D H Lawrence

Aaron's Rod D H Lawrence

There was a large, brilliant evening star in the early twilight, and underfoot the earth washalf frozen. It was Christmas Eve. Also the War was over, and there was a sense of reliefthat was almost a new menace. A man felt the violence of the nightmare released now intothe general air. Also there had been another wrangle among the men on the pit-bank thatevening. Aaron Sisson was the last man on the little black railway-line climbing the hill home fromwork. He was late because he had attended a meeting of the men on the bank. He wassecretary to the Miners Union for his colliery, and had heard a good deal of silly wranglingthat left him nettled. He strode over a stile, crossed two fields, strode another stile, and was in the long road ofcolliers' dwellings. Just across was his own house: he had built it himself. He went throughthe little gate, up past the side of the house to the back. There he hung a moment, glancingdown the dark, wintry garden."My father-my father's come!" cried a child's excited voice, and two little girls in whitepinafores ran out in front of his legs."Father, shall you set the Christmas Tree?" they cried. "We've got one!""Afore I have my dinner?" he answered amiably."Set it now. Set it now.-We got it through Fred Alton.""Where is it?"The little girls were dragging a rough, dark object out of a corner of the passage into thelight of the kitchen door."It's a beauty!" exclaimed Millicent."Yes, it is," said Marjory."I should think so," he replied, striding over the dark bough. He went to the back kitchento take off his coat."Set it now, Father. Set it now," clamoured the girls."You might as well. You've left your dinner so long, you might as well do it now beforeyou have it," came a woman's plangent voice, out of the brilliant light of the middle room. Aaron Sisson had taken off his coat and waistcoat and his cap. He stood bare-headed inhis shirt and braces, contemplating the tree.