*
On the day of the Winter Festival, Anna was meant to have a full bath and eat dinner early before anyone arrived. The festivities were to commence at 6 o'clock sharp in the evening, and Mother was adamant that Anna should not be so hungry as to "eat like a horse" at the party.
The first guests to arrive were the Mayor and his Wife, at 6:05. They were followed by a long procession of dignitaries and other such high-minded (or at least highly-expensive) individuals. Anna and her family greeted each guest in the foyer before they were escorted and announced in the Great Hall. Anna soon got tired of curtsying and began to fidget. This did not put Mother in a good mood.
Eventually, a murmur made its way through the party in the Great Hall and spilled into the foyer that “Justin” had arrived. A significant portion of the partygoers gathered at the entrance to the Great Hall, but nonetheless were careful to ensure that they did so in a very casual and disinterested manner, so as to not seem overeager. Nevertheless, all seemed to wait upon the aforementioned singer's arrival.
And when he did appear, it was with such pomp and circumstance that those dignitaries concerned about "someone noticing their having noticed" needn't have bothered being concerned at all. All eyes were on Justin, and on Justin alone.
All, except, of course, for Anna's. She kept her eyes on her little music box, which she had happened to conceal within a fold of her elaborate velvet dress.
Justin was graciously welcomed by Mother and Father. And then Mother and Father personally escorted this very important guest into the Great Hall. And, through a hushed command, Mother instructed Anna to follow, as well.
Justin was shown around and introduced to all. He sipped upon the estate's finest fruity beverages and tasted the estate's best gourmet dine. And when sufficient time had been spent in this manner of doing nothing, Justin made his way to the front of the Hall, where arrangements had already been made for him to perform. And all the guests sat down in plushy pedestals placed in rows, in order to watch the show.
Justin's performance was indeed a wonder to behold. He sang excitedly for almost half an hour, and was at all times accompanied by some sort of ostrich-feathered dancing girl, or twirling sword-swallowers, or other such entertainers. Towards the end of Justin's last set, there was a fireworks show, which was elaborate enough to put the household plants on fire. And after all had been extinguished and any burnt furnishings silently removed by the servants, a very sweaty Justin was re-escorted to his seat for a short rest before he was to depart for another engagement.
Anna saw her chance, and began to position herself in the front of the room.
"Darling," Mother said, when she noted Anna’s movement, "what are you doing? Come away from there and let the guests get back to dinner."
"But Mother," Anna said, "I have a song that I would like to share with our guests." She held aloft the small wooden box.
"But darling," Mother responded, "I believe it's time for you to go to bed. And anyway, our guests are not interested in listening to your broken music box."
"It isn't broken," Anna responded.
But she needn't have bothered arguing. For soon, a more convincing advocate—the Mayor’s Wife—raised her voice to speak on Anna’s behalf:
"Let the child share with us," she said, "We would be happy to hear her. And, after all, it is in keeping with the Spirit of the Festival."
With such an attestation, Mother was forced to relent.
Anna stood at the front of the Hall and all eyes were focused upon her. She took ahold of the little golden lever on the side of the box and started turning it with sweet determination.
After a few moments of what seemed to be silence, some of the members of the audience stifled chortles and jeers.
Mother felt thoroughly humiliated. She strode to the front of the Hall and grabbed Anna by the arm.
"Thank you, darling," Mother said, "for entertaining us all with your little joke this evening. But really, I think that it is quite enough, and it is time for you to go to bed."
"But Mother," Anna protested, "It isn't a joke! Can't you hear the music?"
"There is no music!" Mother said, in a not so hushed whisper, "That box is just a worthless piece of junk. And you're embarrassing me in front of my guests."
Anna started crying, "No, Mother! This music box is not junk. It holds the heart of the Music Maker. And it even holds a piece of my heart now, too, because I love it. And that makes it the most precious thing in the whole world!"
"That's enough! I will not have you disobey me in front of my friends!" Mother yelled, yanking Anna away from the front of the room.
"Stop!" came a cry from the audience.
Mother swung herself and Anna round to see that the cry had come from the Mayor's Wife, who was herself in tears.
"Stop," the Mayor's wife said again, "Please let the child be. Why won't you listen to her? Can't you hear the music?"
Mother seemed shocked, and shook her head in disagreement, but with more than a little amount of hesitation.
"Doesn't anybody else hear the beautiful music coming from this child? Listen carefully, everybody. Listen very carefully."
Anna wiped away her tears and slowly began to turn the box's lever again.
People in the crowd looked dumbfounded. But after a while, one or two nodded their heads in agreement, that yes, they had heard the box's melody, as well. And, considering the Mayor's Wife's social standing, it wasn't long before the whole room was in agreement. They all declared that the song was among the most beautiful they had ever heard.
Mother seemed as if she did not know what to do. She relinquished her grip on Anna and stood awkwardly in the middle of the room, watching as all the guests were discussing the beautiful music. But soon enough she had regained enough composure to force a laugh and claim that, for her part, she had been joking all along. Of course, she had heard the music too, but just wanted to put on a little show to show how special the music box really was.
Soon everyone at the party wanted to know where Anna had obtained the pretty little music box.
Anna explained about her encounter with the Music Maker.
"Oh, you mean that old man who sits on a doorstep, across from Cymball's day after day?" the Mayor said, "He's been sitting there for years, ever since I was, myself, a little child. Sad thing is, though, just last week one of our constables found him dead on that doorstep. Probably from the cold, I imagine. Too bad he died before he could experience this new found popularity of his chimes."
The crowd murmured in sympathy. Even Justin declared it "a real shame."
Anna was devastated. She turned to leave from the Great Hall.
But before she could depart, the Mayor's Wife walked over and took Anna's hand.
"My dear," the Mayor's Wife said, "Don't be so downhearted. After all, what did the Music Maker say to you?"
"He said, that he put a little piece of his heart into each box, and that I should try and love the box, since it was because of love, that he made it."
"Well, then," the Mayor's Wife continued, "If a part of the Music Maker's heart still lives inside that box, then how can he ever really die?"
Anna thought about this a moment. And then she smiled.
"Yes, Misses Mayor!" Anna exclaimed, "You're right! He will never die, as long as his music, and our love, is still alive!"
The Mayor's Wife gave Anna a great big hug. And then she patted her on the head and then said that if Anna felt tired, then she should go and rest.
Anna said that there was just one thing she needed to do before she satisfied the Mayor’s Wife’s request.
"And what is that, dear?" the Mayor's Wife said.
"I need to go and apologize to Mother."
And, true to her word, Anna went over and hugged and kissed Mother, and then went and put herself to bed.
*
The next morning Anna woke to find a letter and a small pac
kage from Mister Jeremy placed neatly on her side table, next to her music box.
The letter from Mister Jeremy said, “So sorry I did not get to say goodbye to you before I left, my dear Anna. But I wanted to let you know that I am doing fine and am very happy. I’ll come and visit soon. Until then, I’m sending you the music box the Music Maker gave me when I was a child. I hope you will love it, just as I did. And I hope that when you listen to it, you’ll know that I love you, too.”
Anna laughed and immediately played the new music box. Its tune reminded Anna of horses and carriage housees, of orchards and summertime. Anna felt very happy, and was excited at the prospect of seeing her friend Mister Jeremy again.
After Nanny dressed her, Anna ran to the West field to play the new music box for the old gray pony. And this time, she brought as many apples as her arms could carry, too.
And as all were then happy, this means this tale is through.
#
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