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Some Short Christmas Stories
NOBODY'S STORY
He lived on the bank of a mighty river； broad and deep； which was
always silently rolling on to a vast undiscovered ocean。 It had rolled on；
ever since the world began。 It had changed its course sometimes； and
turned into new channels； leaving its old ways dry and barren； but it had
ever been upon the flow； and ever was to flow until Time should be no
more。 Against its strong； unfathomable stream； nothing made head。 No
living creature； no flower； no leaf； no particle of animate or inanimate
existence； ever strayed back from the undiscovered ocean。 The tide of
the river set resistlessly towards it； and the tide never stopped； any more
than the earth stops in its circling round the sun。
He lived in a busy place； and he worked very hard to live。 He had no
hope of ever being rich enough to live a month without hard work； but he
was quite content； GOD knows； to labour with a cheerful will。 He was one
of an immense family； all of whose sons and daughters gained their daily
bread by daily work； prolonged from their rising up betimes until their
lying down at night。 Beyond this destiny he had no prospect； and he
sought none。
There was over…much drumming； trumpeting； and speech…making； in
the neighbourhood where he dwelt； but he had nothing to do with that。
Such clash and uproar came from the Bigwig family； at the unaccountable
proceedings of which race； he marvelled much。 They set up the strangest
statues； in iron； marble； bronze； and brass； before his door； and darkened
his house with the legs and tails of uncouth images of horses。 He
wondered what it all meant； smiled in a rough good…humoured way he had；
and kept at his hard work。
The Bigwig family （composed of all the stateliest people thereabouts；
and all the noisiest） had undertaken to save him the trouble of thinking for
himself； and to manage him and his affairs。 〃Why truly；〃 said he； 〃I have
little time upon my hands； and if you will be so good as to take care of me；
in return for the money I pay over〃for the Bigwig family were not above
his money〃I shall be relieved and much obliged； considering that you
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know best。〃 Hence the drumming； trumpeting； and speech…making； and
the ugly images of horses which he was expected to fall down and
worship。
〃I don't understand all this；〃 said he； rubbing his furrowed brow
confusedly。 〃But it HAS a meaning； maybe； if I could find it out。〃
〃It means；〃 returned the Bigwig family； suspecting something of what
he said； 〃honour and glory in the highest； to the highest merit。〃
〃Oh！〃 said he。 And he was glad to hear that。
But； when he looked among the images in iron； marble； bronze； and
brass； he failed to find a rather meritorious countryman of his； once the
son of a Warwickshire wool…dealer； or any single countryman whomsoever
of that kind。 He could find none of the men whose knowledge had
rescued him and his children from terrific and disfiguring disease； whose
boldness had raised his forefathers from the condition of serfs； whose wise
fancy had opened a new and high existence to the humblest； whose skill
had filled the working man's world with accumulated wonders。 Whereas；
he did find others whom he knew no good of； and even others whom he
knew much ill of。
〃Humph！〃 said he。 〃I don't quite understand it。〃
So； he went home； and sat down by his fireside to get it out of his
mind。
Now； his fireside was a bare one； all hemmed in by blackened streets；
but it was a precious place to him。 The hands of his wife were hardened
with toil； and she was old before her time； but she was dear to him。 His
children； stunted in their growth； bore traces of unwholesome nurture； but
they had beauty in his sight。 Above all other things； it was an earnest
desire of this man's soul that his children should be taught。 〃If I am
sometimes misled；〃 said he； 〃for want of knowledge； at least let them
know better； and avoid my mistakes。 If it is hard to me to reap the
harvest of pleasure and instruction that is stored in books； let it be easier to
them。〃
But； the Bigwig family broke out into violent family quarrels
concerning what it was lawful to teach to this man's children。 Some of
the family insisted on such a thing being primary and indispensable above
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all other things； and others of the family insisted on such another thing
being primary and indispensable above all other things； and the Bigwig
family； rent into factions； wrote pamphlets； held convocations； delivered
charges； orations； and all varieties of discourses； impounded one another
in courts Lay and courts Ecclesiastical； threw dirt； exchanged pummelings；
and fell together by the ears in unintelligible animosity。 Meanwhile； this
man； in his short evening snatches at his fireside； saw the demon
Ignorance arise there； and take his children to itself。 He saw his daughter
perverted into a heavy； slatternly drudge； he saw his son go moping down
the ways of low sensuality； to brutality and crime； he saw the dawning
light of intelligence in the eyes of his babies so changing into cunning and
suspicion； that he could have rather wished them idiots。
〃I don't understand this any the better；〃 said he； 〃but I think it cannot
be right。 Nay； by the clouded Heaven above me； I protest against this as
my wrong！〃
Becoming peaceable again （for his passion was usually short…lived；
and his nature kind）； he looked about him on his Sundays and holidays；
and he saw how much monotony and weariness there was； and thence how
drunkenness arose with all its train of ruin。 Then he appealed to the
Bigwig family； and said； 〃We are a labouring people； and I have a
glimmering suspicion in me that labouring people of whatever condition
were madeby a higher intelligence than yours； as I poorly understand it
to be in need of mental refreshment and recreation。 See what we fall into；
when we rest without it。 Come！ Amuse me harmlessly； show me
something； give me an escape！〃
But； here the Bigwig family fell into a state of uproar absolutely
deafening。 When some few voices were faintly heard； proposing to show
him the wonders of the world； the greatness of creation； the mighty
changes of time； the workings of nature and the beauties of artto show
him these things； that is to say； at any period of his life when he could look
upon themthere arose among the Bigwigs such roaring and raving； such
pulpiting and petitioning； such maundering and memorialising； such
name…calling and dirt…throwing； such a shrill wind of