Jake added:
"I hopes you'll come, marm, for massa and Miss Lizzy and Massa John
has quite set their heads on having you with them to spend Christmas,
and Massa John told me to tell you how he had bagged a fine passel of
waterfowl and wild turkeys, and I myself has made a trap for Massa
Willie to catch snowbirds."
"Yes, we will go," said Mrs. Dulan. "Do me the favor, Jacob, to pour a
pitcher of water on that fire, while I tie on Willie's cloak and
mittens."
In twenty minutes more, Willie was seated on his uncle's knees, by his
bright fireside, and his mother sat conversing with John and
Elizabeth, and a few neighbors whom the inclemency of the weather had
not deterred from dropping in to spend Christmas eve. The old
housekeeper stood at the buffet, cutting up seedcake, and pouring out
elder wine, which was soon passed round to the company.
That Christmas was a gorgeous morning. The sun arose and lit up into
flashing splendor the icy glories of the landscape. From every roof
and eave, from every bough and bush, dropped millions of blazing
jewels. Earth wore a gorgeous bridal dress, bedecked with diamonds.
Within the doctor's house everything was comfortable as you could
wish.
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