Holidays at the Grange | Page 8

with tables, piled with
articles both for use and pleasure; there was a separate table for every
one in the house, including the servants, who in Germany live many
years in one family, and even for the baby. Their guest also was not
forgotten; I found upon my table a pair of slippers, and sundry other
gifts, some of which I still keep with care, as a memorial of that very
happy evening.
"That must have been really charming! I think the mystery adds very
much to the pleasure," said Alice. "And, uncle, is not the custom of
hanging up the stocking derived from Germany?"
"I think it is. In Holland there is a little variation, for there the shoe is
placed at the door of the chamber, for adults as well as children enter
into the sport. I heard an amusing story connected with this practice,
when I was in Holland; if you like, I will relate it; the event is said
really to have happened."
"Do tell it, uncle!" said John Wyndham. "I like true stories."
"There was a poor, but very handsome and excellent young minister, a
licentiate, I think they call it, when a young man is not yet settled in a
church; to support himself until he was appointed to a congregation, he
took the place of tutor in a rich burgomaster's family, where he fell in
love with the pretty, amiable, and mischievous daughter. She fully
reciprocated his feelings, and as her parents approved of the match, she
gave the bashful young man all the encouragement she could: she felt
very sure as to the nature of his sentiments towards her, but
notwithstanding all she could do, the young man would not propose--as
she rightly concluded, the thought of her superior wealth deterred him;
and meantime the foolish fellow became pale and melancholy, as if he
seriously meditated going into a decline. So the merry maiden thought,
'This will never do; I must take strong measures, or the poor soul will
mope himself to death.' Christmas Eve came round, and the assembled
family were joking about the presents they expected. 'Put your slippers
outside your door to-night, Dominie,' said the father, calling him by the

title commonly applied to clergymen in Holland, and among the
descendants of the Dutch in the State of New York, 'I have no doubt
your friend Caterina has something to put in them.' 'Oh, it is not worth
while--no one cares for me, sir.' 'But, indeed, we do,' replied little
Caterina; 'I have something for you, but I am not at all sure you will
condescend to accept it. 'Have you indeed, Miss Caterina? I shall feel
highly honored; I give you my word that whatever it is, I will accept it
joyfully.' 'Very well: only please to remember this, when you see what
is in your slippers.'
"The next morning, when the young Dominie opened his door, full of
eagerness to see what was in store for him, lo and behold! his slippers
had vanished. 'I might have known that the light-hearted, mischievous
maiden was only laughing at me--and well I deserve it--fool that I am
to dream about one so much above me!' Thus trying to scold himself
into stoicism, the young man went over to the breakfast-table, where all
were gathered together except Caterina. 'A very merry Christmas! but
my dear Dominie, how sober you look!' 'Do I, indeed? that is very
improper; but I've been thinking of going away--I had better do so--that
makes me look rather sad, perhaps; I've spent so many happy hours
among you all.' 'Going away! oh, no, you are not to think of that; I
cannot allow such a word. By the way, what have you found in your
slippers?' 'To reprove my presumption, no doubt, my slippers have
been spirited away in the night: it is not for a poor fellow like me to
receive gifts from lovely young ladies.' As he spoke these words, the
door opened, and Caterina entered, bright as the morning, her face
covered with smiles and blushes; she shuffled along in a strange way,
and all eyes naturally fell upon her little feet, which were sailing about
in the Dominie's slippers! Amid the general laughter, she walked up to
the diffident youth, who could scarcely believe his eyes, and said with
an air of irresistible drollery, by which she tried to cover her confusion:
'Here is your Christmas present, sir; do you hold to your promise of
accepting it?' Of course, the lady having broken the ice, the Dominie
could do no less than speak out, and, all being willing, the two were
soon converted into one; a good church was procured for him by the
influence of the burgomaster, and they lived as happily