. Miss Santa Claus of the Pullman . s. 17 MISS SANTA CLAUS Libby herself felt a trifle constrained afterher unusual performance, and to cover herembarrassment seized the hearth broom andvigorously swept up the scraps of half-driedmud which she had tracked in a little whilebefore. Then she stood and drummed onthe window pane a long time, looking outinto the dusk which always came so surpris-ingly fast these short winter days, almostthe very moment after the sun dropped downbehind the cedar trees. It was a relief to both children whenGrandma Neal came in with a lighted cheerful call to
. Miss Santa Claus of the Pullman . s. 17 MISS SANTA CLAUS Libby herself felt a trifle constrained afterher unusual performance, and to cover herembarrassment seized the hearth broom andvigorously swept up the scraps of half-driedmud which she had tracked in a little whilebefore. Then she stood and drummed onthe window pane a long time, looking outinto the dusk which always came so surpris-ingly fast these short winter days, almostthe very moment after the sun dropped downbehind the cedar trees. It was a relief to both children whenGrandma Neal came in with a lighted cheerful call to know who was going tohelp her set the supper table, gave Willman excuse to spring up from the loungecushions and face his little world once morein a natural and matter-of-course way. Hefelt safer out in the bright warm stern displeased eye could possibly peerat him around the bend of that black shiningstove-pipe. There was comfort in thesavory steam puffing out from under thelid of the stew-pan on the stove. There was 18. *(Jli, dear Santa Clans OF THE PULLMAN reassurance in the clatter of the knives andforks and dishes which he and Libby putnoisily in place on the table. But whenGrandma Neal started where she hadleft off, to finish the story of the Camels andthe Star, he interrupted quickly to ask in-stead for the tale of Goldilocks and theThree Bears. The Christmas Spirit hadgone out of him. He could not listen tothe story of the Star. It lighted the waynot only of the camel caravan, but of theSky Road too, and he did nt want to bereminded of that Sky Road now. He wasfearful that a cold displeasure might befilling the throat of the sitting-room chim-ney. If Santa Claus had happened to belistening when he called him a mean oldthing, then had he ruined not only his ownchances, but Libbys too. That fear fol-lowed him all evening. It made himvaguely uncomfortable. Even when theysat down to supper it did something to hisappetite, for the dumpling stew did not tasteas go
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Keywords: ., bookauthorjohnston, bookcentury1900, bookdecade1910, bookyear1913
