other spoke: “No—not exactly much. I am in luck, this year, I am.
I haven’t any bills. My sister’s sick, and can’t expect no presents but
her pills. My brother Ben’s in Canada, away upon the wing. Of
course, you know he can’t suppose I’ll buy him anything. My mother
pulled my hair, last night, until she made me squall. Of course she
knows that she’s gone up for anything at all.” “But there’s your father,”
said his friend. “Well,—yes—I really thought that I was stuck on the
old man, and that he had me caught, and I was kinder looking round
to hunt him up a pipe; but then, this very mornin’ he hit me such a
wipe! That fixed his Christmas goose for him, and took away his joy.