What Christmas did for Jerusha Grumble .. by MacDonald John D

Author:MacDonald, John D. [from old catalog]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: New York City
Published: 1919-03-25T05:00:00+00:00

What Christmas Did for Jerusha Grumble

Jerusha, this is a beautiful dress. You don't see any like it nowadays, do you, girls? No Jerusha, we meant no offence, so you'll excuse us, won't you?

Julia. No, Jerusha, we meant no harm. But do please sit down (leads her to chair), and tell us how you came to make a Christmas tree out of your broom. And why did you put presents on it for us girls? You must have had a reason for doing it.

Jerusha (sits down, wipes tears from eyes. Julia sits beside her.) Dear me, girls, I am real glad that you have come, even if you did find me doing foolish things. But really I ain't been so huppy on Christmas before, since Hannah Takehim done what she did. But pshaw, Hannah's dead now these twenty years, and Jeremiah's still a widower, but most blind. But you want to know about the broom Christmas tree, and I will tell you. You see, when I was a little girl we lived in the city, and we were always very poor, and when Christmas came we always wanted a tree. But our mother, with six children, never could afford to buy one for us. So we always dressed up the broom for a Christmas tree, and what fun we did have! A few days ago, as I sat by the window, I saw some men go by with a great big tree for the church, and I thinks to myself, Jerusha, wouldn't you like to go to a Christmas exercise once more? And I said "yes" to myself. But then I thought how mean I had always been to every one, ever since Hannah Takehim done what she did. But pshaw, Hannah's dead this many a year, and Jeremiah's still a widower. Still, I says to myself, Jerusha, you must do different, and I just made up my mind that I will be different, and I will speak pleasant-like to people, and I would go where the neighbors were, and up to the Christmas tree I thought was just the place to begin.

JJazel. Yes, Jerusha, that will be nice and brave of you to come up to the Christmas exercises to-night, and one of the reasons why we came here was to ask you to go up to the church with us. We expect to have a splendid time. You will come with us, won't you, Jerusha?

Jerusha. I think it is real nice of you, Hazel, to invite me to go, much nicer than to call me a cranky old maid. (Jerusha reaches for her handkerchief. Hazel thinks she is reaching for the broom and starts for the door.) Don't be afraid, Hazel, no, no, don't be afraid. I know I was cranky and mean, but I wouldn't be an old maid if Hannah Takehim hadn't done what she did. But pshaw

Julia. Jerusha, you haven't said that you would go with us to the exercises to-night. We girls would dearly love to have you go.

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