Japanese, and had been brought home by David Bolt on his last visit as a present to his little sister. She was only a kitten then, but she was now growing old. She was still lively and playful and an excellent mouser. None of her kittens were ever killed. All the children in the village were glad to have them, and two or three of them had been carried as far as Rockville and Whitehall. When she had no kittens, the cat generally slept on Fanny's bed."

"Fanny made her slap-jacks and cooked some ham for her own dinner. Old Bose sat by her side, wagging his tail, and now and then giving a short bark. Puss sat up in a chair by the table, and behaved as well as possible, purring loudly, and now and then speaking to her kittens which capered about the room. Fanny said grace as her father did, and eat her dinner, now and then giving her companions a morsel. Then she washed up all her dishes, swept the hearth, and sat down to read."

"Meantime the storm kept on increasing in force, if that were possible, and the short November day drew towards a close. When Fanny finished her story and looked out, she found it was growing dark."

"'I must go out and milk, if I am to do it at all,' said she; 'though I don't exactly see how I am to get to the barn. However, I can try, and if I cannot make it out I can come back.'"

"She wrapped herself in her shawl, tying it round her that it might not be in her way, put on her hood, and pulled on a pair of old woollen stockings over her shoes. Thus equipped, she set out for the barn."