L M Montgomery Short Reading: A Christmas Mistake

Canadian author Lucy Maud Montgomery was born in Prince Edward Island on November 30, 1874. She achieved international fame in her lifetime, putting Prince Edward Island and Canada on the world literary stage. Best known for her "Anne of Green Gables" books, she was also a prolific writer of short stories and poetry.

This collection features those stories.

This Guided Reading is called A Christmas Mistake.
Voice on this track is protected with an invisible watermark.
Content copyright Neworld Books.
All rights reserved.

Transcript

You are listening. To a collection of short stories. Written By L. M. Montgomery Performed. By Stephanie Poppins. Published. By New World Books. Music. By John Miles Carter. A Christmas mistake. Tomorrow is Christmas, Announced Teddy Grant exultantly as he sat on the floor struggling manfully with a refractory boot lace that was knotted and tagless and stubbornly refused to go into the eyelets of Teddy's patched boots. Ain't I glad though? Hooray! His mother was washing the breakfast dishes in a drearly listless sort of way. She looked tired and broken-spirited. Ted's enthusiasm seemed to grate on her, For she answered sharply, Christmas indeed. I can't see it's anything for us to rejoice over. Other people might be glad enough, But what with winter coming, I'd sooner it was spring than Christmas. Mary, Alice, Do lift that child out of the ashes and put its shoes and stockings on. Everything seems to be at sixes and sevens here this morning. Keith, The oldest boy, Was curled up on the sofa, Calmly working out some algebra problems, Quite oblivious to the noise around him. But he looked up from his slate with his pencil suspended above an obstinate equation to declaim with a flourish, Christmas comes but once a year and then mother wishes it wasn't here. I don't then, Said Gordon, Son number two, Who was preparing his own noon lunch of bread and molasses at the table, And making an atrocious mess of it. I know one thing to be thankful for, And that's there'll be no school. We'll have a whole week of holidays. Gordon was noted for his aversion to school and his affection for holidays. And we're gonna have turkey for dinner, " declared Teddy, Getting up off the floor and rushing to secure his share of bread and molasses. I'm Rainbow. No, You're not, " said Mrs Grant desperately, Dropping the dishcloth and snatching the baby on her knee to wipe the crust of cinders and molasses from the chubby pink and white face. You might as well know it, Children. I've kept it from you so far in hopes something would turn up. But nothing has. We can't have any Christmas dinner tomorrow. We cannot afford it. I'd pinched and saved every way I could for the last month, Hoping I'd be able to get a turkey. But you just have to do without. There's the doctor's bill to pay and a dozen other bills coming in. And people say they can't wait! I suppose they can't but it's kinda hard, I must say. The little Grant stood with open mouths and horrified eyes. No turkey for Christmas? Was the world coming to an end? Wouldn't the government interfere if anyone ventured to dispense with the Christmas celebration? The gluttonous teddy stuffed his fists into his eyes and lifted up his voice. Keith, Who understood better than the others the look on his mother's face, Took his blubbering younger brother by the collar and marched him into the porch. The twins, Seeing the summary proceeding, Swallowed the outcries they had intended to make. Although they couldn't help. But a few big tears from running down their fat cheeks. Miss Grant looked pityingly at the disappointed faces about her. Don't cry children, You'll make me feel worse. We're not the only ones who'll have to do without Christmas turkey. We ought to be thankful we have anything to eat at all. I hate to disappoint you, But it can't be helped. Never mind, Mother, " said Keith comfortingly, Relaxing his hold upon the porch door, Whereupon it suddenly flew open and precipitated Teddy, Who had been tugging at the handle, Head over heels backwards. We know you've done your best. It's been a hard year for you. Just wait though, I'll soon be grown up and then you and these greedy youngsters can feast on turkey every day of the year. I'll tell you if you've got it on your feet again! Mind no more blubbering! When I'm a man, " announced Teddy with dignity, I'd just like to see you put me in the porch. And I mean to have turkey all the time, And I won't give you any either. Alright, You greedy small boy. Take yourself off to school now and let's hear no more squeaks out of you. Tramp off all of you and give Mother a chance to get her work done. At this Mrs Grant got up and fell to work at her dishes with a brighter face. We mustn't give in. Perhaps things will be better after a while. I'll make a famous bread pudding and you can boil some molassed taffy in. Ask those little smithsons next door to help you pull it. They won't bind for Turkey, I'll be bound. I don't suppose they ever tasted such a thing in all their lives. If I could afford it, I'd have had them all to dinner with us. That sermon Mr Evans preached last Sunday kind of stirred me up. He said we ought always to try and share our Christmas joy with some poor souls who'd never learn the meaning of the word. I can't do as much as I'd like. It was different when your father was alive. The noisy group grew silent as they always did when father was spoken of. He had died the year before and since his death the little family had had a hard time. Keith, To hide his feelings, Began to heck to the rest. Mary Alice, Hurry up. Here, You twin nuisances, Get off to school. If you don't, You'll be late. Then the master will give you a whipping. He won't, Answered the irrepressible teddy. He never whips us, He doesn't. He stands on the floor sometimes though. He remembered the many times his own chubby legs had been seen to better advantage on the school platform. That man, " said Mrs Grant, Alluding to the teacher, Makes me nervous. He's the most abstracted creature I ever saw in my life. It's a wonder to me he doesn't walk straight into the river one day. You'll meet him meandering along the street, Gazing into vacancy, And he'll never see you nor hear a word you say half the time. Yesterday, Said Gordon, Chuckling over the remembrance, He came in with a big piece of paper he'd picked up on the entry floor in one hand and his hat in the other, And he stuffed his hat into the coal scuttle and hung up the paper on a nail. Never knew the difference till Ned, Slocum went and told him. He's always doing things like that. Keith collected his books and marched his brothers and sisters off to school. Left alone with the baby, Mrs Grant betook herself to work with a heavy heart. But a second interruption broke the progress of her dishwashing. I declare, " she said with a surprised glance through the window, There isn't an absent-minded schoolteacher coming through the yard, What on earth can he want? Dear me, I do hope Teddy hasn't been cutting cables in school again. The teacher's last call had been in October and had been occasioned by the fact the irrepressible Teddy would persist in going to school with his pockets filled with lied crickets. And in driving them harnessed to strings up and down the aisle when the teacher's back was turned. All mild methods of punishment having failed. The teacher called to talk it over with Mrs. Grant. With a happy result that Teddy's behaviour had improved. In the matter of crickets at least. But it was about time for another breakout. Teddy had been unnaturally good for too long. Poor Mrs Grant feared it was the calm before a storm, And it was with nervous haste she went to the door and greeted the teacher. He was a slight, Pale, Boyish looking fellow. With an abstracted, Musing look in his large, Dark eyes. Mrs Grant noticed with amusement he wore a white straw hat, In spite of the season. His eyes were directed to her with his usual unseen gaze. Just as if he was looking through me at something a thousand miles away, " said Mrs. Grant afterwards. His body was right on the step. But where his soul was is more than you or I or anyone can tell. Good morning. He said absently. I've called on my way to school with a message from Miss Miller. She wants you to come up and have Christmas dinner tomorrow. For the land's sake! Said Mrs Grant blankly, I don't understand. She thought to herself. . . I wish I dared take him and shake him to find out if he's walking in his sleep or not. You and all the children, Everyone, " went on the teacher dreamily, As if he were reciting a lesson learned beforehand. She told me to tell you to be sure and come. Shall I say you will? "'Yes, That is, I suppose. I don't know, ' said Mrs. Grant incoherently. "'I never expected—' Yes, She may tell her will come. Thank you, Said the abstracted messenger. When he had gone. Mrs Grant went in and sat down, Laughing in a sort of hysterical way. I wonder if it's alright? Could Cornelia really have told him? She must, I suppose, But it's enough to take one's breath. Mrs Grant and Cornelia Miller were cousins and had once been the closest of friends, But that was years before. Some spiteful reports and ill-natured gossip had come between them. Making only a little rift at first that soon widened into a chasm of coldness and alienation. Therefore, This invitation surprised Mrs. Grant greatly. Miss Cornelia was a maiden lady of certain years with a comfortable bank account and a handsome old-fashioned house on the hill behind the village. She always bolded the school teachers and looked after them maternally. She was an active church worker and a tower of strength to struggling ministers and their families. If Cornelius seemed fit at last to hold out the hand of reconciliation, I'm glad enough to take it. He knows I want it to make up often enough. But I didn't think she'd ever would. Both of us got too much pride. It's the turn of blood in us that does it. And Mrs. Grant made a final attack on the dishes. With a beaming face. When the little grants came home and heard the news, Teddy stood on his head to express his delight. The twins kissed each other and Mary Alice and Gordon danced around the kitchen. Keith thought himself too big to betray any joy over a Christmas dinner. But he whistled while doing the chores. Until the bear whelking in the yard rang and Teddy, In spite of unheard of misdemeanors, Was knocked collared off into the porch once. When the young teacher got home from school that evening, He found the yellow house full of all sorts of detectable odours. Miss Cornelia herself was concocting mince pies after the famous family recipe. While her ancient and faithful handmaiden, Hannah, We're straining in to mould the cranberry jelly. The open pantry door revealed a tempting array of Christmas delicacies. Did you call and invite the smithspens up to dinner as I told you? Ask Miss Cornelia. Yes was the dreamy response. Miss Cornelia crimped the edges of her pies with a relieved air. I made certain he'd forget it, She said. You'd just have to watch him if he were a mere child. Didn't I catch him yesterday starting off to school in his carpet slippers? And in spite of me, He got away today in that ridiculous manner. You'd better set that jelly out in the out pantry to school, Hannah. It looks good. We'll give those poor little smithsons a feast for once in their life if they never get another. At this juncture the hall door flew open and Mr. Palmer appeared on the threshold. He seemed considerably agitated and for once his eyes had lost their look of space searching. Miss Miller, I'm afraid I did make a mistake this morning. It just dawned on me. I'm almost sure I called in at Mrs Grant's and invited her and her family instead of the Smithsons. And she said they would come. Miss Cornelia's face was a study. Mr. Palmer she said, Flourishing her crimping fork tragically. Do you mean to say you went and invited Linda Grant here tomorrow? Of all the women in this world? I did, Said the teacher with penitent wretchedness. It was very careless of me. I'm sorry. What can I do? I'll go down and tell them I made a mistake if you like. You can't do that. It'll never do in the world, For pity's sake, Let me think for a minute. Miss Cornelia did think. To good purpose evidently, For her forehead smoothed out as her meditations proceeded and her face brightened. Then she got up briskly. Well, You've done it, And no mistake. I don't know I'm sorry either. Anyhow, We'll just leave it as it is. But you must go straight down now and invite the Smithsons too. And for pity's sake, Don't make any more mistakes. When he had gone, Miss Cornelia opened her heart to Hannah. I never could have done it myself, Never. The turn is too strong in me. But I'm glad it's done anyhow. I've been wanting for years to make up with Linda, And now the chance has come thanks to that blessed blundering boy. I mean to make the most of it. Mind, Hannah, You never whisper a word about this being a mistake. Linda must never know. She's had a hard time. Let's make some more pies and I'll go straight down to the store and get some more Santa Claus stuff. I've only got enough to go around the smithsons. When Mrs Grant and her family arrived at the yellow house the next morning. . . Miss Cornelia herself ran out, Bareheaded, To meet them. The two women shook hands a little stiffly. Then a will of long-repressed affection trickled out from some secret spring in Miss Cornelia's heart. And she kissed her newfound old friend tenderly. Linda returned the kiss warmly and both felt the all-time friendship was theirs again. The little smithsons all came and they and the little grant sat down on the long bright dining room. To a dinner that made history in their small lives. It was eaten over again in happy dreams for months. And how those children did eat. After dinner, Miss Cornelia distributed among the delighted little souls the presents she'd bought. Then she turned them loose in the big shining kitchen to have a taffy pull. And they pulled it to their hearts contentment. As for the shocking, Tapid state into which they got their own rosy faces, And that once immaculate domain. . . Well, As Miss Cornelia and Hannah never said one word about it, Neither will I. The four women enjoyed the afternoon in their own way, And the school teacher buried himself in algebra to his own great satisfaction. When her guest went home in the starlit December dusk, Miss Cornelia walked part of the way with them and had a long confidential talk with Mrs Grant. When she returned, It was to find Hannah groaning in and over the kitchen and the school teacher dreamily trying to clean some molasses off his boots. Long-suffering Miss Cornelia rescued her property and dispatched Mr. Palmer into the woodshed to find the shoe brush. Then she sat down and laughed. What will become of that boy yet? There's no counting what he'll do next. I don't know how he'll ever get through this world, I'm sure. But I'll look after him when he's here at least. I owe him a huge debt of gratitude for this Christmas blunder. What an awful mess this place is in! But Hannah, Did you ever in the world see anything so delightful as that little Tommy Smithson stuffing himself with plum cake? Not to mention Teddy Grant. It did me good as ever. Just to see them.