10 ACORN The Man with the Fiddle "It is Christmas Eve and I have not earned enough to buy Leonard and Nellie and the babies anything for tomorrow," said Mr. Allen as he looked up at his wife, who sat on the opposite side of the supper table. The children had gone to bed, and by this time were in childish dreams of Christmas that picture Santa as a jolly little man going down the chimney of some house or filling the stockings hanging before the fireplace. By this time Mr. Allen, our speaker, dismissed the unpleasant thoughts from his mind. He helped his wife arrange the table and the other furniture of the room in proper order. After laying the few toys, they had purchased, on the table, both husband and wife prepared to retire. A long night of restless sleep passed. Mr. Allen arose later than his usual time. At the first sound, the children were out of bed; and until breakfast, contented themselves with the single gifts the good Saint had left. Spielman, the Christmas spirit in his home on high had planned before hand to go to earth with a mission of music and joy. He removed his violin from its place on the wall and descended. Dame Nature, one of Speilman's neighbors, had visited earth also, she had scattered a beautiful white covering over it. The musician went into a city where, it seemed, poor people lived. The houses were old and dingy-appearing, and close together. The fiddler placed his violin in position, and as he moved along the street he drew his bow lightly across the strings. A most wonderful music, a magic melody, set the air in motion. It happened that Spielman played on the right street. But then, that was not unusual for Christmas Spirit knows the abode of Earthly Tasks, Troubles and Sorrow. Mr. Allen was working about the house when this beautiful music became audible. It came from somewhere, but from where he could not exactly tell. At first he thought he heard it in the other room, then it came in through the window and ceiling, and finally through the door. He stood and wondered as the music sounded far away and then became louder. The melody became fainter and fainter now. Mr. Allen looked around the room for a moment and then out of the kitchen door. Every thing was the same except for the snow. But why is it in a heap there," he thought, as he noticed an oval mound on the unsheltered ground porch. With the old worn-out broom that leaned against the house he swept part of the covering away. He smiled inwardly as he carried ACORN 11 the present into the house. In a very few minutes the contents of the bundle, a large bisque doll, a fire engine, a trumpet, a pair of shoes, a roast of meat, a large sack of candy and nuts, a sack of oranges and a necktie, lay exposed to the whole family. As Leonard went to a toy "play fire," Nellie dressed her doll and the other children played on the bed room floor. Mrs. Allen expressed her amazement to her husband and an inquiry as to the sender. And even now they do not know who left the spirit of their Christmas. The man of the magic fiddle looked again into a house of sorrow. A girl, the oldest child in the family, was preparing the Christmas dinner with all the joy and happiness of the day. Her father, who but a short while previous had quarreled with his wife over some trivial matter, was silent. He sat half turned away from his wife, who sat on the far side of the room with her chin buried in the hand that rested on the side of the rocking chair she occupied. The invisible musician played a melody far more beautiful and softer than the first one. At first only the man heard the beautiful strains, but as they continued his wife changed her position and listened as if she were doubtful. The tone of the music became richer and deeper; her face took on a pleasant expression. Her husband, too, had turned to listen. The kitchen door opened and admitted the girl cook and delicious odors of dinner. The girl noticed that her mother seemed cheerful and her father was pleasant, but neither had broken the silence. "Dinner is about ready, mother," Emma began. But the mother did not answer. "Why do you and father act this way? Have you forgotten what day this is?" "I hadn't given it much thought, Emma." "But that's no excuse for your actions, father," answered Mrs. Wilson before her husband had finished. "Don't you remember that Stevens said, 'Let us be of good spirit on Christmas.'" Dinner was served and a spirit of peace and harmony reigned in the Wilson home for the remainder of the day. As evening crept into the city, the lights began to twinkle from the house windows; and everywhere there seemed to be a cheerfulness that hushed all the cares, worries and anxieties of the earth. Later that evening many inhabitants of the little city were out on the streets, for no reason at all it seemed; but everyone was seeking for the influence that made them happy. A. S. T.