"'Why if it ain't Miss Agnes Headley;' said the mother. 'Come in, miss, do.'
"'No thank you, I have only come to bring you a little present for Christmas, and I hope you will have a happy day,' said Miss Headley.
"The big boy jumped up in a moment, and took it from her, with a 'thank ye, miss,' which meant a great deal; but Miss Headley did not wait, and they closed the door from the bitter wind, while all crowded round the table in anxious expectation.
"At the top of the parcel was an immense Christmas pudding, of a size to satisfy the appetites of even that numerous party. On it was pinned a paper with these words written: 'This pudding is cooked, but must be boiled for an hour and a half to warm it through. The cloth is for you.'
"A shout of pleasure was forced from the delighted family as they viewed their promised treat.
"Under the pudding, which had been wrapped up in a whole newspaper, lay an old jacket, a comforter, a worn pair of trousers, and a frock for the girl of ten. Last of all was a piece of stout paper on which someone (Hugh Headley I think) had painted these words: 'Come unto Me, all ye that labour and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest.'
"On the back of this was written, 'Please pin this up on the wall for a Christmas text.'
"The eldest boy produced two or three nails, and had put it over the mantelshelf before they could say a word, and then, as the mother reminded them the pudding would come all the sooner for going to bed, they took her advice and disappeared, all but the big boy, who hung behind to say, 'I'm mortal hungry, mother, I suppose you ain't got a crust?'
"Half an hour before she would have answered 'no' hastily enough, but there were tears in her eyes as she handed him the bit of bread which was to have served for her supper, as she said:
"'I'm sorry, boy, it's all so short, but you know what yer boots cost last week, and you can't have everything.'