S. Weir Mitchell

“ You won't understand now, but some day you will."
"Yes, sir," said Alice, puzzled, and playing with the pearls.
Said Hugh, "You said, Mr. Khwis, that the oysters make pearls. Why do the oysters make pearls?"
"I will tell you," replied Kris. "If a bit of something rough or sharp gets inside the oyster's house, and it can't be got rid of, the oyster begins to make a pearl of it, and covers it over and over until the rough, rude thing is one of these beautiful pearls." ”

“ After that he was no longer poor, but very, very rich."
"And was he good then?" said Hugh.
"And did he go home," said Alice, "and buy things?"
"Yes, he went. One day he went home and at night saw his house and little children, and—but he will not stay, because there is no love waiting in his house, and all the money in the world is no good unless there is some [37] love too. You see, dear, a house is just a house of brick and mortar, but when it is full of love, then it is a home."
"I like that man," said Hugh. "Tell me more."
"But first," said Alice, "oh! we do want to see all our presents." ”

“ Kris glanced up at the long-windowed house and turning went slowly down the garden path.
Long before their usual hour of rising, the children burst into the mother's room. "You monkeys," she cried, smiling; "Merry Christmas to you! What is the matter?"
"Oh! he was here! he did come!" cried Alice.
"Khwis was here," said Hugh. "I did hear him in the night, and I told Alice it was Khwis, and she said it was a wobber, [44] and I said it wasn't a wobber. And we went to see, and it was a man. It was Khwis. He did say so."
"What! a man at night in the house! Are you crazy, children?" ”

“ A moment later, the girl caught the boy's arm.
"Oh! hear the ice, Hugh," she cried, for mysterious noises came up from the river and died away.
"Yes, it is the ice, dear," said the mother. [8] "I like to hear it." As she spoke she struck a match and lit two candles which stood on the table beside her.
For a few minutes as she stood her gaze wandered along the walls over the portraits of men and women once famous in Colonial days. The great china bowls, set high for safety on top of the book-cases, tankards, and tall candelabra troubled her with memories of more prosperous times. ”

“ This is for—for your mother; only an envelope from Kris to her. Inside is a fairy paper, and whenever she pleases it will turn to gold—oh! much gold, and she will be able then to keep her old home and you need never go away, and the pony will stay."
"Oh! that will be nice. We do sank you, sir; don't we, Alice?"
"Yes. But now I must go. Kiss me. You will kiss me?" He seemed to doubt it.
"Oh! yes," they cried, and cast their little arms about him while he held them in a long embrace, loath to let them go.
"O Alice!" said Hugh, "Mr. Khwis is cwying. What's the matter, Mr. Khwis?" ”

“ He made a pretty picture in his white shirt, brown knee-breeches, and little bare legs, the yellow [27] locks about his shoulders, the rapier in his hand, alert and quite fearless.
He Made A Pretty Picture—Alert and Quite Fearless.
"My sister thinks perhaps you are a wobber, sir; but I think you are Mr. Khwis Kwingle."
"Yes, I am Kris Kringle to-night, and you see I know your names—Alice, Hugh." His cloak fell from him, and he stood smiling, a handsome Chris. "Do not be afraid. Be sure I love little children. Come, let us talk a bit."
"It's all wite, Alice," said the boy. ”

“ Then he paused. "Is—is your mother—well?"
"Yes," said Hugh, "she is vewy well, and we are much obliged." [30]
"May we soon see the presents?" said Alice. "They did say you would not come to-night because we are poor now."
"And," added Hugh, "my pony is sold to a man, and his tail is vewy long, and he loves sugar—the pony, I mean; and mamma says we must go away and live in the town."
"Yes, yes," said Kris. "I know."
"He knows," said Hugh.
"Oh! they know everything in fairyland," said Alice. ”

“ When Hugh heard the words the German said he began to think of home and of many Christmas eves, and because he felt a [34] strangeness in his head, he said, 'I'm not well; I will go into the air.' As he moved, he saw before him a man in the doorway. The face of the man was sad, and his garment was white as snow. He said, 'Follow me.' But no others, except Hugh, saw or heard. Now, when Hugh went outside, the man he had seen was gone; but being still confused, Hugh went over the hard snow and among trees, not knowing what he did ”

“ Then he opened a bag and took out first a string of great pearls, and said, as he hung them around Alice's neck, "There, these the oysters made for you years ago under the deep blue sea. They are for a wedding gift from Chris. They are too fine for a little maid. No Queen has prettier pearls. But when you are married and some one you love vexes you or is unkind, look at these [38] pearls, and forgive, oh! a hundred times over; twice, thrice, for every pearl, because Kris said it. ”

“ I do tell you it was Khwis Kwingle."
"Oh! he gave us things for you, and for me, and for Hugh, and he gave me this," cried Alice, who had kept her hand behind her, and now threw the royal pearls on the bed amid a glory of Eastern scarves. [45]
"Are we all bewitched?" cried the mother. ”

“ Oh! do listen," she added. Both heard the creaking noise of footsteps in the dry snow.
"Mr. Khwis Kwingle, Are You There? Or Is You A Wobber?"
"I will look—I must look," cried Hugh, slipping from his bed. In a moment he had raised the sash and was looking out [23] into the night. The sounds he had heard ceased. He could see no one. "He has gone, Alice." Then he cried, "Mr. Khwis Kwingle, are you there? or is you a wobber?" As he spoke a cloaked man came from behind a great pine and stood amid the thickly-fallen flakes.
"Why, that is Hugh," he said. "Hugh!" ”

“ She smiled on him through tears—rare things for her. "Every one must bear his own troubles, Hugh. You couldn't help me. You couldn't know, dear, what to burn."
"But I know," said the girl, decisively. "I know. I had a letter once; but Hugh never had a letter. I wish Kris Kringle would take them away this very, very night; and [13] lessons, too, I do. What will he bring us for Christmas, mamma? I know what. I want"—
"A Kris Kringle to take away troubles would suit me well, Alice; I could hang up a big stocking." ”

“ But a sot, a sot, and my children to grow up and see what I saw, and learn to bear what I have borne. No! no! a thousand times no! I chose between two duties, and I was right. I was the man of the two, and I sent him away—forever. He said,—yes, I was right, [19] but, my God! how cruel is life! ”

“ At the sound of the whistle of the train she went down to the door. Presently, a strong, erect, eager man came swiftly up the pathway. She was in his arms a minute after, little Hugh exclaiming, "O Alice! ”