200
PARTISAN REVIEW
has thus far come to grief, as has a series of attempts to substitute
artificial decorations. The family remains, however, gratefully re–
ceptive toward any proposal that might result in reducing the costs
of this continuing festival.
IV
'II
!
i1 l\ l ~ il~1
Meanwhile the daily celebrations in my uncle's house.
have taken on an almost professional regularity. People assemble
under the tree or around the tree. My aunt comes in, the candles
are lighted, the gnomes begin to hammer and the angel whispers
"Peace, peace," songs are sung, cookies are nibbled, there is a little
conversation and then everyone retires, yawning and murmuring
"Merry Christmas to you, too." The young people turn to the
forms of diversion dictated by the season, while my good, kind Uncle
Franz goes to bed when Aunt Milla does. The smoke of the candles
lingers in the room, there is the mild aroma of heated fir needles and
the smell of spices. The gnomes, slightly phosphorescent, remain
motionless in the darkness, their arms raised threateningly, and the
angel can be seen in his silvery robes which are obviously phos–
phorescent too.
Perhaps it is superfluous to state that in our whole family
circle the enjoyment of the real Christmas Eve has suffered a con–
siderable diminution: we can,
if
we like, admire a classical Christmas
tree at our uncle's at any time-and it often happens when we are
sitting on the veranda in summertime after the toil and trouble of
the day, pouring my uncle's mild orange punch down our throats,
that the soft tinkling of glass bells comes to us and we can see in
the twilight the gnomes hammering away like spry little devils while
the angel whispers "Peace, peace." And it is still disconcerting to
hear my uncle in mid-summer suddenly whisper to
his
children:
"Please light the tree, Mother will be right out." Then, usually
on the dot, the prelate enters, a kindly old gentleman whom we have
all
taken to our hearts because he plays his role so admirably, if
indeed he knows that he is playing one. But no matter: he plays it,
white-haired, smiling, with the violet band beneath his collar giving
his appearance the final touch of distinction. And it gives one an
extraordinary feeling on a mild summer evening to hear the excited
