the ragged trousered philanthropists-第85章
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They stopped to look at the display of toys at Sweater's Emporium。 For several days past Frankie had been talking of the wonders contained in these windows； so they wished if possible to buy him something here。 They recognized many of the things from the description the boy had given of them； but nearly everything was so dear that for a long time they looked in vain for something it would be possible to buy。
‘That's the engine he talks so much about；' said Non； indicating a model railway locomotive； that one marked five shillings。'
‘It might just as well be marked five pounds as far as we're concerned；' replied Owen。
As they were speaking； one of the salesmen appeared at the back of the window and； reaching forward； removed the engine。 It was probably the last one of the kind and had evidently just been sold。 Owen and Nora experienced a certain amount of consolation in knowing that even if they had the money they would not have been able to buy it。
After lengthy consideration； they decided on a clockwork engine at a shilling； but the other toys they resolved to buy at a cheaper shop。 Nora went into the Emporium to get the toy and whilst Owen was waiting for her Mr and Mrs Rushton came out。 They did not appear to see Owen； who observed that the shape of one of several parcels they carried suggested that it contained the engine that had been taken from the window a little while before。
When Nora returned with her purchase； they went in search of a cheaper place and after a time they found what they wanted。 For sixpence they bought a cardboard box that had come all the way from Japan and contained a whole family of dolls … father； mother and four children of different sizes。 A box of paints； threepence： a sixpenny tea service； a threepenny drawing slate； and a rag doll； sixpence。
On their way home they called at a greengrocer's where Owen had ordered and paid for a small Christmas tree a few weeks before； and as they were turning the corner of the street where they lived they met Crass； half…drunk； with a fine fat goose slung over his shoulder by its neck。 He greeted Owen jovially and held up the bird for their inspection。
‘Not a bad tanner's…worth； eh？' he hiccoughed。 ‘This makes two we've got。 I won this and a box of cigars … fifty … for a tanner； and the other one I got out of the Club at our Church Mission 'all： threepence a week for twenty…eight weeks； that makes seven bob。 But；' he added； confidentially；‘'you couldn't buy 'em for that price in a shop； you know。 They costs the committee a good bit more nor that … wholesale； but we've got some rich gents on our committee and they makes up the difference；' and with a nod and a cunning leer he lurched off。
Frankie was sleeping soundly when they reached home； and so was the kitten； which was curled up on the quilt on the foot of the bed。 After they had had some supper； although it was after eleven o'clock； Owen fixed the tree in a large flower…pot that had served a similar purpose before； and Nora brought out from the place where it had been stored away since last Christmas a cardboard box containing a lot of glittering tinsel ornaments … globes of silvered or gilded or painted glass； birds； butterflies and stars。 Some of these things had done duty three Christmases ago and although they were in some instances slightly tarnished most of them were as good as new。 In addition to these and the toys they had bought that evening they had a box of bon…bons and a box of small coloured wax candles； both of which had formed part of the things they got from the grocer's with the Christmas Club money； and there were also a lot of little coloured paper bags of sweets； and a number of sugar and chocolate toys and animals which had been bought two or three at a time for several weeks past and put away for this occasion。 There was something suitable for each child that was coming； with the exception of Bert White； they had intended to include a sixpenny pocket knife for him in their purchases that evening； but as they had not been able to afford this Owen decided to give him an old set of steel paining combs which he knew the lad had often longed to possess。 The tin case containing these tools was accordingly wrapped in some red tissue paper and hung on the tree with the other things。
They moved about as quietly as possible so as not to disturb those who were sleeping in the rooms beneath； because long before they were finished the people in the other parts of the house had all retired to rest； and silence had fallen on the deserted streets outside。 As they were putting the final touches to their work the profound stillness of the night was suddenly broken by the voices of a band of carol… singers。
The sound overwhelmed them with memories of other and happier times； and Nora stretched out her hands impulsively to Owen； who drew her close to his side。
They had been married just over eight years； and although during all that time they had never been really free from anxiety for the future； yet on no previous Christmas had they been quite so poor as now。 During the last few years periods of unemployment had gradually become more frequent and protracted； and the attempt he had made in the early part of the year to get work elsewhere had only resulted in plunging them into even greater poverty than before。 But all the same there was much to be thankful for： poor though they were； they were far better off than many thousands of others： they still had food and shelter； and they had each other and the boy。
Before they went to bed Owen carried the tree into Frankie's bedroom and placed it so that he would be able to see it in all its glittering glory as soon as he awoke on Christmas morning。
Chapter 29
The Pandorama
Although the party was not supposed to begin till six o'clock； Bert turned up at half past four； bringing the ‘Pandoramer' with him。
At about half past five the other guests began to arrive。 Elsie and Charley Linden came first； the girl in a pretty blue frock trimmed with white lace； and Charley resplendent in a new suit； which； like his sister's dress； had been made out of somebody's cast…off clothes that had been given to their mother by a visiting lady。 It had taken Mrs Linden many hours of hard work to contrive these garments； in fact； more time than the things were worth； for although they looked all right … especially Elsie's … the stuff was so old that it would not wear very long： but this was the only way in which she could get clothes for the children at all： she certainly could not afford to buy them any。 So she spent hours and hours making things that she knew would fall to pieces almost as soon as they were made。
After these came Nellie； Rosie and Tommy Newman。 These presented a much less prosperous appearance than the other two。 Their mother was not so skilful at contriving new clothes out of old。 Nellie was wearing a grown…up woman's blouse； and by way of ulster she had on an old…fashioned jacket of thick cloth with large pearl buttons。 This was also a grown…up woman's garment： it was shaped to fit the figure of a tall woman with wide shoulders and a small waist； consequently； it did not fit Nellie to perfection。 The waist reached below the poor child's hips。
Tommy was arrayed in the patched remains of what had once been a good suit of clothes。 They had been purchased at a second…hand shop last summer and had been his ‘best' for several months； but they were now much too small for him。
Little Rosie … who was only just over three years old … was better off than either of the other two； for she had a red cloth dress that fitted her perfectly： indeed； as the district visitor who gave it to her mother had remarked； it looked as if it had been made for her。
‘It's not much to look at；' observed Nellie； referring to her big jacket； but all the same we was very glad of it when the rain came on。'
The coat was so big that by withdrawing her arms from the sleeves and using it as a cloak or shawl she had managed to make it do for all three of them。
Tommy's boots were so broken that the wet had got in and saturated his stockings； so Nora made him take them all off and wear some old ones of Frankie's
