Chapter V: Preparing for Mrs. Metherell's Party

IT was getting late by the time Mrs. Metherell arrived at home, for she had had a good bit of shopping to do, which had taken her longer than she had anticipated. As she was going upstairs a voice called to her:

"Is that you, Mrs. Metherell?"

"Yes, sir."

"Come in here a minute, will you, please?"

There was an eager note in Jim Blewett's voice as he spoke, and as Mrs. Metherell stepped into his sitting-room she cast an astonished glance around. An empty hamper was on the floor, whilst the table was strewn with what had been its contents—a turkey, some sausages, a plum pudding in a mould, a large cake, a couple of pounds of butter, a tin of clotted cream, and half-a-dozen pairs of hand-knitted socks.

"You see the folks at home have not forgotten me," Jim remarked smilingly. "I've had a hamper from my sister-in-law. She says—" referring to a letter in his hand—"that the pudding is sufficiently boiled, and only wants warming through. She knitted the socks herself. Aren't they capital?"

Mrs. Metherell took up the articles and examined them approvingly, whilst her lodger went on:

"I know my sister-in-law's Christmas puddings of old! You can't beat them! Mrs. Metherell, I shall never eat that huge turkey all by myself, although I have such an excellent appetite, and I'm going to dine with our senior house surgeon on Christmas Day. I want you to cook the turkey for your little visitors, and have the cake as well. If you are going to have a high tea, as I think you told me you intended, cold turkey would come in nicely, wouldn't it?"

"Yes, it would," Mrs. Metherell acknowledged, "but I don't like to take it from you, sir. The turkey will keep several days, and you might have it hot for dinner one night, and as to the cake—why, I don't suppose your sister-in-law meant you to eat all these good things at once!"

"Well, no," he responded, laughing, "but I'd so much rather the children shared them with me."

"I'm sure, sir, if that's the case, I'm quite agreeable, and I'm very much obliged to you for wishing it."

"And, Mrs. Metherell, I've bought a few things to help decorate your Christmas tree. I passed a toy shop on my way home from the hospital to-night, and the toys were so enticing, I couldn't possibly resist buying some. The fact is," he explained, speaking in confidential tones, "my godfather has sent me a five pound note for a Christmas box!"

"Oh, Mr. Blewett, you ought not to have spent your money in that way!"

"Only a small part of it—there's a lot left, I assure you. I've bought a beautiful doll for my little niece, Nellie—such a grand doll! And a Russia leather pocket-book for my brother, dear old chap! And half-a-dozen pairs of gloves for my sister-in-law. And look here, Mrs. Metherell, what do you think of this?" Drawing a small jeweller's box from his breast pocket, and exhibiting therein a pretty silver brooch.

"For Clara," he explained, "only I shall not give it to her till Christmas Day. Do you think she will like it?"

"I am sure she will, sir! I believe you are the only one of my lodgers who ever shows her the least consideration, and I'm sure you'll be the only one to give her anything for Christmas."

Clara was the indefatigable maid-of-all-work of the establishment, a good-natured girl who had imbibed some of her mistress's qualities of mind and heart.

"When I think of the scores of times she has toiled up to my room here, in answer to my bell," said Jim, "and what dirty boots she has had to clean for me, I feel sorry I have no handsomer present to give her."

"She will be delighted," Mrs. Metherell declared. "Clara is a good girl, and she's a great help to me. I will send her upstairs to tidy up your room for you, Mr. Blewett. As to the turkey, and that big cake, which, if looks go for anything, must be simply delicious, I accept them gladly for the children, and the toys too. I won't say you ought not to have bought them, for I know it's a pleasure to you to give."

"When do you decorate the tree, Mrs. Metherell? I gave Clara my parcel of toys as I came in."

"Why, I shall begin as soon as I have taken off my bonnet and cloak. Would you care to come down to my sitting-room presently? I should be really glad if you would help me hang up the things, for I'm afraid I shall not have much taste in arranging them. Of course, sir, if you're going to work—"

"But I'm not. I don't feel a bit workish. There is nothing I should like better than to help you decorate the tree."

In another half hour the important business of the evening was in full swing. The tree, in its pot, was set in the middle of the floor in Mrs. Metherell's sitting-room, and the presents carefully secured thereto. It was an undoubtedly fortunate thing that the medical student was there, for neither the landlady nor Clara had the least idea how to display the different articles to the best advantage. It was on Jim that the work fell, and he was quite satisfied that it should be so. The presents were useful as well as ornamental, for Mrs. Metherell had knitted several warm comforters, and Clara had crocheted some pairs of cuffs in brilliantly coloured wools.

"There!" cried the young man at length, withdrawing to a little distance, to view his work the better. "I don't believe there'll be a prettier Christmas tree in all London. When the Chinese lanterns are lit up, it will look splendid!"

Mrs. Metherell and Clara eagerly agreed, the latter uttering exclamations of admiration and delight.

The girl was a regular Londoner, like her mistress, and had been brought up in a poor home in a wretched slum. Clara had seen nothing of the better side of life until she had come to live with Mrs. Metherell, who had taught her the meaning of that love which is the light of the world. She had been as ignorant of God as any heathen in a foreign land, and it had been given to her mistress to plant those seeds in the girl's heart which were, by God's grace, to take deep root and beautify her whole life. The Gospel Story poured into her ears by one who humbly tried to walk in the way that leads to eternal life had made so great an impression upon her that it had lightened each hard day's work and sweetened every breath she drew. She was growing in grace, and in the knowledge of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ, learning to trust in Him as her unfailing friend, and casting all her weakness upon Him.

The night out-doors was bright and frosty. The pale moon and twinkling stars looked down upon the great city with its riches and poverty, its goodness and sin, upon luxurious homes whose inmates had little thought for those to whom Christmas meant nothing, and—thank God—upon those too who busied themselves preparing for the happiness of others; upon reckless waste and terrible want, and deeds of self-sacrifice and deeds of love. And to all, gentle and simple, rich and poor, was coming the angels' message that for nineteen hundred years has resounded through all Christian lands, scoffed at by some, passed by unheeded by others, but here and there treasured up in some faithful hearts, bearing its tidings of joy and good will towards all mankind.

To the three in Mrs. Metherell's sitting-room—three so wide apart in every way but one, and that their love for Him they were looking forward to worship as the Babe of Bethlehem on Christmas Day—it seemed as though an atmosphere of pleasant expectancy surrounded all the world.

"The tree looks lovely," Mrs. Metherell said, when after a few finishing touches Jim declared his work was done, "and it's due to you, sir, entirely! We could never have arranged the things so tastefully, or made them look half so well."

"Pooh, pooh!" exclaimed the lad. "I've had some experience, you know, for we used to have a tree every year at home."

Then he went upstairs, and wrote a long letter to his dear ones in Cornwall, regaling them with an account of the preparations for Mrs. Metherell's party, concluding with a glowing account of the Christmas tree for Nellie's benefit, and confessing he had shared the contents of his hamper with his landlady, for the children's benefit. He knew well that his sister-in-law would enter into his feelings, and be perfectly satisfied that some of her good cheer should go to the little ones.