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associations of the season seem to hold me there； and the precepts of the
season seem to teach me that it is well to be there。
〃And the Castle is〃 observed a grave； kind voice among the
company。
〃Yes。 My Castle；〃 said the poor relation； shaking his head as he still
looked at the fire； 〃is in the Air。 John our esteemed host suggests its
situation accurately。 My Castle is in the Air！ I have done。 Will you be
so good as to pass the story？〃
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Some Short Christmas Stories
THE CHILD'S STORY
Once upon a time； a good many years ago； there was a traveller； and he
set out upon a journey。 It was a magic journey； and was to seem very
long when he began it； and very short when he got half way through。
He travelled along a rather dark path for some little time； without
meeting anything； until at last he came to a beautiful child。 So he said to
the child； 〃What do you do here？〃 And the child said； 〃I am always at
play。 Come and play with me！〃
So； he played with that child； the whole day long； and they were very
merry。 The sky was so blue； the sun was so bright； the water was so
sparkling； the leaves were so green； the flowers were so lovely； and they
heard such singing…birds and saw so many butteries； that everything was
beautiful。 This was in fine weather。 When it rained； they loved to
watch the falling drops； and to smell the fresh scents。 When it blew； it
was delightful to listen to the wind； and fancy what it said； as it came
rushing from its home where was that； they wondered！whistling and
howling； driving the clouds before it； bending the trees； rumbling in the
chimneys； shaking the house； and making the sea roar in fury。 But； when
it snowed； that was best of all； for； they liked nothing so well as to look up
at the white flakes falling fast and thick； like down from the breasts of
millions of white birds； and to see how smooth and deep the drift was； and
to listen to the hush upon the paths and roads。
They had plenty of the finest toys in the world； and the most
astonishing picture…books： all about scimitars and slippers and turbans；
and dwarfs and giants and genii and fairies； and blue… beards and bean…
stalks and riches and caverns and forests and Valentines and Orsons： and
all new and all true。
But； one day； of a sudden； the traveller lost the child。 He called to
him over and over again； but got no answer。 So； he went upon his road；
and went on for a little while without meeting anything； until at last he
came to a handsome boy。 So； he said to the boy； 〃What do you do here？〃
And the boy said； 〃I am always learning。 Come and learn with me。〃
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Some Short Christmas Stories
So he learned with that boy about Jupiter and Juno； and the Greeks and
the Romans； and I don't know what； and learned more than I could tellor
he either； for he soon forgot a great deal of it。 But； they were not always
learning； they had the merriest games that ever were played。 They rowed
upon the river in summer； and skated on the ice in winter； they were active
afoot； and active on horseback； at cricket； and all games at ball； at
prisoner's base； hare and hounds； follow my leader； and more sports than I
can think of； nobody could beat them。 They had holidays too； and
Twelfth cakes； and parties where they danced till midnight； and real
Theatres where they saw palaces of real gold and silver rise out of the real
earth； and saw all the wonders of the world at once。 As to friends； they
had such dear friends and so many of them； that I want the time to reckon
them up。 They were all young； like the handsome boy； and were never to
be strange to one another all their lives through。
Still； one day； in the midst of all these pleasures； the traveller lost the
boy as he had lost the child； and； after calling to him in vain； went on upon
his journey。 So he went on for a little while without seeing anything；
until at last he came to a young man。 So； he said to the young man；
〃What do you do here？〃 And the young man said； 〃I am always in love。
Come and love with me。〃
So； he went away with that young man； and presently they came to one
of the prettiest girls that ever was seenjust like Fanny in the corner there…
…and she had eyes like Fanny； and hair like Fanny； and dimples like
Fanny's； and she laughed and coloured just as Fanny does while I am
talking about her。 So； the young man fell in love directlyjust as
Somebody I won't mention； the first time he came here； did with Fanny。
Well！ he was teased sometimesjust as Somebody used to be by Fanny；
and they quarrelled sometimesjust as Somebody and Fanny used to
quarrel； and they made it up； and sat in the dark； and wrote letters every
day； and never were happy asunder； and were always looking out for one
another and pretending not to； and were engaged at Christmas…time； and
sat close to one another by the fire； and were going to be married very
soonall exactly like Somebody I won't mention； and Fanny！
But； the traveller lost them one day； as he had lost the rest of his
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Some Short Christmas Stories
friends； and； after calling to them to come back； which they never did；
went on upon his journey。 So； he went on for a little while without
seeing anything； until at last he came to a middle…aged gentleman。 So； he
said to the gentleman； 〃What are you doing here？〃 And his answer was； 〃I
am always busy。 Come and be busy with me！〃
So； he began to be very busy with that gentleman； and they went on
through the wood together。 The whole journey was through a wood； only
it had been open and green at first； like a wood in spring； and now began
to be thick and dark； like a wood in summer； some of the little trees that
had come out earliest； were even turning brown。 The gentleman was not
alone； but had a lady of about the same age with him； who was his Wife；
and they had children； who were with them too。 So； they all went on
together through the wood； cutting down the trees； and making a path
through the branches and the fallen leaves； and carrying burdens； and
working hard。
Sometimes； they came to a long green avenue that opened into deeper
woods。 Then they would hear a very little； distant voice crying； 〃Father；
father； I am another child！ Stop for me！〃 And presently they would see
a very little figure； growing larger as it came along； running to join them。
When it came up； they all crowded round it； and kissed and welcomed it；
and then they all went on together。
Sometimes； they came to several avenues at once；