WEBVTT
1
00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:05.759
Cherry pie. Well, it isn't such a bad house, said
2
00:00:05.799 --> 00:00:09.720
little Elsie Perch to herself, gazing up at the tall
3
00:00:09.880 --> 00:00:14.240
tenement building where she lived. To be sure, there are
4
00:00:14.320 --> 00:00:18.039
a good many folks in it, Grandpa and Grandma Perch,
5
00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:23.839
and Grandpa and Grandma Finny, and Uncle John's family and us.
6
00:00:24.600 --> 00:00:28.359
And her house hasn't got anybody in it but them.
7
00:00:28.920 --> 00:00:32.399
But it's a good enough house. I'm not going to
8
00:00:32.479 --> 00:00:36.280
cry because that little girl from Sunday School has nicer
9
00:00:36.359 --> 00:00:40.600
clothes and lives in a nicer house. She hasn't got
10
00:00:40.640 --> 00:00:45.520
a cherry tree anyway. Elsie spoke those last words with
11
00:00:45.759 --> 00:00:50.039
great triumph, because right there in the backyard of her
12
00:00:50.119 --> 00:00:55.240
home stood a tall, generous cherry tree. Looking at it
13
00:00:55.320 --> 00:00:59.200
now in the gray quiet of a December twilight, she
14
00:00:59.359 --> 00:01:03.200
had to use some imagination to bring back the luscious
15
00:01:03.399 --> 00:01:07.280
red fruit it had borne last summer and the cool
16
00:01:07.439 --> 00:01:12.599
shade of its glossy green leaves. But Elsie was quite
17
00:01:12.680 --> 00:01:17.239
equal to the effort, especially since tomorrow was Christmas Day.
18
00:01:18.359 --> 00:01:22.000
There was to be a wonderful Christmas dinner at Grandma
19
00:01:22.120 --> 00:01:26.200
Perches on the lower floor with Uncle John's family and
20
00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:31.239
Elsie's parents, and both sets of grandparents all gathered round,
21
00:01:32.200 --> 00:01:35.519
and the crowning glory of Christmas dinner with the Perch
22
00:01:35.599 --> 00:01:41.159
family was always the cherry pie. True, it was made
23
00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:45.760
from canned cherries, but nobody could put up cherries the
24
00:01:45.799 --> 00:01:50.480
way Grandma Perch could, tasting just as fine in winter
25
00:01:50.840 --> 00:01:55.560
as in summer, and nobody else knew exactly how much
26
00:01:55.599 --> 00:02:00.000
sugar to add or how to make such flaky, perfect
27
00:02:00.400 --> 00:02:04.840
pie crust. All of this came pleasantly to mind as
28
00:02:04.879 --> 00:02:07.920
Elsie ran up and down the front walk in her
29
00:02:08.039 --> 00:02:12.159
warm hood and cloak and mittens. There was a small
30
00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:16.360
cloud of discontent, It's true, when she thought about the
31
00:02:16.479 --> 00:02:20.400
velvet clothes and other fine things belonging to the girl
32
00:02:20.439 --> 00:02:25.159
from Sunday School, But it faded as she ran, and
33
00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:29.080
faded further when she glanced down toward the square below
34
00:02:29.719 --> 00:02:33.759
and saw how much more cramped and cheerless the buildings
35
00:02:33.800 --> 00:02:38.680
looked down there. She felt a grateful warmth, knowing her
36
00:02:38.800 --> 00:02:42.439
home was better and that her Papa and Uncle John
37
00:02:42.840 --> 00:02:46.919
never came home in a harsh, frightening state the way
38
00:02:47.039 --> 00:02:52.080
some fathers did in that square. Pretty good times at Christmas,
39
00:02:52.639 --> 00:02:57.879
Elsie said aloud, hopping merrily and forgetting her discontent entirely.
40
00:02:58.800 --> 00:03:03.080
Why there's Millie. She ran across the street toward a
41
00:03:03.120 --> 00:03:05.759
little girl who had just come out of the tall
42
00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:12.879
house opposite. Milly looked very forlorn. What's the matter, asked Elsie.
43
00:03:14.039 --> 00:03:17.919
Mama says, I can't have any Christmas present, said Milly,
44
00:03:18.159 --> 00:03:22.400
beginning to sob. She was expecting some work, but it
45
00:03:22.479 --> 00:03:26.800
didn't come, and the rints overdue, and and I can't
46
00:03:26.800 --> 00:03:32.000
have a thing. That's too bad, said Elsie. I'm going
47
00:03:32.039 --> 00:03:35.680
to have lots and we're going to have cherry pie
48
00:03:35.759 --> 00:03:41.120
for dinner. Oh my, cried Milly, drying her tears to
49
00:03:41.240 --> 00:03:47.599
contemplate this wonderful future. Cherry pie. It must be so good.
50
00:03:48.319 --> 00:03:53.280
It sounds good. Didn't you ever have any cherry pie?
51
00:03:53.520 --> 00:03:59.680
Milly shook her head. Oh, it's splendid. Milly's eyes shone.
52
00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:04.879
Just then, a small group of thin, poorly dressed children
53
00:04:04.960 --> 00:04:08.919
from the square below came running up the walk, two
54
00:04:09.000 --> 00:04:13.400
boys named Sammy and Luke, and two girls named Lizzie
55
00:04:13.439 --> 00:04:18.079
and Sallie. They were shouting and racing, but stopped to listen.
56
00:04:18.920 --> 00:04:23.800
The word Christmas loosened their tongues at once. I'm going
57
00:04:23.800 --> 00:04:27.160
to our Sunday School for a Christmas tree, said Sammie.
58
00:04:27.879 --> 00:04:32.120
I can't go to Sunday school, said Lizzie, near tears.
59
00:04:32.240 --> 00:04:36.480
I haven't got any clothes fit to wear. Elsie's heart
60
00:04:36.639 --> 00:04:40.920
reproached her sharply for her covetous ungrateful thoughts of a
61
00:04:40.959 --> 00:04:45.800
few minutes before. The reproach grew stronger still when Milly
62
00:04:45.879 --> 00:04:49.839
announced proudly to the little crowd that Elsie Perch was
63
00:04:49.920 --> 00:04:54.480
going to have cherry pie for her Christmas dinner. Oh my,
64
00:04:55.279 --> 00:05:00.480
is she isn't that fine? Cried one and all, Yes,
65
00:05:00.879 --> 00:05:04.839
said Elsie, her heart swelling a little with pride. My
66
00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:09.639
Grandma always makes a cherry pie for Christmas. A hush
67
00:05:09.759 --> 00:05:13.560
fell over the small group, and into that hush came
68
00:05:13.600 --> 00:05:18.240
the light, quick patter of footsteps. Around the corner. There
69
00:05:18.279 --> 00:05:21.759
appeared a little girl from the street above, Little Maud,
70
00:05:22.319 --> 00:05:26.360
the very girl Elsie had been envying. She wore a
71
00:05:26.360 --> 00:05:30.040
broad gray hat with a lovely red feather and a
72
00:05:30.120 --> 00:05:34.480
matching red velvet cloak and leggings, carried a pretty muff
73
00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:38.519
and led on a silken cord. A small white dog
74
00:05:38.959 --> 00:05:42.959
dressed in a buff and silver blanket. Oh, cried this
75
00:05:43.160 --> 00:05:48.160
charming little creature bounding toward Elsie. There you are. I
76
00:05:48.199 --> 00:05:50.920
saw you come this way after Sunday school, and I've
77
00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:54.879
been looking for you everywhere. See my new little dog.
78
00:05:55.519 --> 00:05:59.680
He's a Christmas present. He came early yesterday. Is this
79
00:05:59.720 --> 00:06:04.120
where you live? She glanced up and down the narrow street,
80
00:06:04.480 --> 00:06:08.920
a little uncertain about the neighborhood. And are these your
81
00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:14.439
brothers and sisters? Elsie laughed and said no. What do
82
00:06:14.600 --> 00:06:20.079
you think? Said Lizzie quite seriously, her large, wistful eyes
83
00:06:20.199 --> 00:06:24.879
and pale face giving an unexpected gravity to her words.
84
00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:30.000
This girl here, she pointed at Elsie, is going to
85
00:06:30.120 --> 00:06:36.720
have cherry pie? Is she said, Maud? How nice? I
86
00:06:36.959 --> 00:06:39.879
like cherry pie, but we never have it in winter?
87
00:06:41.240 --> 00:06:45.759
We do, said Elsie proudly. My grandma puts up jars
88
00:06:45.800 --> 00:06:49.000
of cherries when our tree bears, and at Christmas time
89
00:06:49.399 --> 00:06:53.959
we have cherry pie, and sometimes cherry sauce for tea
90
00:06:54.040 --> 00:06:58.959
when we have company. I'd love some cherry pie, said Maud,
91
00:06:59.480 --> 00:07:03.040
with the easy confidence of a child who usually got
92
00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:06.160
what she asked for. Can we have some of your
93
00:07:06.279 --> 00:07:11.240
cherry pie? The little group of children pressed close around her.
94
00:07:12.040 --> 00:07:15.319
Elsie was just beginning to explain that the pie was
95
00:07:15.439 --> 00:07:19.240
really Grandma's and not hers to give. When a bell
96
00:07:19.399 --> 00:07:23.680
rang in the distance, and Maud darted away. That's for me,
97
00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:29.160
she called, tugging the little dog along goodbye. I do
98
00:07:29.279 --> 00:07:32.920
wish I could have some of that cherry pie. She
99
00:07:33.040 --> 00:07:36.519
went tripping away down the side street, and the children
100
00:07:36.639 --> 00:07:41.560
watched until she was out of sight. I suppose, said
101
00:07:41.639 --> 00:07:45.839
Luke with a small sigh. She has dinner every day.
102
00:07:47.279 --> 00:07:52.560
I have dinner every day, said Elsie. Do you, said Lizzie,
103
00:07:53.079 --> 00:07:59.040
looking at her with big wistful eyes. I don't. Oh,
104
00:07:59.439 --> 00:08:04.000
I'd love of some of that cherry pie. Just then
105
00:08:04.040 --> 00:08:07.360
Elsie spotted her father coming up the street and ran
106
00:08:07.480 --> 00:08:11.040
to meet him, while the others turned toward their homes below.
107
00:08:12.199 --> 00:08:15.879
The next morning, there was such excitement that Elsie forgot
108
00:08:16.079 --> 00:08:19.759
entirely about Milly and Maud and the children from the
109
00:08:19.800 --> 00:08:24.839
square until Christmas dinner was nearly finished and the cherry
110
00:08:24.839 --> 00:08:30.680
pie came to the table. Oh, she cried, Grandma. You
111
00:08:30.839 --> 00:08:35.879
don't know how much everyone wants some of your cherry pie,
112
00:08:36.200 --> 00:08:41.080
do they said Grandma kindly. Well, I do hope it's
113
00:08:41.120 --> 00:08:46.399
turned out well. Elsie noticed that after everyone had been served,
114
00:08:46.639 --> 00:08:51.320
there was still some pie left. A bright idea flashed
115
00:08:51.360 --> 00:08:54.000
into her head, and she was out of the room
116
00:08:54.120 --> 00:08:58.240
in an instant. On went her cloak and hood, and
117
00:08:58.360 --> 00:09:02.440
she dashed around the corner to find Maud. There she
118
00:09:02.679 --> 00:09:07.399
was playing with her blanketed dog on the sidewalk. Come,
119
00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:12.720
cried Elsie, catching hold of Maud's hand. Come quick, there's
120
00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:17.600
lots of cherry pie, Come and have some. As they
121
00:09:17.639 --> 00:09:21.000
passed Millie's house, they found her on the front steps,
122
00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:26.360
and she was easily persuaded to join them. Now, said Elsie,
123
00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:30.679
running ahead, Let's find Sammy and Lizzie and the others.
124
00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:35.039
They flew down the street and quickly found what they
125
00:09:35.080 --> 00:09:40.440
were looking for. The watchword cherry pie was enough, and
126
00:09:40.600 --> 00:09:44.879
in moments they were all at Grandma Percha's door. It
127
00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:49.240
was only then that Elsie felt the first flutter of doubt.
128
00:09:49.759 --> 00:09:53.919
Perhaps there wasn't enough pie to go round, And what
129
00:09:54.080 --> 00:09:59.200
would Grandma say? She marched bravely in all the same,
130
00:09:59.679 --> 00:10:04.360
her e eager little crowd at her heels. See here, Grandma,
131
00:10:04.679 --> 00:10:08.279
she said, here are a lot of children who'd like
132
00:10:08.399 --> 00:10:14.240
some cherry pie. Dear heart, exclaimed Grandma, looking at the
133
00:10:14.279 --> 00:10:19.960
Motley group with wide eyes. Why Elsie, there's hardly enough
134
00:10:20.039 --> 00:10:25.799
left for three small pieces, but bless them all. The
135
00:10:25.919 --> 00:10:29.720
look on some of those thin, hungry faces went straight
136
00:10:29.799 --> 00:10:33.399
to Grandma's heart in the middle of her own abundant,
137
00:10:33.600 --> 00:10:37.799
cheerful Christmas Day, I'll have a cherry pie made for
138
00:10:37.879 --> 00:10:41.480
them in no time. There's pastry already in my pan,
139
00:10:41.799 --> 00:10:45.799
and the oven is hot. Just go outside and play, children,
140
00:10:46.120 --> 00:10:50.480
and I'll call you in presently. And presently they were
141
00:10:50.519 --> 00:10:54.919
called back in to find a magnificent cherry pie baked
142
00:10:55.000 --> 00:10:58.279
in a great tin pan, and they had just as
143
00:10:58.360 --> 00:11:01.919
much as was good for them. Even Maud's little dog
144
00:11:02.080 --> 00:11:06.720
got a taste. Maud left first, for she wasn't really
145
00:11:06.799 --> 00:11:10.320
hungry and knew her mother would be wondering where she was.
146
00:11:11.159 --> 00:11:14.799
But the children from the square below stayed a long while.
147
00:11:15.720 --> 00:11:19.759
To tell the truth, Grandma didn't stop at cherry pie.
148
00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:24.519
There was turkey and mashed potatoes and turnip, and hot
149
00:11:24.600 --> 00:11:30.399
coffee too. I can't often give, Grandma said afterward, but
150
00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:33.840
we've been blessed this year, and I can't bear to
151
00:11:33.879 --> 00:11:37.600
see any one go hungry. On Christmas Day, after they
152
00:11:37.639 --> 00:11:41.720
had all gone home, Elsie sat rocking quietly in her
153
00:11:41.720 --> 00:11:47.720
little rocking chair, her heart full of a still gentle happiness.
154
00:11:48.080 --> 00:11:51.679
She was thinking in a vague way about the envy
155
00:11:51.799 --> 00:11:55.879
she had felt toward Maud and her general feeling of discontent.
156
00:11:57.000 --> 00:11:59.919
At last, she said to Grandma, who was sitting near by.
157
00:12:01.639 --> 00:12:05.200
Most everybody has things that some other folks don't have.
158
00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:13.559
Grandma understood her perfectly, dear heart, she said, smiling, that's
159
00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:18.720
just right. There are mercies for everyone if they'd only
160
00:12:18.840 --> 00:12:22.840
stop to count them, and Christmas Day is the very
161
00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:24.360
best time to remember it.
1
00:00:00.160 --> 00:00:05.759
Cherry pie. Well, it isn't such a bad house, said
2
00:00:05.799 --> 00:00:09.720
little Elsie Perch to herself, gazing up at the tall
3
00:00:09.880 --> 00:00:14.240
tenement building where she lived. To be sure, there are
4
00:00:14.320 --> 00:00:18.039
a good many folks in it, Grandpa and Grandma Perch,
5
00:00:18.719 --> 00:00:23.839
and Grandpa and Grandma Finny, and Uncle John's family and us.
6
00:00:24.600 --> 00:00:28.359
And her house hasn't got anybody in it but them.
7
00:00:28.920 --> 00:00:32.399
But it's a good enough house. I'm not going to
8
00:00:32.479 --> 00:00:36.280
cry because that little girl from Sunday School has nicer
9
00:00:36.359 --> 00:00:40.600
clothes and lives in a nicer house. She hasn't got
10
00:00:40.640 --> 00:00:45.520
a cherry tree anyway. Elsie spoke those last words with
11
00:00:45.759 --> 00:00:50.039
great triumph, because right there in the backyard of her
12
00:00:50.119 --> 00:00:55.240
home stood a tall, generous cherry tree. Looking at it
13
00:00:55.320 --> 00:00:59.200
now in the gray quiet of a December twilight, she
14
00:00:59.359 --> 00:01:03.200
had to use some imagination to bring back the luscious
15
00:01:03.399 --> 00:01:07.280
red fruit it had borne last summer and the cool
16
00:01:07.439 --> 00:01:12.599
shade of its glossy green leaves. But Elsie was quite
17
00:01:12.680 --> 00:01:17.239
equal to the effort, especially since tomorrow was Christmas Day.
18
00:01:18.359 --> 00:01:22.000
There was to be a wonderful Christmas dinner at Grandma
19
00:01:22.120 --> 00:01:26.200
Perches on the lower floor with Uncle John's family and
20
00:01:26.319 --> 00:01:31.239
Elsie's parents, and both sets of grandparents all gathered round,
21
00:01:32.200 --> 00:01:35.519
and the crowning glory of Christmas dinner with the Perch
22
00:01:35.599 --> 00:01:41.159
family was always the cherry pie. True, it was made
23
00:01:41.200 --> 00:01:45.760
from canned cherries, but nobody could put up cherries the
24
00:01:45.799 --> 00:01:50.480
way Grandma Perch could, tasting just as fine in winter
25
00:01:50.840 --> 00:01:55.560
as in summer, and nobody else knew exactly how much
26
00:01:55.599 --> 00:02:00.000
sugar to add or how to make such flaky, perfect
27
00:02:00.400 --> 00:02:04.840
pie crust. All of this came pleasantly to mind as
28
00:02:04.879 --> 00:02:07.920
Elsie ran up and down the front walk in her
29
00:02:08.039 --> 00:02:12.159
warm hood and cloak and mittens. There was a small
30
00:02:12.240 --> 00:02:16.360
cloud of discontent, It's true, when she thought about the
31
00:02:16.479 --> 00:02:20.400
velvet clothes and other fine things belonging to the girl
32
00:02:20.439 --> 00:02:25.159
from Sunday School, But it faded as she ran, and
33
00:02:25.280 --> 00:02:29.080
faded further when she glanced down toward the square below
34
00:02:29.719 --> 00:02:33.759
and saw how much more cramped and cheerless the buildings
35
00:02:33.800 --> 00:02:38.680
looked down there. She felt a grateful warmth, knowing her
36
00:02:38.800 --> 00:02:42.439
home was better and that her Papa and Uncle John
37
00:02:42.840 --> 00:02:46.919
never came home in a harsh, frightening state the way
38
00:02:47.039 --> 00:02:52.080
some fathers did in that square. Pretty good times at Christmas,
39
00:02:52.639 --> 00:02:57.879
Elsie said aloud, hopping merrily and forgetting her discontent entirely.
40
00:02:58.800 --> 00:03:03.080
Why there's Millie. She ran across the street toward a
41
00:03:03.120 --> 00:03:05.759
little girl who had just come out of the tall
42
00:03:05.840 --> 00:03:12.879
house opposite. Milly looked very forlorn. What's the matter, asked Elsie.
43
00:03:14.039 --> 00:03:17.919
Mama says, I can't have any Christmas present, said Milly,
44
00:03:18.159 --> 00:03:22.400
beginning to sob. She was expecting some work, but it
45
00:03:22.479 --> 00:03:26.800
didn't come, and the rints overdue, and and I can't
46
00:03:26.800 --> 00:03:32.000
have a thing. That's too bad, said Elsie. I'm going
47
00:03:32.039 --> 00:03:35.680
to have lots and we're going to have cherry pie
48
00:03:35.759 --> 00:03:41.120
for dinner. Oh my, cried Milly, drying her tears to
49
00:03:41.240 --> 00:03:47.599
contemplate this wonderful future. Cherry pie. It must be so good.
50
00:03:48.319 --> 00:03:53.280
It sounds good. Didn't you ever have any cherry pie?
51
00:03:53.520 --> 00:03:59.680
Milly shook her head. Oh, it's splendid. Milly's eyes shone.
52
00:04:00.800 --> 00:04:04.879
Just then, a small group of thin, poorly dressed children
53
00:04:04.960 --> 00:04:08.919
from the square below came running up the walk, two
54
00:04:09.000 --> 00:04:13.400
boys named Sammy and Luke, and two girls named Lizzie
55
00:04:13.439 --> 00:04:18.079
and Sallie. They were shouting and racing, but stopped to listen.
56
00:04:18.920 --> 00:04:23.800
The word Christmas loosened their tongues at once. I'm going
57
00:04:23.800 --> 00:04:27.160
to our Sunday School for a Christmas tree, said Sammie.
58
00:04:27.879 --> 00:04:32.120
I can't go to Sunday school, said Lizzie, near tears.
59
00:04:32.240 --> 00:04:36.480
I haven't got any clothes fit to wear. Elsie's heart
60
00:04:36.639 --> 00:04:40.920
reproached her sharply for her covetous ungrateful thoughts of a
61
00:04:40.959 --> 00:04:45.800
few minutes before. The reproach grew stronger still when Milly
62
00:04:45.879 --> 00:04:49.839
announced proudly to the little crowd that Elsie Perch was
63
00:04:49.920 --> 00:04:54.480
going to have cherry pie for her Christmas dinner. Oh my,
64
00:04:55.279 --> 00:05:00.480
is she isn't that fine? Cried one and all, Yes,
65
00:05:00.879 --> 00:05:04.839
said Elsie, her heart swelling a little with pride. My
66
00:05:05.000 --> 00:05:09.639
Grandma always makes a cherry pie for Christmas. A hush
67
00:05:09.759 --> 00:05:13.560
fell over the small group, and into that hush came
68
00:05:13.600 --> 00:05:18.240
the light, quick patter of footsteps. Around the corner. There
69
00:05:18.279 --> 00:05:21.759
appeared a little girl from the street above, Little Maud,
70
00:05:22.319 --> 00:05:26.360
the very girl Elsie had been envying. She wore a
71
00:05:26.360 --> 00:05:30.040
broad gray hat with a lovely red feather and a
72
00:05:30.120 --> 00:05:34.480
matching red velvet cloak and leggings, carried a pretty muff
73
00:05:34.959 --> 00:05:38.519
and led on a silken cord. A small white dog
74
00:05:38.959 --> 00:05:42.959
dressed in a buff and silver blanket. Oh, cried this
75
00:05:43.160 --> 00:05:48.160
charming little creature bounding toward Elsie. There you are. I
76
00:05:48.199 --> 00:05:50.920
saw you come this way after Sunday school, and I've
77
00:05:50.959 --> 00:05:54.879
been looking for you everywhere. See my new little dog.
78
00:05:55.519 --> 00:05:59.680
He's a Christmas present. He came early yesterday. Is this
79
00:05:59.720 --> 00:06:04.120
where you live? She glanced up and down the narrow street,
80
00:06:04.480 --> 00:06:08.920
a little uncertain about the neighborhood. And are these your
81
00:06:08.959 --> 00:06:14.439
brothers and sisters? Elsie laughed and said no. What do
82
00:06:14.600 --> 00:06:20.079
you think? Said Lizzie quite seriously, her large, wistful eyes
83
00:06:20.199 --> 00:06:24.879
and pale face giving an unexpected gravity to her words.
84
00:06:25.759 --> 00:06:30.000
This girl here, she pointed at Elsie, is going to
85
00:06:30.120 --> 00:06:36.720
have cherry pie? Is she said, Maud? How nice? I
86
00:06:36.959 --> 00:06:39.879
like cherry pie, but we never have it in winter?
87
00:06:41.240 --> 00:06:45.759
We do, said Elsie proudly. My grandma puts up jars
88
00:06:45.800 --> 00:06:49.000
of cherries when our tree bears, and at Christmas time
89
00:06:49.399 --> 00:06:53.959
we have cherry pie, and sometimes cherry sauce for tea
90
00:06:54.040 --> 00:06:58.959
when we have company. I'd love some cherry pie, said Maud,
91
00:06:59.480 --> 00:07:03.040
with the easy confidence of a child who usually got
92
00:07:03.040 --> 00:07:06.160
what she asked for. Can we have some of your
93
00:07:06.279 --> 00:07:11.240
cherry pie? The little group of children pressed close around her.
94
00:07:12.040 --> 00:07:15.319
Elsie was just beginning to explain that the pie was
95
00:07:15.439 --> 00:07:19.240
really Grandma's and not hers to give. When a bell
96
00:07:19.399 --> 00:07:23.680
rang in the distance, and Maud darted away. That's for me,
97
00:07:24.160 --> 00:07:29.160
she called, tugging the little dog along goodbye. I do
98
00:07:29.279 --> 00:07:32.920
wish I could have some of that cherry pie. She
99
00:07:33.040 --> 00:07:36.519
went tripping away down the side street, and the children
100
00:07:36.639 --> 00:07:41.560
watched until she was out of sight. I suppose, said
101
00:07:41.639 --> 00:07:45.839
Luke with a small sigh. She has dinner every day.
102
00:07:47.279 --> 00:07:52.560
I have dinner every day, said Elsie. Do you, said Lizzie,
103
00:07:53.079 --> 00:07:59.040
looking at her with big wistful eyes. I don't. Oh,
104
00:07:59.439 --> 00:08:04.000
I'd love of some of that cherry pie. Just then
105
00:08:04.040 --> 00:08:07.360
Elsie spotted her father coming up the street and ran
106
00:08:07.480 --> 00:08:11.040
to meet him, while the others turned toward their homes below.
107
00:08:12.199 --> 00:08:15.879
The next morning, there was such excitement that Elsie forgot
108
00:08:16.079 --> 00:08:19.759
entirely about Milly and Maud and the children from the
109
00:08:19.800 --> 00:08:24.839
square until Christmas dinner was nearly finished and the cherry
110
00:08:24.839 --> 00:08:30.680
pie came to the table. Oh, she cried, Grandma. You
111
00:08:30.839 --> 00:08:35.879
don't know how much everyone wants some of your cherry pie,
112
00:08:36.200 --> 00:08:41.080
do they said Grandma kindly. Well, I do hope it's
113
00:08:41.120 --> 00:08:46.399
turned out well. Elsie noticed that after everyone had been served,
114
00:08:46.639 --> 00:08:51.320
there was still some pie left. A bright idea flashed
115
00:08:51.360 --> 00:08:54.000
into her head, and she was out of the room
116
00:08:54.120 --> 00:08:58.240
in an instant. On went her cloak and hood, and
117
00:08:58.360 --> 00:09:02.440
she dashed around the corner to find Maud. There she
118
00:09:02.679 --> 00:09:07.399
was playing with her blanketed dog on the sidewalk. Come,
119
00:09:07.759 --> 00:09:12.720
cried Elsie, catching hold of Maud's hand. Come quick, there's
120
00:09:12.879 --> 00:09:17.600
lots of cherry pie, Come and have some. As they
121
00:09:17.639 --> 00:09:21.000
passed Millie's house, they found her on the front steps,
122
00:09:21.360 --> 00:09:26.360
and she was easily persuaded to join them. Now, said Elsie,
123
00:09:26.639 --> 00:09:30.679
running ahead, Let's find Sammy and Lizzie and the others.
124
00:09:32.000 --> 00:09:35.039
They flew down the street and quickly found what they
125
00:09:35.080 --> 00:09:40.440
were looking for. The watchword cherry pie was enough, and
126
00:09:40.600 --> 00:09:44.879
in moments they were all at Grandma Percha's door. It
127
00:09:45.000 --> 00:09:49.240
was only then that Elsie felt the first flutter of doubt.
128
00:09:49.759 --> 00:09:53.919
Perhaps there wasn't enough pie to go round, And what
129
00:09:54.080 --> 00:09:59.200
would Grandma say? She marched bravely in all the same,
130
00:09:59.679 --> 00:10:04.360
her e eager little crowd at her heels. See here, Grandma,
131
00:10:04.679 --> 00:10:08.279
she said, here are a lot of children who'd like
132
00:10:08.399 --> 00:10:14.240
some cherry pie. Dear heart, exclaimed Grandma, looking at the
133
00:10:14.279 --> 00:10:19.960
Motley group with wide eyes. Why Elsie, there's hardly enough
134
00:10:20.039 --> 00:10:25.799
left for three small pieces, but bless them all. The
135
00:10:25.919 --> 00:10:29.720
look on some of those thin, hungry faces went straight
136
00:10:29.799 --> 00:10:33.399
to Grandma's heart in the middle of her own abundant,
137
00:10:33.600 --> 00:10:37.799
cheerful Christmas Day, I'll have a cherry pie made for
138
00:10:37.879 --> 00:10:41.480
them in no time. There's pastry already in my pan,
139
00:10:41.799 --> 00:10:45.799
and the oven is hot. Just go outside and play, children,
140
00:10:46.120 --> 00:10:50.480
and I'll call you in presently. And presently they were
141
00:10:50.519 --> 00:10:54.919
called back in to find a magnificent cherry pie baked
142
00:10:55.000 --> 00:10:58.279
in a great tin pan, and they had just as
143
00:10:58.360 --> 00:11:01.919
much as was good for them. Even Maud's little dog
144
00:11:02.080 --> 00:11:06.720
got a taste. Maud left first, for she wasn't really
145
00:11:06.799 --> 00:11:10.320
hungry and knew her mother would be wondering where she was.
146
00:11:11.159 --> 00:11:14.799
But the children from the square below stayed a long while.
147
00:11:15.720 --> 00:11:19.759
To tell the truth, Grandma didn't stop at cherry pie.
148
00:11:20.000 --> 00:11:24.519
There was turkey and mashed potatoes and turnip, and hot
149
00:11:24.600 --> 00:11:30.399
coffee too. I can't often give, Grandma said afterward, but
150
00:11:30.559 --> 00:11:33.840
we've been blessed this year, and I can't bear to
151
00:11:33.879 --> 00:11:37.600
see any one go hungry. On Christmas Day, after they
152
00:11:37.639 --> 00:11:41.720
had all gone home, Elsie sat rocking quietly in her
153
00:11:41.720 --> 00:11:47.720
little rocking chair, her heart full of a still gentle happiness.
154
00:11:48.080 --> 00:11:51.679
She was thinking in a vague way about the envy
155
00:11:51.799 --> 00:11:55.879
she had felt toward Maud and her general feeling of discontent.
156
00:11:57.000 --> 00:11:59.919
At last, she said to Grandma, who was sitting near by.
157
00:12:01.639 --> 00:12:05.200
Most everybody has things that some other folks don't have.
158
00:12:06.720 --> 00:12:13.559
Grandma understood her perfectly, dear heart, she said, smiling, that's
159
00:12:13.919 --> 00:12:18.720
just right. There are mercies for everyone if they'd only
160
00:12:18.840 --> 00:12:22.840
stop to count them, and Christmas Day is the very
161
00:12:22.879 --> 00:12:24.360
best time to remember it.
