Ben Pepper

st that he couldn't go to see th

every word, and surveying his round countenance in fear. Supposing Joel shouldn't reall

imed Polly, briskly. "Why, the very ide

relieved, and his face brightening, "

en, in a downright way there was no mistaki

ned getting his coat and cap, he was surely safe from making the awful expedition. But now, seeing Ben's blue eyes u

the last step of the stairs. When Phronsie saw her do this, she hurried over,

, with a long breath, and going ac

lly, "but then, he can't come till

oel. So he precipitated himself upon that individual, who, just knocking down his ca

Joel, knocking off more

d, delighted to help. "L

ed face; "I'll get it myself. And I won't go

st, Joe!" cried

ed Joel, feeling with each repetiti

bove the stairs, as somebody opened the door and came out into the u

houlders, who ducked back into his corner so su

d Joel, holding his b

iciently, who now grasped him by both hands in a way very uncomfortable for conv

ust into the depths of gloom, his independen

the stairs. "She's going into her room," he announced in a

stepped out of the closet, but he had a very gloomy air

te in despair, "just how very dreadful it's al

. So Polly and Phronsie got off from the stair, and if the e

pen, that loomed up across the square like a heavy,

tep. How it was done, he never knew, but the next moment he was at the top of the flight under Ben's hands, who released him enough to ring the b

n the excitement of it all, Polly, while undoing Phronsie's coat and taking off her bonnet, forgot all about Joel, and it wasn't really until after they had mounted the long sta

oy?" she demanded, l

t at such dreadful manners in one of her family, for

Ruypen; "you can see for yourself

e of gloom, on one of the big chairs in the reception room. He had run back, after

ch, Joe," and he kept him well in front of him; and at last, there he w

she was saying; "now I'm going t

to breathe, except Phronsie, who chirped ou

t, down toward Phronsie; "but there was something I especially wanted of you, and I'll tell it in one word. You must choose the toys I'm going to send

wled out, "Oh, I will; let

n, laughing heartily. "There, get in

s overflowed on tables and chairs, and even the carpet appeared to be covered with the best specimens of toys from all

lly, flying about with sparkling eyes, and

always thought that shop was the very finest place imaginable. "Dave,

etty soon the whole room looked as if Santa Claus himself had been there with his load, while as

last, flying up to the tall figure that now it seemed as i

t off the articles from a big easy

the toys were half off, and Polly had gathered up t

e," she

istress, looking over across the room where Joel and

, good naturedly, while Polly ran over t

," said Joel, not looking at her, and

, impatiently. "She's going to

said Joel, with one eye a

you, Davie?" said Polly. "Do pu

gle bit." So Joel laid the pig carefully d

uypen now b

hear," said Joel,

re she still sat absorbed in the big doll

eding briskly, "selecting presents for some children I happen to know about, wh

he Peppers who heard those direful words tumble

again. "Well, here we are, and this Christmas I mean to have an easy time, for I'm no

sely, with flushed cheeks, "that we can pick out the toys and t

u over here, and what I've had this room turned into a toy-

wants us to pick out the things she is to send to the poor children. I'm going to choose that wo

"I'm going to choose my pig, when I fix him so he'll sque

the entire room

ame slowly back to stand a minute at Madam Van

" she asked, looki

or children when we saw you yesterday

could have induced me to go into

hat he could to pick out the things he should want if he were

fur tippets to keep out the cold,-were not there, and he stifled a si

ere the old lady was, close by his side, and the next words

,-for that's your

aid Ben,

you don't think I've had the right things sent up from the sto

; then he came to the conclusion that he might as well tell

presents; those are everyday th

is everyday things,

she pushed them all away impatiently. "You go on, and choose what you think some boys would like out of the things that are here, as we haven't any clothes among them," th

d as if all the toys and gay art

autiful," sighed Polly, "a

pleased to think that her experiment in having the thing

one was to be omitted. Now that he had discovered the weak part in the pi

g explained to her by Polly, and coming up with very pink cheeks to hold as

e it," said Madam Va

her lip drooped, and she looked as if sh

making haste to explain when she saw Phronsie's face. "Don't

ng out determined to go back again. Then she laughed gleefully. "Polly, Polly," she cried in great

ing over to Polly; "the little girl won't know

ht the words, and whirling around suddenly; "shan't you tell h

t for the world, Joel, would I have them know where the

said

" said Madam Van Ruypen, "what a load you hav

d Polly, with g

!" declared

and patting his steam-engine lovingly. Then he set

e're all throu

time to go

d Joel, deserting his engine abr

cried Polly,

turn him upside down when the squeak w

said Ben, pick

d-by and filed downstairs to get coats and hats on. "I think, myself, it might be advisable to add a few th

d with the thought. He was actually