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woman； made of wires and a brown…paper composition； cutting up a pie
for two small children； could give me a permanent comfort； for a long
time。 Nor was it any satisfaction to be shown the Mask； and see that it
was made of paper； or to have it locked up and be assured that no one
wore it。 The mere recollection of that fixed face； the mere knowledge of
its existence anywhere； was sufficient to awake me in the night all
perspiration and horror； with； 〃O I know it's coming！ O the mask！〃
I never wondered what the dear old donkey with the panniersthere he
is！ was made of； then！ His hide was real to the touch； I recollect。 And
the great black horse with the round red spots all over himthe horse that I
could even get uponI never wondered what had brought him to that
strange condition； or thought that such a horse was not commonly seen at
Newmarket。 The four horses of no colour； next to him； that went into the
waggon of cheeses； and could be taken out and stabled under the piano；
appear to have bits of fur…tippet for their tails； and other bits for their
manes； and to stand on pegs instead of legs； but it was not so when they
were brought home for a Christmas present。 They were all right； then；
neither was their harness unceremoniously nailed into their chests； as
appears to be the case now。 The tinkling works of the music… cart； I DID
find out； to be made of quill tooth…picks and wire； and I always thought
that little tumbler in his shirt sleeves； perpetually swarming up one side of
a wooden frame； and coming down； head foremost； on the other； rather a
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weak…minded personthough good…natured； but the Jacob's Ladder； next
him； made of little squares of red wood； that went flapping and clattering
over one another； each developing a different picture； and the whole
enlivened by small bells； was a mighty marvel and a great delight。
Ah！ The Doll's house！of which I was not proprietor； but where I
visited。 I don't admire the Houses of Parliament half so much as that
stone…fronted mansion with real glass windows； and door…steps； and a real
balconygreener than I ever see now； except at watering places； and even
they afford but a poor imitation。 And though it DID open all at once； the
entire house…front （which was a blow； I admit； as cancelling the fiction of
a staircase）； it was but to shut it up again； and I could believe。 Even open；
there were three distinct rooms in it： a sitting…room and bed…room；
elegantly furnished； and best of all； a kitchen； with uncommonly soft fire…
irons； a plentiful assortment of diminutive utensilsoh； the warming…pan！…
…and a tin man…cook in profile； who was always going to fry two fish。
What Barmecide justice have I done to the noble feasts wherein the set of
wooden platters figured； each with its own peculiar delicacy； as a ham or
turkey； glued tight on to it； and garnished with something green； which I
recollect as moss！ Could all the Temperance Societies of these later days；
united； give me such a tea…drinking as I have had through the means of
yonder little set of blue crockery； which really would hold liquid （it ran out
of the small wooden cask； I recollect； and tasted of matches）； and which
made tea； nectar。 And if the two legs of the ineffectual little sugar…tongs
did tumble over one another； and want purpose； like Punch's hands； what
does it matter？ And if I did once shriek out； as a poisoned child； and
strike the fashionable company with consternation； by reason of having
drunk a little teaspoon； inadvertently dissolved in too hot tea； I was never
the worse for it； except by a powder！
Upon the next branches of the tree； lower down； hard by the green
roller and miniature gardening…tools； how thick the books begin to hang。
Thin books； in themselves； at first； but many of them； and with deliciously
smooth covers of bright red or green。 What fat black letters to begin with！
〃A was an archer； and shot at a frog。〃 Of course he was。 He was an
apple…pie also； and there he is！ He was a good many things in his time；
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Some Short Christmas Stories
was A； and so were most of his friends； except X； who had so little
versatility； that I never knew him to get beyond Xerxes or Xantippelike
Y； who was always confined to a Yacht or a Yew Tree； and Z condemned
for ever to be a Zebra or a Zany。 But； now； the very tree itself changes；
and becomes a bean…stalkthe marvellous bean…stalk up which Jack
climbed to the Giant's house！ And now； those dreadfully interesting；
double…headed giants； with their clubs over their shoulders； begin to stride
along the boughs in a perfect throng； dragging knights and ladies home for
dinner by the hair of their heads。 And Jackhow noble； with his sword
of sharpness； and his shoes of swiftness！ Again those old meditations
come upon me as I gaze up at him； and I debate within myself whether
there was more than one Jack （which I am loth to believe possible）； or
only one genuine original admirable Jack； who achieved all the recorded
exploits。
Good for Christmas…time is the ruddy colour of the cloak； in which
the tree making a forest of itself for her to trip through； with her basket
Little Red Riding…Hood comes to me one Christmas Eve to give me
information of the cruelty and treachery of that dissembling Wolf who ate
her grandmother； without making any impression on his appetite； and then
ate her； after making that ferocious joke about his teeth。 She was my first
love。 I felt that if I could have married Little Red Riding…Hood； I should
have known perfect bliss。 But； it was not to be； and there was nothing for
it but to look out the Wolf in the Noah's Ark there； and put him late in the
procession on the table； as a monster who was to be degraded。 O the
wonderful Noah's Ark！ It was not found seaworthy when put in a
washing…tub； and the animals were crammed in at the roof； and needed to
have their legs w