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pray not yet！〃
But； the voice cried； 〃Mother； mother！〃 without minding him； though
his hair was now quite white； and tears were on his face。
Then； the mother； who was already drawn into the shade of the dark
avenue and moving away with her arms still round his neck； kissed him；
and said； 〃My dearest； I am summoned； and I go！〃 And she was gone。
And the traveller and he were left alone together。
And they went on and on together； until they came to very near the end
of the wood： so near； that they could see the sunset shining red before
them through the trees。
Yet； once more； while he broke his way among the branches； the
traveller lost his friend。 He called and called； but there was no reply； and
when he passed out of the wood； and saw the peaceful sun going down
upon a wide purple prospect； he came to an old man sitting on a fallen tree。
So； he said to the old man； 〃What do you do here？〃 And the old man
said with a calm smile； 〃I am always remembering。 Come and remember
with me！〃
So the traveller sat down by the side of that old man； face to face with
the serene sunset； and all his friends came softly back and stood around
him。 The beautiful child； the handsome boy； the young man in love； the
father； mother； and children： every one of them was there； and he had
lost nothing。 So； he loved them all； and was kind and forbearing with
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them all； and was always pleased to watch them all； and they all honoured
and loved him。 And I think the traveller must be yourself； dear
Grandfather； because this what you do to us； and what we do to you。
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Some Short Christmas Stories
THE SCHOOLBOY'S STORY
Being rather young at presentI am getting on in years； but still I am
rather youngI have no particular adventures of my own to fall back upon。
It wouldn't much interest anybody here； I suppose； to know what a screw
the Reverend is； or what a griffin SHE is； or how they do stick it into
parentsparticularly hair…cutting； and medical attendance。 One of our
fellows was charged in his half's account twelve and sixpence for two
pillstolerably profitable at six and threepence a…piece； I should think
and he never took them either； but put them up the sleeve of his jacket。
As to the beef； it's shameful。 It's NOT beef。 Regular beef isn't veins。
You can chew regular beef。 Besides which； there's gravy to regular beef；
and you never see a drop to ours。 Another of our fellows went home ill；
and heard the family doctor tell his father that he couldn't account for his
complaint unless it was the beer。 Of course it was the beer； and well it
might be！
However； beef and Old Cheeseman are two different things。 So is
beer。 It was Old Cheeseman I meant to tell about； not the manner in
which our fellows get their constitutions destroyed for the sake of profit。
Why； look at the pie…crust alone。 There's no flakiness in it。 It's
solidlike damp lead。 Then our fellows get nightmares； and are
bolstered for calling out and waking other fellows。 Who can wonder！
Old Cheeseman one night walked in his sleep； put his hat on over his
night…cap； got hold of a fishing…rod and a cricket…bat； and went down into
the parlour； where they naturally thought from his appearance he was a
Ghost。 Why； he never would have done that if his meals had been
wholesome。 When we all begin to walk in our sleeps； I suppose they'll
be sorry for it。
Old Cheeseman wasn't second Latin Master then； he was a fellow
himself。 He was first brought there； very small； in a post…chaise； by a
woman who was always taking snuff and shaking himand that was the
most he remembered about it。 He never went home for the holidays。
His accounts （he never learnt any extras） were sent to a Bank； and the
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Some Short Christmas Stories
Bank paid them； and he had a brown suit twice a…year； and went into boots
at twelve。 They were always too big for him； too。
In the Midsummer holidays； some of our fellows who lived within
walking distance； used to come back and climb the trees outside the
playground wall； on purpose to look at Old Cheeseman reading there by
himself。 He was always as mild as the teaand THAT'S pretty mild； I
should hope！so when they whistled to him； he looked up and nodded；
and when they said； 〃Halloa； Old Cheeseman； what have you had for
dinner？〃 he said； 〃Boiled mutton；〃 and when they said； 〃An't it solitary；
Old Cheeseman？〃 he said； 〃It is a little dull sometimes：〃 and then they said；
〃Well good…bye； Old Cheeseman！〃 and climbed down again。 Of course it
was imposing on Old Cheeseman to give him nothing but boiled mutton
through a whole Vacation； but that was just like the system。 When they
didn't give him boiled mutton； they gave him rice pudding； pretending it
was a treat。 And saved the butcher。
So Old Cheeseman went on。 The holidays brought him into other
trouble besides the loneliness； because when the fellows began to come
back； not wanting to； he was always glad to see them； which was
aggravating when they were not at all glad to see him； and so he got his
head knocked against walls； and that was the way his nose bled。 But he
was a favourite in general。 Once a subscription was raised for him； and；
to keep up his spirits； he was presented before the holidays with two white
mice； a rabbit； a pigeon； and a beautiful puppy。 Old Cheeseman cried
about itespecially soon afterwards； when they all ate one another。
Of course Old Cheeseman used to be called by the names of all sorts
of cheesesDouble Glo'sterman； Family Cheshireman； Dutchman； North
Wiltshireman； and all that。 But he never minded it。 And I don't mean to