David Herbert Lawrence

Aaron's Rod David Herbert Lawrence

There was a large, brilliant evening star in the early twilight, and underfoot the earth was half frozen. It was Christmas Eve. Also the War was over, and there was a sense of relief that was almost a new menace. A man felt the violence of the nightmare released now into the general air. Also there had been another wrangle among the men on the pit-bank that evening. Aaron Sisson was the last man on the little black railway-line climbing the hill home from work. He was late because he had attended a meeting of the men on the bank. He was secretary to the Miners Union for his colliery, and had heard a good deal of silly wrangling that left him nettled. He strode over a stile, crossed two fields, strode another stile, and was in the long road of colliers' dwellings. Just across was his own house: he had built it himself. He went through the little gate, up past the side of the house to the back. There he hung a moment, glancing down the dark, wintry garden."My father-my father's come!" cried a child's excited voice, and two little girls in white pinafores 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?"