The Little Mixer - Lillian Shearon

0:00President Barack Obama. Virginia, we are counting on you. Republicans want to steal enough seats in Congress to raid the next election and wield unchecked power for two more years. But you can stop them by voting yes by April 21st. Help put our elections back on a level playing field and let voters decide not politicians. Vote yes by April 21st. Paid for by Virginians for fair elections. Hi, this is Alex Cantrowitz. I'm the host of Big Technology podcast a long time reporter and an on air contributor to CNBC. And if you're like me, you're trying to figure out how artificial intelligence is changing the business world and our lives. So each week on Big Technology, I bring on key actors from companies building AI tech and outsiders trying to influence it. Asking where this is all going. They come from places like Nvidia, Microsoft, Amazon and plenty more. So if you want to be smart with your wallet, your career choices and meetings with your colleagues and at dinner parties, listen to Big Technology podcast wherever you get your podcasts.

1:04President Barack Obama. Virginia, we are counting on you. Republicans want to steal enough seats in Congress to raid the next election and wield unchecked power for two more years. But you can stop them by voting yes by April 21st. Help put our elections back on a level playing field and let voters decide not politicians. Vote yes by April 21st. Paid for by Virginians for fair elections. The little mixer by Lily Nicholas Sheeran. There was no fault to be found with the present itself, the trouble lay in the method of transportation. This thought was definite enough in Ham's mind, but she had to rely upon a seven-year-old vocabulary for expression and grown-ups are nofably dull of comprehension. Even mothers don't always understand without being told exactly in so many words. I didn't say the kimono wasn't nice mama, explain Hannah. And of course cousin Kerry was all

2:08for good to send it to me, but but Santa Claus is going to bring Virginia one tomorrow night down the chimney. Rose Joseph slipped the absurd little garment over her daughter's dainty lingerie frock and stood her on a chair that she might view herself in the narrow mirror between the windows of the living room. The child was as lovely as a flower, but vanity was still sound asleep in her soul and she glanced indifferently at the reflection her body sagging with disappointment. It is just like those little Japanese girls wear for mother cried in that over-enthusiastic adult tone which warns a child he is about to be the recipient of a gold brick. I am sure Virginia's can't be any nicer than this one, but mama Santa Claus is going to bring hers down the chimney. Mine her voice dropped to a mournful key. Mine came through the door, but darling what difference

3:09does it make? Just so you get it. Pity for her mother's barren childhood shown in Hannah's soft black eyes, that's that's no way for presents to come. She explained mama, it's Christmas. It is Hanukkah Mrs. Joseph replied firmly, remember you are a Jewish dear. I can't never forget it said the child with a catch in her voice, especially at Christmas, but darling the Jewish children have Hanukkah. It comes about the same time as Christmas and amounts to the same thing. Hannah Shukrabrog's curls. Hanukkah is because the children of Israel took Jerusalem and the temple away from the bad people. She recited globally and you say prayers in light candles, eight days and and all your uncles and aunts and cousins send you things, but sati clothes, he don't pay any attention to Hanukkah. Christmas is just one day and sati clothes comes down the chimney and brings things to all good children, set little Jews because it is the birthday of

4:12our Savior. Mrs. Joseph was silent so long that Hannah felt that she had convinced her mother the superiority of the Gentile Christmas over the Jewish Hanukkah and she continued more in detail and the children's kin folks just give sati clothes money and tell him what to buy and he brings the presents and nobody asks to bother about it, except him. Hanukkah Mrs. Joseph interrupts you coldly. We told you about the birthday of the Savior. Nelly Halloran answered Hannah and Virginia too. They've they've got the same one, the same what, the same Savior Hannah explain. Darling hasn't mama told you many times that you must never, never talk about religion to Nelly and Virginia. Oh we don't mama, never, never, but of course we got to talk about sati clothes and things. There seemed to be no reasonable objection to that so Mrs. Joseph dropped the subject. She spent a great deal of time folding the despised and rejected kimono into its tissue paper

5:17wrappings. Presently she brought a narrow parcel from another room, see what uncle Aaron has sent she dear she cried daily. A little man you wind him up in the back with this key so and then he dances and plays the fiddle. Hannah forced to polite giggle at the little man's antics. He too rested under the band of having come through the door and her attention soon wandered. Nelly got a jumpy jacket very top of her stocking last Christmas because she's such a jumping jack herself for papa said. You know mama, sati clothes puts nuts and candy and little things in your stocking it puts your big things all around the room. Sometimes he brings a tree and hangs them all on the tree Virginia and Nelly want a tree and a new doll. Virginia gets a new doll every Christmas and she got every doll sent he ever brought her even her little baby rubber doll. She's eight years old and will have eight dolls but Nelly ain't hasn't saved a single one and she's scared she won't get one

6:21this Christmas office scared. Why dear asked Mrs. Joseph when Hannah paused for breath because the doll sent he brought Nelly last Christmas you know what she was playing Indian with her brother one day and chopped her head off and Nelly's mama said she don't know whether old Santa is going to forget that or not but Nelly she says she prays hard to the virgin Mary every night if she don't go to sleep too quick. Mama what's a virgin? Mama what's a virgin is a lady who has never been married answered Mrs. Joseph putting neglected musician back into his box. Hannah wrestled a load for a moment with a mighty ecclesiastical problem and then gave it up. The virgin Mary is God's mother Hannah continued that's her picture over our fireplace pointing to a copy of a crude 13th century Madonna and child in a carved Gothic frame which Eli and Rose Joseph had bought in Italy while on their wedding trip flanked now by Candle's burning and silver candelabra

7:26in honor of Hanukkah it gave the mantle a passing resemblance to a Catholic shrine. I don't think God's mother is very pretty do you mama and I think Nelly's little brother is a heat prettier in God when he was the baby Mrs. Joseph showed signs of having reached the limit. Hannah she said firmly it is time you were in bed but papa hasn't come home yet papa will be late tonight dear the Christmas rush side Hannah. Mama you haven't looked on my throat today she had it playing for time Mrs. Joseph went through the daily ritual it looks all right she pronounced it is all right came the triumphant answer it is never going to be sore again Virginia says never mind what Virginia says if your throat ever hurts you the least little bit you are to come to me instantly and tell me do you understand yes mama but it isn't going to hurt anymore Hannah insisted come on upstairs to bed still Hannah hung back she'd not

8:32played her trump card yet and the time was short she caught her mother slim white hand at hers and finger nervously at the rings mama she almost whispered Virginia says it's Jewish mama's fault that Santa Claus don't come to see Jewish children if the momos would just go to Santa and tell him to come you will won't you mama please mama Hannah not another word about Christmas and Santa Claus not another word Hannah swallowed something that came in her throat and bravely went back tears kept Mandy put me to bed no dear Mandy is busy in the kitchen mama will put you to bed and tell you stories she bent down and kissed the child tenderly Hannah flung her arms about her mother's neck she loved the feel of the soft throat and the gently curving bosom against her little cheek and the fragrance of her mother's hair and silk and laces she didn't know that her mother looked like a portrait by Raphael but she didn't know that her mama was the

9:35prettiest sweetest mom in all the world and yet mama I'm so tired of stories about the children of Israel they never did anything funny Mandy tells me tales about the old plantation when her mom was a slave and old Mars and old Miz go into town and giving Santa Claus money so as he bring beads and juice harps and things to the little niggers and he never forgot one from the biggest to the little is darky Santa didn't the child's body began to tremble with repressed sobs I I wish I was a little darky it's it's awful sad to be a little Jewish child at christmas time and then the storm broke President Barack Obama Virginia we are counting on you Republicans want to steal enough seats in congress to raid the next election and wield unchecked power for two more years but you can stop them by voting yes by April 21st help put our elections back on a level

10:37playing field and let voters decide not politicians vote yes by April 21st paid for by Virginians for fair elections hi this is Alex Cantrowicz I'm the host of big technology podcast a longtime reporter and an on air contributor to cmbc and if you're like me you're trying to figure out how artificial intelligence is changing the business world and our lives so each week on big technology I bring on key actors from companies building AI tech and outsiders trying to influence it asking where this is all going they come from places like Nvidia Microsoft Amazon and plenty more so if you want to be smart with your wallet your career choices and meetings with your colleagues and at dinner parties listen to big technology podcast or ever you get your podcasts president Barack Obama Virginia we are counting on you Republicans want to steal enough seats in congress to raid the next election and wield unchecked power for two more years but you can stop them by voting yes by April 21st

11:39help put our elections back on a level playing field and let voters decide not politicians vote yes by April 21st paid for by Virginians for fair elections two hours later Eli Joseph's tired step sounded on the veranda rose hurried to admit him lifting a silencing hand as soon as he crossed the threshold Hannah has just gone to sleep she was burned no no she's not sick at all he placed a norm around her and drew her into the library Eli your overcoat is what she exclaimed untwining her arms from his neck snow he said is good looking boy face lighting up with pleasure seems we are to have a white Christmas after all Christmas she cried I wish I could never hear that word again well I'm glad it only comes once a year tonight ends my siege though tomorrow night's time goes on duty and I come home for dinner to stay rose darling you look old tired out you shouldn't wait

12:40up for me it isn't that it's Hannah she cried for more than an hour tonight and but for Mandy and her tales I believe she would still be crying and she detailed the scene to him but good gracious rose let Santa Claus bring her presents to her set Eli when she had finished Hannah's nothing but a baby she is beginning to think for herself as you did at a very early age you reminded her and your father the strictest of orthodox rabbis how old were you when you began slipping off to the reformed temple I broke my father's heart she sits somberly I'll be punished through Hannah not unless you let Hannah think faster than you do and remember he had it teasing me if you hadn't run off to the reformed temple you would never have met me outside at the foot of the step she I would never have met you inside maybe I'm a lax he acknowledged but it seems to me that if you are living a decent life yourself giving the other fellow a square deal you are pretty nearly

13:44fulfilling the law in the prophets and what do you suppose is happening to Hannah with a Christian science family on one side and Roman Catholics on the other she demanded tragically she's decided not to take any more medicine because Virginia Lawrence doesn't she has nilly halorans every expression about virgin and the savior not only that but she has made friends with a Christian science practitioner through the lawrences and calls him my friend Mr. Jackson she runs to meet him walks the length of the block within every time he passes Hannah is certainly a natural born mixer left the father we are saving ourselves troubled by giving her the best there is to mix with Eli I'm afraid we have made a mistake moving out here away from all her people no we didn't make a mistake he declared mercilessly the square was no place to bring up Hannah among those pauvines of Jews we have the prettiest home on the heights in the best people in town

14:45or neighbors our child is losing her identity as a jewish let her find it again as an american frankly rose I don't lose any sleep over trying to keep my identity as a jew intact if a jew doesn't like it here let him go back to Palestine or did the country that oppressed him I say I've got the same amount of patience with these hyphenated americans as I have with the Jews who try to segregate themselves and dot them up with new Jerusalem's where's the sense and throwing yourself into the melting pot glad of the chance and then kicking because you come out something different come on to bet dear you are as pale as a ghost and I'm so tired I can't see straight our baby is alright don't you worry snow falls on the just to the unjust there is quite as much of it and Hannah's backyard is in either for jane's or nellies perhaps even a little more had drifted into the fence corners Hannah's joy in discovering that in this respect she had not been slighted

15:50crowded her troubles into the background immediately after breakfast bundle up snugly she stood in her yard and threw snowballs toward her neighbor's homes while she squealed with delight in a very few minutes three little girls were playing were only one had played before the two newcomers Virginia Lawrence and nellie halaran presented an interesting contrast Virginia slim and tall for her age with long flat yellow braids handled the snow dantily even gingerly nellie fat and dimple their curls tassled into a flame colored halo rolled over an over on the snow and then shook herself like a puppy until the advent of Hannah a subtle antagonism that existed between the two children Virginia's favorite game is playing lady with a train floating gracefully behind her nellie's chief joy in life was seeing how long she could stand on her head her short skirts abandoned laws of gravity all the while

16:51Hannah however vibrated obligingly between the two sports and kept the peace in violet romping in the snow is hard play and presently the little girls sat panting on the top step of the Joseph's back porch immediately nellie produced a string of amestice colored beads from her coat pocket with the announcement that she would say her prayers while resting what kind of beads are those as Hannah rosary beads coarse responded nellie Hannah you don't know anything i do too but you don't even know about the mother of god until i told you i reckon i thought god was an orphan Hannah pleaded in extenuation but what about god's poppa sheep demand of his sudden inspiration you're so smart he told me about that oh god didn't have to have a father nellie answered easily everything is free in heaven so he didn't have to have a father to work for him when he was little then why did he have to have a mama to tell him what to do of course you know how it is you ask your pop anything don't he always

17:55say go ask your mama and i had noticed the shifting of masculine responsibility more than once that's so she asked then a terrible thought struck her i don't want to go to him i don't want to go anywhere unless my papa can go to nellie's nimble Irish wits were ready i just said god didn't need any papa of course our poppas will go to heaven because that's the only place they can quit working didn't i hear my papa say one time he hoped he'd get a little rest in heaven because he never got any on this earth but you have to die before you get to heaven inside Hannah Virginia who had maintained the most dignified silence looked as if she must speak or explode no you don't heaven it begins here and now she recited and if you are good you are well and happy and that's heaven kiss and scoff nellie do you see any angel fly around in this year yard i don't Hannah rather took to Virginia's argument and resolved to have conversation with her sometime

19:00undamned by nellie's skepticism if there could be feasting on the joys of heaven year and now Hannah had every intention of being at the banquet table at present moment however the rose rebates were a fascinating interest she must hold them in her own hands and watch the play of purple lights upon the snow as she flashed them in the sun questions about the crucifix she found brought on an embarrassing silence nellie looked at Virginia Virginia looked at nellie then the two excused themselves for a whispered colloquy at the other end of the yard when they returned Virginia acted as spokesman fixing nellie with an unrelenting eye that is Jesus nailed to the crosshanna some very wicked people did it there was nothing exciting in this to Hannah wicked people were doing wicked things the world over all the time the statement fell flat and nellie disappointed at the lack of dramatic effect broke treaty i spec the joys did it she said

20:04they did not Hannah's voice trembled the jews are nice people they wouldn't do a wicked thing like that Virginia put an arm across to Hannah's shoulders now see what she done she snapped at nellie oh i spec the irish helped him nellie had it magnanimously my papa says the irish are into everything not having to bear the ignominy alone Hannah was comforted what makes you say prayers on the beach she asked because i want santi to bring me a doll tonight i wrote him about sixteen letters and i'm going to say my rosary a dozen times today tomorrow was christmas day and his face fell all her sorrows returned with a rush have you got any more of those beach she asked yes but they wouldn't do you any good nellie answered with quick understanding you're not a catholic couldn't that be one not unless your baptize with holy water the priest does it the leaven had begun to work what did your mama say about asking santi claustic convergeny inquired with a quick glance toward the

21:09beads Hannah shook her head speechless she pressed her lips into a tight line with an effort itself control but two large tears rolled down her cheeks and splashed on her scarlet coat again virginia placed an arm protectively across Hannah's shoulders nellie's bright blue eyes grew soft with pity i tell you what she's going i'll baptize Hannah then she'll be a gentile and santi claustic will come no matter what and when your mama sees how nice it is she won't care but you said a priest has to baptize anybody to check it virginia he does less it's a time of danger and you can't get any priests than any catholic can baptize anybody my mama baptized our washer woman's little baby because they knew it was going to die before father murphy could get there and ate this a time of danger nobody's dying virginia was distressingly literal Hannah looked from one friend to the other hoping against hope

22:10no but there's danger santi claustic won't come to see Hannah less something has done mighty quick cannellie's ready reply you can we get a priest you'll go get one virgin you go get one clearly there was no answer this hi this is Alex Cantrowitz i'm the host of big technology podcast a long time reporter and an on air contributor to cmbc and if you're like me you're trying to figure out how artificial intelligence is changing the business world and our lives so each week on big technology i bring on key actors from companies building a i tech and outsiders trying to influence it asking where this is all going they come from places like in video microsoft amazon and plenty more so if you want to be smart with your wallet your career choices and meetings with your colleagues and at dinner parties listen to big technology podcast or ever you get your podcasts you're having a good time you're out drinking with the boys now it's time to pay the tab eleven thousand three hundred fifty two dollars and forty seven cents wait what well there are court costs attorney fees higher insurance costs damage to your car do you

23:14why finds oh not to mention the damage to your social life plan a sober ride or pay the price drinking and driving costs more than your drinks it could cost a life learn more at what's the damage dot org brought to you by virginia dmv hi this is Alex Cantrowitz i'm the host of big technology podcast a long time reporter and an on air contributor to cmbc and if you're like me you're trying to figure out how artificial intelligence is changing the business world and our lives so each week on big technology i bring on key actors from companies building a i tech and outsiders trying to influence it asking where this is all going they come from places like in video microsoft amazon and plenty more so if you want to be smart with your wallet your career choices and meetings with your colleagues and at dinner parties listen to big technology podcast wherever you get your podcasts the ceremony was set for early afternoon when grandmother halaran took her nap and nellie could borrow the bottle of holy water from her shelf as to the place there were six boys

24:15at the halaran's always in the way mrs. Lawrence had guests obviously the baptismal right would have to be performed at hannes house after lunch the children assembled in the sunflower of the joseph home and full view of mrs. joseph who sat boydering in the library the french door closed between them so that she could not hear nellie had secured the bottle of holy water in a raid in her brother jose long black raincoat a talibat her neck for a stole acted as priest virginia not to be left out of such an important affair consented to be godmother in lieu of a prayer manual nellie used one of hanna's story books she chose a verse which because she knew it by heart she could read exceptionally well little boy blue come blow your horn the sheep are in the metal and the cows are in the corn then she poured a little of the holy water on hanna's forehead wet hair might occasion unanswerable questions and baptize her hanna agnus

25:20joseph called upon for a response the godmother recited very impressively the scientific statement of being is found in the christian side textbook and hanna was pronounced the gentah and the Catholic one thing more remained to be done hanna ran to her mother cheeks ago mama may i trade my stripe ball to nellie for some beads why of course darling if you wish the exchange was made sometime was spent in mastery the use of the rosary all three of the children knew the our father though there were some difference of opinion as to debts and trespasses which is apt to hold in all mixed congregations the hell marry proved a bit difficult for hanna and she finally abandoned it i'll say hero israel the lord our god the lord is one she said i already know that and a prayer is a prayer isn't it now he refilled the holy water bottle from the kitchen hydrant and hurried home to replace it before her grandmother should awaken hanna spent

26:24the next hour alive flat under stomach printing letters appealing to virginia from time to time for aid as to the speller virginia being either a superior speller this is joseph was busy with collars when virginia went home and hanna was left to her own devices suddenly she thought of one stone that had been left unturned there was her friend mr. jaxon to whom the loritz is always appealed in times of stress she knew the formula she knew his number ground the list by the loritz's telephone his name like abubin adams led all the rest made one two three four was easy's counting she slipped into the telephone closet and closed the door there was no trouble with hanna that night she went to bed early and didn't care to have any stories told she could go to sleep by herself quite the change of hard day elide commented therosis they sat by the living fire after telling their little girl good night

27:27she's been like that all day playing as happily as you please rose responded i suppose she got it all out of her system in last night's scene elide drumed abstractively on the arm of his chair i don't feel quite right about it even so he said maybe you will think me inconsistent she confessed blushing but hanna was so indifferent about the present center for hannica i only showed her too i've saved the others to give her christmas day so she will have something of her own to show when the other children bring their's over elide didn't seem any too pleased or a little night a murmur yes this is joseph it was bridged hallenan's old family servant calling softly from the hall obi aftertaken the prisons he stored away for us allow them on the back porch he carry them over when the children are all asleep nellies in bed like a little angel lesser heart

28:27but then devilish boys do be a snooping and every crack in corner missus joseph unlocked a closet under the stairs and loaded bridged its arms with heavy and bulky parcels sure and as i said christmas will be having saying the children mister tini him that's old missus hallenan's youngest but old enough to know better the option runs away today and marries a prodigy girl and if you open your windy the bit have a crack you'll hear the poor old lady this minute well and like a banshee but mister timidly is such a nice young man he must have married a lovely girl bridging said rose sure and that may be but she is a Protestant missus joseph she runs away from her folks and he runs away from his and they get married but the justice of peace and no peace will come a such thing lord and mercy on their souls oh poor grandma hallenan for lover city lie when bridged it gone i'll wait you they had the very deuce of a time

29:27with both sides no sooner have they settled themselves again then the door knocker sounded elia admitted mister jackson the christian science practitioner i have only a minute he said i just dropped by to leave the doll my wife dressed for your little girl she chose one that we thought looked like hannan oh but this is kind of you rose looked her gratitude mister florins has told me i'll busy with you and your wife always are and to take time to think of our little girl i had intended to give it to her myself mister jackson continued but after her talk with me today i decided she would enjoy it more if i asked Santa Claus to bring it his eyes twinkle reminiscently she called me up by telephone and asked me to give Santa Claus a treatment she seemed to think that he would pass her by i could assure her that he wouldn't as i had already seen the doll hanna is a wonderful child we thanks so smile elia i'm sure we thank you

30:28and wish you the very maria's christmas and it will be a happy christmas for me the answer i'm going to the station to meet my father and mother some years ago they felt a strange for me they're both staunch presbyterians of the old school and it nearly broke their hearts when i went into christian science work but they're beginning to look more tolerantly upon my calling and they are on their way now to spend christmas with us you can guess how happy that makes me peace on her goodwill to men it is a wonder working thought it is indeed elia gree heartily when the door i closed upon their visitor rose and elia stood staring at each other rather foolishly she was the first to speak as there no end to the fight between the old and the new generation we're just beginning to scrap what our new generation he said she called him up and asked for christian science help i wonder what else that little monkey has been up to they soon found out

31:31carrying the doll mr. jackson had brought rose tiptoed after elia into the nursery and gradually turned on the light the first object to meet their eyes was Hannah's stocking hanged precariously to a pin driven into the mantle pin to the wall were several messages neatly printed in pencil which told her own tale dear santi nelly baptize me holy water Hannah dear santi i want things in my stocking Hannah dear santi clause i'm a gentile nelly baptize me i'm a gentile catholic c s Hannah dear santi bring me any nice things you got left would love Hannah dear santi don't let my mama and papa get mad about you Hannah elia began to chortle and Hannah stirred in her sleep throwing both chubby arms over her head clutch tightly in her left hand they saw a rosary of pharmacist colored beads

32:34rose snapped off the light and pushed elia out into the hall he sat down on the stairs and laughed until he cried the dog gone a little mixery chuckled a gentile catholic christian scientist is she if she has ever happened to hear anything about Muhammad believe me she's sleeping with her feet toward mecca right now rose was weakened silently over the little message don't let my mama and my papa get mad about you she touched her husband on the shoulder elia what shall we do about it do he stood up and set his jaw determinedly he spoke just now the fight between the old and the new generations do you see what we are coming to if we don't concede our child or legitimate rights she will seek them out and take them by force and never forgive us for withholding them that's what every child who has ever heard of santa claus has a right to enjoy the met didn't I give a hundred dollars to the elks and a hundred dollars to the big brothers who were looking after

33:36the empty stockings of the poor children while my own baby he reached the bedroom door and was kicking off his house slippers elia where are you going downtown to see santa claus if I have to break open a dozen stores he answered determinedly it seemed that santa claus never having visited hana before had a mind to make up for lost time and overflowing stocking hung from the mantle the tree loaded with presents and tinsels stood by her bed without the room were placed large gifts everything a little girl might wish for hana was gazed she didn't see her mother and father standing in the doorway of the nursery their arms without each other and smiling she took that her window until it opened and then called the nellie across the intervening space he came he came she screamed as a tassel flame colored ed showed at the window opposite and a brushed by her parents and running to the window nearest Virginia's room repeated her message then she came back into the nursery still oblivious of mother and father

34:40and stared about in her ecstasy occasion called for some expression of thanksgiving what could it be the seven-year-old child hasn't words for such a big emotion she could think of what one thing to do reverently bowing her little bronze head she made the sign of the cross upside down and out the little mixer by lily and nicklson shearing