The Little Mixer | Page 5

Then
any Catholic can baptize anybody. My mama baptized our
washerwoman's little baby 'cause they knew it was going to die before
Father Murphy could get there. And ain't this a time of danger?"
"Nobody's dying." Virginia was distressingly literal.
Hannah looked from one friend to the other, hoping against hope.
"No, but there's danger Santa Claus won't come to see Hannah less'n
sump'n is done mighty quick," came Nellie's ready reply. "And can we

get a priest? You go get one, Virginia. Go get one."
Clearly there was no answer to this. The ceremony was set for early
afternoon when Grandmother Halloran took her nap and Nellie could
borrow the bottle of holy water from her shelf. As to the place, there
were six boys at the Hallorans' always in the way; Mrs. Lawrence had
guests; obviously the baptismal rite would have to be performed at
Hannah's home. After lunch the children assembled in the sun parlor of
the Josephs' home, in full view of Mrs. Joseph who sat embroidering in
the library, the French door closed between them, so that she did not
hear.
Nellie had secured the bottle of holy water, and, arrayed in her brother
Joe's long, black rain-coat, a towel about her neck for a stole, acted as
priest. Virginia, not to be left out of such an important affair, consented
to be godmother. In lieu of a prayer manual, Nellie used one of
Hannah's story books. She chose a verse, which, because she knew it
by heart, she could read exceptionally well:
"Little boy blue, come blow your horn, The sheep are in the meadow,
And the cows are in the corn."
Then she poured a little of the holy water on Hannah's forehead (wet
hair might occasion unanswerable questions) and baptized her "Hannah
Agnes Ignatius Joseph."
Called upon for a response, the godmother recited very impressively
the Scientific Statement of Being as found in the Christian Science
text-book, and Hannah was pronounced a Gentile and a Catholic.
One thing more remained to be done. Hannah ran to her mother, cheeks
aglow. "Mama, may I trade my striped ball to Nellie for some beads?"
"Why of course, darling, if you wish."
The exchange was made, and some time was spent in mastering the use
of the rosary. All three of the children knew the "Our Father," though
there was some difference of opinion as to "debts" and "trespasses"

which is apt to hold in all mixed congregations. The "Hail Mary"
proved a bit difficult for Hannah, and she finally abandoned it. "I'll say,
'Hear, oh Israel, the Lord our God, the Lord is One,'" she said. "I
already know that, and a prayer is a prayer, isn't it?"
Nellie refilled the holy-water bottle from the kitchen hydrant, and
hurried home to replace it before her grandmother should awaken.
Hannah spent the next hour lying flat on her stomach printing letters,
appealing to Virginia from time to time for aid as to the spelling,
Virginia being a very superior speller.
Mrs. Joseph was busy with callers when Virginia went home, and
Hannah was left to her own devices. Suddenly she thought of one stone
that had been left unturned: there was her friend Mr. Jackson to whom
the Lawrences always appealed in time of stress. She knew the formula,
she knew his number, for on the list by the Lawrences' telephone, his
name, like Abou-ben-Adhem's, led all the rest. "Main 1234," it was as
easy as counting. She slipped into the telephone closet and closed the
door.
There was no trouble with Hannah that night. She went to bed early,
and didn't care to have any stories told--she could go to sleep by
herself.
"Quite a change of heart, eh?" Eli commented to Rose, as they sat by
the living-room fire after telling their little girl good night.
"She has been like that all day, playing as happily as you please," Rose
responded. "I suppose she got it all out of her system in last night's
scene."
Eli drummed abstractedly on the arm of his chair: "I don't feel quite
right about it, even so," he said.
"Maybe you will think me inconsistent," she confessed, flushing, "but
Hannah was so indifferent about the presents sent her for Chanuca, I
only showed her two. I've saved the others to give her Christmas Day,
so she will have something of her own to show when the other children

bring theirs over."
Eli didn't seem any too pleased. "Poor little mite," he murmured.
* * * * *
"His-st! Missis Joseph!"
It was Bridget, the Hallorans' old family servant, calling softly from the
hall.
"I'll be after takin' the prisints ye've stored away for us. I'll lave 'em on
the back porch 'n' carry 'em over when the childer are all