Aunt Jo's Scrap-Bag, Vol. 5 / Jimmy's Cruise in the Pinafore, Etc.

y sky, sparkling with stars, framed by the uncurtained window. But the moon, pausing to peep, saw something pretty and heard something pleasant. Two he

uld, and I don't think six cents is half enough for a great red flannel t

of money. Are you sorry we didn't keep our quarters for oursel

they don't expect anything, and will be so surprised. I wish we had more toys

re very red and yellow, and I guess the babies won't know how che

ht up the tiny tree standing there. A very pitiful little tree it was-only a branch of hemlock in an old flower-pot, propped up with bits o

fruit, looked pathetically poor, and one pair of eyes filled slowly with tears, w

crying,

uch, P

akes yo

ed the elder sister, for at twelve she already knew something of the cares of poverty,

, with nothing on it but three sticks of candy, two squeaking dogs, a red cow, and an ugly bird with one feath

, and then we shall have to tell. You know we said we wouldn't se

y, but I'l

tle sisters cried softly in one another's arms, lest mother should discover that they were no long

me out shining like roses after rain,

d, and would come and put two silver half-dollars in our stockings, so

es seem as if rich people might think of poor people now and then. Such little bits of things would make us h

nt. I shall go round every Christmas with a big bas

bonnet first of all, for I heard Miss Kent say no lady would wear such a shabby one. Mrs. Smith sa

nt's, and bring home nice bunches of grapes and good things to eat, as Mr. Chrome does. I often smell

'm afraid. It makes me tired to think of it.

night,

night,

little sisters lay fast asleep cheek against cheek, on the pillow wet wit

n's talk, for they soon forgot to whisper. At first she smiled, then she looked sober, an

fancy, but never complains. I'm sorry they heard what I said, and if I knew how to do it without offending her, I'd trim a nice bonnet for a Christmas gift, for she is a lady,

times. She had good wages now, but spent them on herself, and liked to be fine rather than neat. Still, she was a

them a half-dollar. As I can not, I'll hunt up the other things they wanted, for it's a sham

a fresh blue ribbon, and two papers of bonbons ready. As no stockings were hung up, she laid

me, the artist, peeped at her through the balusters, wondering what she was about. He s

how she was trying to atone for her past neglect of these young neighbors. Then she said

k he would not have disturbed himself if he had not heard the story told in such a soft voice, with a pair of bright eyes full of pity looking into his, for little girls were not

felt as if it would please Miss Kent, and be a good j

into the hall, laid the fruit upon the towel, and the money atop of the oranges. This addition improved the display very much, and Mr. Chrome was stealing ba

green and purple grapes, tucked a sentimental note underneath, and

aw the state of the upper hall. "Now I wouldn't have thought it of Miss Kent, she is such a giddy girl, nor of Mr. Chrome, he is so busy with his own affairs.

ull of plums. There was a goodly array of pies on the shelves, and she took two of them, saying, as she cl

ked very droll to see pies sitting about on the thresholds of closed doors, but the cakes were quite elegant, and filled up the corn

for she stood all day in a great store that she might earn bread for the poor children who staid at home and took care of one another. Her heart was very heavy that night, because it was the first Christmas she had ever kno

d that her little girls had been so kindly remembered. Something more brilliant than the mock diamonds in Miss Kent's best earrings fell and glittered on the dusty floo

have nothing else to give, and these will show how grateful I am," she said, as she rejoiced that the scarlet geran

m all, and soon three pretty nosegays stood in a glass, waiting for dawn, to be laid at three doors, with a few grateful words which would surprise an

would take it into her head that her kittens were in danger, because Mrs. Smith had said she thought they were nearly old enough to be given away. But she must have understood, for when all was dark and still, the anxious mother went patting up stairs to the children's door, meaning to hide her bab

not with joyful haste to see what their stockings held, for they had none,

icent effect of the treasures so curiously collected in the night. Puss had left her kits asleep, and gone down to get her own breakfast, and there, in the middle of the ruffled

apturous silence for a minute; then they went down on thei

for here is everything we wanted," said Dolly, holding the

nted one, and here are two darlings," cried Polly, almost purring with delight as

her apron. I shouldn't wonder if Mr. Chrome gave us the oranges and the mon

don't remember poor folks. Come and show all our treasures to mother and the babies; they must have some," a

ts; for their mother insisted on their going, having discovered how the hard-earned quarters had been spent. This was such unhoped-for bliss that they could hardly believe it, and kept smiling at

d didn't know how to purr, strange things were happening at home, and more surprises were in store for our little friends. You see, when people once begin to do kindnesses, it is so easy and pleasant they find it hard to leave

Miss Kent told what the children said, and it touched the soft spot in all their hearts to hear about

w to trim it up," said Mr. Chrome, with a sudden burst of generosity,

u trim it-won't we, my dear?" cried Mrs. Smith, warmly; for she saw that he was i

ome skill in trimmings, as you know." And Miss Kent looked so gay and pretty as she

le frolic. I'm a lonely old bachelor, with n

pleasant miracle. Mr. Chrome acted more like the father of a large family than a crusty bachelor, Miss Kent's skillful fingers flew as

ill after supper; but when they went to look for it they found it gone, and in its place a gre

e Browns' b

ed to them pointing up. The door flew open quite as if it were a fairy play, and they went in to find a pretty tree planted

upon the old-fashioned Santa Claus to have Miss Kent, in the white dress she made for the party, with Mrs. Blake's roses in her hair, st

k the place of the broken branch and its few poor toys. They were all there, however, and Dolly and Polly were immensely pleased t

ed. She was well paid for it by the thanks of one neighbor and the admiration of another; for when she went to her party

glory by this event, and Dolly and Polly declared that it

the little girls climbed up to bed laden with treasures and too happy fo

s rather nice to be poor w

mas trees like this one," answered truthful Polly, never guessing that they had

ich was no longer wet with tears, but rather knobby with the mine of riches hidden underneath,-first frui