The Willows at Christmas by William Horwood Read Free Book Online Page B

evening.”
    “It is a pity,” murmured the Badger, puffing at his pipe, “but I am afraid that his family duties for the festive season have now begun and so we shall see nothing of him till after Twelfth Night. There it is.”
    But there it definitely was not, so far as the Mole was concerned. He was determined to get to the bottom of the River Bank’s festive malaise and do something about it.
    “You said, Badger, ‘there it is’, as if you accepted the situation. Forgive me for being bold, but I do not accept it. Toad must have his reasons for not celebrating Christmas, but I doubt that they are good ones, or ones he cannot be persuaded to abandon. But, since none of you is friend enough to tell me exactly what ails Toad, there is not much I can do to help.”
    He sighed in an exaggerated way to emphasise the distress he felt at not being taken into their confidence. Though it was very unlike his normal modest way to cause a fuss, he felt it was the least they deserved after their harsh treatment of him earlier.
    A very long silence followed. The others all understood that it was best to wait to let Badger say what he must in reply. Finally, sighing rather as Mole himself had done, he began to speak.
    “My dear friend, you are right to feel aggrieved and I apologize if we have seemed over-secretive. Let me try to explain how the situation was and now is, though the story starts even before my time.”
    As the Rat stoked the fire, and the Otter served up more mushroom stew, there unfolded a story so astonishing that the Mole could only shake his head at the folly of it all, and sigh at how one person could destroy the pleasure of so many; and then sigh again that the many should have allowed it to happen…

    In the days of Toad’s father, generally known as Toad Senior, Toad Hall certainly had been the fountainhead of things social and celebratory along the River Bank, just as the Villagers had told the Mole earlier.
    Toad’s father was good-natured and benign, and though it is perhaps true that he spoilt and overindulged his son — the Toad they knew and grew irritated at and yet very much loved — at least he never put on the airs and graces that the wealthy sometimes do, and he did his best to stop Toad doing so either.

    As for Christmas at the Hall, it was the local high point of the year. and Toad Senior saw to it that those in the Village who regularly supplied the Hall with the goods and services that a great establishment needs were remembered and rewarded. So too were those individuals and families who needed support when the cold months of winter descended. In fact, there was not a family in the area who in one way or another did not find that their festive fire shone more brightly for the concern, generosity and seasonal thoughtfulness of the occupants of Toad Hall.
    The trouble began a year after Toad Senior’s sad demise, which took place at Christmas.
    “Didn’t Toad step into his shoes and continue the Hall’s tradition?” inquired the Mole, for this aspect of the matter had not been touched on at all by Mr Baltry or the Parish Clerk.
    “Of course he wanted to,” said the Badger. “That animal may have many faults but none can deny his generosity of spirit and of pocket, and his willingness to help others, if only he can be persuaded to forget himself for a moment! Yes, I believe that he very much wanted to continue his father’s festive tradition of generosity. But you see, Mole, he was utterly prevented from doing so!”
    Up to this moment, Mole’s expression had been simply curious; now, as the truth emerged, it darkened, and his brow furrowed.
    After some months of grief and mourning Toad recovered sufficiently to host the Village’s Summer Fete. When autumn came and the nights lengthened, Toad joined in the Village’s Guy Fawke’s celebration in relatively high spirits, and all seemed set fair for Yuletide. None doubted that things would be much as they were before, though