"What are you going to do for poor people this Christmas, mother?" said Minnie, throwing her arms round her mother's neck in her warm-hearted little way.
Mrs. Headley looked up from the close embrace with a smile, and answered, "We shall not be able to do very much this year, Minnie; but I have not forgotten."
"I did not think you had, only I do like to know."
At this moment Agnes entered the room, bearing in her arms a heap of garments, which she deposited on the table, saying to her mother, "This is all I can find, and they will need a good many stitches."
"I dare say they will," said Mrs. Headley; "but we must all help."
Minnie peered curiously at the assortment of clothes, and exclaimed, "Why, there's my old frock, Agnes! Whatever are you going to do with that?"
"This is part of what we are going to do for Christmas," said her mother.
Minnie looked incredulous, and turned over her brother's worn jacket with the tips of her rosy fingers rather disdainfully.
Agnes already had seated herself at the table, and was proceeding to examine each garment with critical eyes.
Mrs. Headley glanced at the little face opposite her, but made no remark as she leaned over to reach the old dress, which Minnie thought so useless.