This quick story was first printed in 1916 by Mary Griggs Van Voorhis. It’s a heartwarming story about love, empathy, and doing the suitable factor. I hope you get pleasure from it this Christmas season.
It was a great Christmas day. The solar shone brightly however the air was crisp and chilly, and snow and ice lay glowing in every single place. A light-weight wind, the evening earlier than, had swept the blue, icebound river clear of scattering snow; and, by two o’clock within the afternoon, the broad bend close to Creighton’s mill was pretty alive with skaters.
The ladies in homosexual caps and scarfs, the boys in sweaters and mackinaws of each conceivable hue, with right here and there a plump, matronly determine in an opulent coat or a tiny fellow in scarlet, made an image of life and brilliancy worthy of an artist’s most interesting ability.
Tom Reynolds moved out and in among the many pleased throng, with swift, simple strokes, his cap on the again of his curly head, and his brown eyes shining with pleasure. Every now and then, he glanced down with pardonable delight, on the model new skates that twinkled beneath his toes. “Jolly Ramblers,” positive sufficient “Jolly Ramblers” they had been!
Ever since Ralph Evans had remarked, with a tantalizing toss of his good-looking head, that “no sport fellow would attempt to skate on something however ‘Jolly Ramblers,’” Tom had yearned, with an inexpressible longing, for a pair of those great skates. And now they had been his and the ice was tremendous and the Christmas solar was shining!
Tom was rounding the large bend for the fiftieth time, when he noticed, skimming gracefully towards him by the merry crowd, a tall boy in a fur-trimmed coat, his good-looking head proudly erect.
“That’s Ralph Evans now,” mentioned Tom to himself. “Simply wait until you see these skates, previous boy, and perhaps you gained’t really feel so sensible!”
And with sluggish, cautious strokes, he made his approach by laughing girls and boys to a spot simply in entrance of the tall skater, coming towards him down the broad white approach. When Ralph was nearly upon him, Tom paused and in conspicuous silence, seemed down at his shining skates.
“Hullo,” mentioned Ralph good naturedly, seizing Tom’s arm and swinging round. Then, taking within the state of affairs with a careless look, he added, “Get a brand new pair of skates for Christmas?”
“‘Jolly Ramblers,’” mentioned Tom impressively, “the most effective ‘Jolly Ramblers’ out there!”
Ralph was a full half head the taller, however, as Tom delivered himself of this speech together with his head held excessive, he felt each inch as tall because the boy earlier than him.
If Ralph was deeply impressed he failed to indicate it, as he answered carelessly, “Huh, that so? Fairly good little skates they’re, the ‘Jolly Ramblers!’”
“You mentioned no sport fellow would use every other make,” mentioned Tom hotly.
“O however that was practically a 12 months in the past,” mentioned Ralph. “I acquired a brand new pair of skates for Christmas, too,” he added, as if it had simply occurred to him, “‘Membership Home’ skates, one thing new out there simply this season. Simply have a look at the curve of that skate, will you?” he added, lifting a foot for inspection, “and that clamp that you just couldn’t shake off when you needed to! They’re assured for a 12 months, too, and if something provides out, you get a brand new pair for nothing. Three and a half, they value, at Mr. Harrison’s ironmongery store. I gave my ‘Jolly Ramblers’ to a child about your measurement. A mighty good little skate they’re!” And, with a protracted, swish stroke, Ralph Evans skated away.
And it appeared to Tom Reynolds that every one his Christmas pleasure went skimming away behind him.
The solar nonetheless shone, the ice nonetheless gleamed, the skaters laughed and sang, however Tom moved slowly on, with listless, heavy strokes. The “Jolly Ramblers” nonetheless twinkled beneath his toes, however he seemed down at them no extra. What was the usage of “Jolly Ramblers” when Ralph Evans had a pair of “Membership Home” skates that value a greenback extra, had a swish curve, and a faultless clamp, and had been assured for a 12 months?
It was solely 4 o’clock when Tom slipped his new skates carelessly over his shoulder and began up the financial institution for dwelling. He was slouching down the primary road, head down, arms thrust deep into his pockets, when, on turning a nook, he ran plump into–a full moon! Now I do know it’s fairly uncommon for full moons to be strolling concerning the streets by daylight; however that’s the solely ample description of the spherical, freckled face that beamed at Tom from behind an ideal field, held by two sturdy arms.
“That got here fairly close to being a collision,” mentioned the proprietor of the total moon, nonetheless beaming, as he set down the field and leaned in opposition to a constructing to relaxation a second.
“No person harm, I suppose,” mentioned Tom.
“Been right down to the ice?” requested the boy, eagerly. “I might see the skaters from Patton’s retailer. O, I see, you bought some new skates for Christmas! Ain’t they beauties, now?” And he beamed on the despised “Jolly Ramblers” together with his coronary heart in his little blue eyes.
“A fairly good little pair of skates,” mentioned Tom, in Ralph’s condescending tone.
“Good! Nicely I ought to guess sure! And Christmas ice simply made o’ goal!” Regardless of his in poor health humor, Tom couldn’t assist responding to the nice and cozy curiosity of the shabby boy at his facet. He knew him to be Harvey McGinnis, the son of a poor Irish widow, who labored at Patton’s division retailer out of faculty hours. Wanting on the nice field with an awakening curiosity, he remarked, kindly, “What you been doin’ with your self on Christmas day?”
“Need to know, positive sufficient?” mentioned Harvey, mysteriously, his spherical face beaming extra brightly than ever, “Nicely, I’ve been doin’ the Santy Claus act down at Patton’s retailer.
“A couple of week in the past,” he went on, leaning again simply in opposition to the tall constructing and thrusting his arms down deep into his properly worn pockets, “a couple of week in the past, as I used to be cleansing out the storeroom, I got here on three massive bins with damaged dolls in ’em. Beauties they had been, I kin inform you, the Girl Jane in a blue silk costume, the Girl Clarabel in pink, and the Girl Matilda in shimmerin’ white. Nothin’ improper with ’em both solely damaged rubbers that put their jints out o’ whack and set their heads arollin’ this manner and that. ‘They could possibly be fastened very quickly, I ses to myself, ‘and what a prize they’d be fer the youngsters to make sure!’ For mother and me had racked our brains appreciable how we’d scrape collectively the cash for Christmas issues for the ladies.
“So I went to the boss and I requested him proper out what he’d cost me for the three women simply as they wus, and he ses, ‘Jimmie,’ he ses (I’ve advised him me title a dozen instances, however he allus calls me ‘Jimmie’), ‘Jimmie,’ he ses, ‘when you’ll come down on Christmas day and assist me take down the fixin’s and repair up the shop for normal commerce, I’ll provide the dolls fer nothin’,’ he ses.
“So I defined to the youngsters that Santy’d be late to our home this 12 months (with so many to see after it wouldn’t be unusual) and went right down to the shop early this morning and completed me work and glued up the women es good es new. Would you prefer to be seein’ ’em, now?” he added, turning to the good field with a glance of delight.
“Certain, I’d prefer to see ’em,” mentioned Tom.
With cautious, nearly reverent contact, Harvey untied the string and opened the big field, disclosing three smaller bins, one above the opposite. Opening the primary field, he revealed a very good-looking doll in a blue silk costume, with giant darkish eyes that opened and shut and darkish, curling locks of “actual hair.”
“That is the Girl Jane,” he mentioned, smoothing her homosexual frock with mild fingers. “We’re goin’ to provide her to Kitty. Kitty’s hair is fairly and curly, however she hates it, ’trigger it’s pink; and he or she thinks black hair is the prettiest variety on the planet. Ain’t it humorous how all of us shall be wantin’ what we don’t have ourselves?”
Tom didn’t reply to this little bit of philosophy; however he laid a repentant hand on the “Jolly Ramblers” as if he knew he had wronged them in his coronary heart. “That’s as good-looking a doll as ever I noticed and no mistake,” he mentioned.
Happy with this reward, Harvey opened the second field and disclosed the Girl Matilda with honest golden curls and a costume of “shimmerin’ white.” “The Girl Matilda goes to Josephine,” mentioned Harvey. “Josephine has black hair, straight as a string, and gained’t she chortle, although, to see them fetchin’ yellow curls?”
“She absolutely should be glad,” mentioned Tom.
The Girl Clarabel was one other fair-haired woman in a robe of the brightest pink. “This right here magnificence’s for the child,” mentioned Harvey, his eyes glowing. “She don’t care if the hair’s black or yellow, however gained’t that stunnin’ costume make her eyes come out?”
“They’ll absolutely consider in Santy once they see these beauties,” mentioned Tom.
“That’s simply what I used to be sayin’ to mother this morning,” mentioned Harvey. “Kitty’s had some doubts, (she’s nearly 9), however when she sees these tremendous women she’ll be lifeless positive mother and I didn’t purchase ’em. If I had a Santy Claus swimsuit, I’d costume up and hand ’em out myself.”
Tom’s face lighted with a vivid thought. “My brother Bob’s acquired a Santa Claus swimsuit that he utilized in a present final Christmas,” he mentioned. “Say, let me costume up and play Santa for you. The ladies would by no means guess who I used to be!”
“Wouldn’t they stare, although!” mentioned Harvey, delightedly. “However do you suppose you’d need to take time,” he requested apologetically, “and also you with a brand new pair of skates and the ice like this?”
“After all, I need to when you’ll let me,” mentioned Tom. “I’ll skate down the river and meet you anyplace you say.” “Out in our again yard, then, at seven o’clock,” mentioned Harvey. “All proper, I’ll be there!” and with head up, and skates clinking, Tom hurried away.
It was a flushed, excited boy who burst into the Reynolds’ quiet sitting room a couple of minutes later, together with his skates nonetheless hanging on his shoulder and his cap in his hand. “Say, mom,” he cried, “can I’ve Bob’s Santa Claus swimsuit this night, please? I’m going to play Santa Claus for Harvey McGinnis!”
“Play Santa Claus for Harvey McGinnis. What do you imply, baby?”
“You already know Mrs. McGinnis, mom, that poor lady who lives within the little home by the river. Her husband acquired killed on the railroad final winter, you already know. Nicely, Harvey, her boy, has fastened up some grand trying dolls for his sisters and he needs me to come back out and play Santa tonight,” and Tom launched out into a protracted story about Harvey and his success.
“He should be a splendid boy,” mentioned Mrs. Reynolds, heartily, “and I’m positive I shall be glad to have you ever go.”
“And one other factor, mom,” mentioned Tom, hesitating somewhat, “do you suppose grandma would care if I spent a part of that 5 {dollars} she gave me for a pair of skates for Harvey? He hasn’t any skates in any respect, and I do know he’d simply like to have some!”
“It’s beneficiant of you to consider it,” mentioned his mom, a lot happy, “and you’ll nonetheless have two and a half for that little journey right down to grandma’s.”
“However I’d prefer to get him some ‘Membership Home’ skates,” mentioned Tom. “They’re a brand new variety that value three {dollars} and a half.”
“However I assumed you mentioned the ‘Jolly Ramblers’ had been the most effective skates made?” Mrs. Reynolds seemed considerably harm as she glanced from Tom to the skates on his shoulder and again to Tom once more.
“They’re, mom, they’re simply dandies!” mentioned Tom blushing with disgrace that he might ever have despised his mom’s present. “However these ‘Membership Home’ skates are simply the type for Harvey. You see, Harvey’s footwear are previous and worn, and these ‘Membership Home’ skates have clamps you could’t shake unfastened if you need to. Then, if something occurs to them earlier than the 12 months’s up, you get a brand new pair free; and Harvey, you already know, wouldn’t have any cash to be fixing skates.”
“Nicely, do as you want,” mentioned Mrs. Reynolds, happy with Tom’s eagerness, for such a spell of generosity was one thing new in her egocentric youthful son. “However bear in mind, you’ll have to wait some time in your go to to grandma.”
“All proper, and thanks, mom,” mentioned Tom. “You should buy the skates down at Harrison’s and I’m going over and ask Mr. Harrison if he gained’t open up the shop and get a pair for me for a particular time like this. I’m most positive he’ll!” and away he flew.
That night, at seven, because the moon was rising over the jap hills, a brief, portly Santa Claus stepped out of the dry reeds by the river financial institution and walked with splendidly nimble toes, proper into the McGinnis’ little again yard. As he neared the small again porch, a darkish determine rose to greet him, one hand-held up in warning, the opposite holding at arm’s size, a cumbersome grain sack, full to the brim.
“Right here’s yer pack, Santy,” he whispered, gleefully. “They’re all waitin’ within the entrance room yonder. I’ll slip within the again approach, while you go spherical and provides a very good thump on the entrance door and mother’ll allow you to in.”
Trembling with eagerness, Tom tiptoed spherical the home, managing to slide an rectangular bundle into the capacious depths of the large sack as he did so. Thump, thump! how his knock reëchoed within the frosty air! The door swung large, and Mrs. McGinnis’ gaunt determine stood earlier than him.
“Good evenin’, Santy, come proper in,” she mentioned.
Tom had at all times thought what a homely lady Harvey’s mom was when he occurred to satisfy her on the grocery, together with her skinny pink hair drawn severely again from her gaunt face, and a black scarf over her head. However as he seemed up into her massive, variety face, so stuffed with Christmas sunshine, he puzzled he might ever have thought her something however pretty.
The room was small and naked, however splendidly homosexual with pine and bits of pink and inexperienced crepe paper, saved from the ‘fixins’ on the retailer. And on a big mattress within the nook sat the three little ladies, Kitty together with her vivid curls bobbing, Josephine together with her black braids sticking straight out, and the child with tiny blue eyes that twinkled and shone like Harvey’s.
The tremendous speech that Tom had been saying over to himself for the previous two hours appeared to fade into skinny air earlier than this excited little viewers. However in faltering, stammering tones, which everybody was too excited to note, he managed to say one thing about “Merry Christmas” and “good kids” after which proceeded to open the magic sack.
“Miss Kitty McGinnis!” he known as, in deep, gruff tones. Kitty took the field he provided with shy embarrassment, slowly drew again the lid and gave a cry of amazement and delight. “A doll, O the loveliest doll that ever was!” she cried. Then turning to her brother, she whispered as softly as pleasure would allow, “O Harvey, I’m afeard ye paid an excessive amount of!”
“Aw, go on!” mentioned Harvey, his face extra like a full moon than ever. “Don’t ye know that Santy kin do no matter he needs to?”
The opposite dolls had been acquired with raptures, Josephine stroking the golden curls of the Girl Matilda with questioning fingers, and the child dancing spherical and spherical, waving the pink-robed Girl Clarabel above her head.
“Mr. Harvey McGinnis!” got here the gruff tones of Santa Claus; and Harvey smiled over to his mom as he drew out a pair of stout fabric gloves. “Mrs. McGinnis!” And that good woman smiled again, as she shook out a dainty white apron with a rough embroidery ruffle.
“I reckon Santy needed you to put on that of a Sunday afternoon,” mentioned Harvey, awkwardly. “And I’ll be proud to do it!” mentioned his mom.
Little sacks of sweet had been subsequent produced and everybody settled right down to get pleasure from it, pondering that the underside of the large sack should be reached, when Santa known as out in tones that trembled beneath the gruffness, “One other bundle for Mr. Harvey McGinnis!”
“Fer me–why–what–” mentioned Harvey, taking the heavy rectangular bundle; then, because the glowing “Membership Home” skates met his view, his face lit up with a glory that Tom by no means forgot. The glory lasted however a second, then he turned a troubled face towards the cumbersome previous saint.
“You by no means should a achieved it,” he mentioned. “These will need to have value loads!”
“Aw, go on,” was the reply in a distinctly boyish tone, “don’t you already know that Santy can do no matter he needs to?” and, with a prodigious bow, previous Santa was gone.
A couple of minutes later, a slender boy with a bundle underneath his arm, was skating swiftly down the shining river within the moonlight. As he rounded the bend, a tall determine in a fur-trimmed coat got here skimming slowly towards him, and a voice known as out in Ralph Evans’ condescending tones, “Nicely, how are the ‘Jolly Ramblers’ doing tonight?”
However the reply, this time, was clear and glad and triumphant. “The very best on the planet,” mentioned Tom, “and isn’t this an excellent evening for skating?”
