“What is your name, my child?” asked the lady.
“Virginia, ma’am. But Mrs. Tyke generally calls me Jinnie.” She had never heard so sweet a voice. It seemed so beautiful, so gentle, so full of tender pity, that it thrilled her with a strange joy.
“And where are you going?”
“I am going out to Ohio, to see Kris Kingle.”
The lady smiled; but the smile faded into a look of deep compassion, and she said,—
“Did your mother let you come away from home?”
“I have no mother. I’m a bound girl.”
“Who sent you to find Kris Kingle?”
“Nobody. He always forgets to come to our house, so I was goin’ to put him in mind.”
“Don’t you get any toys or candy on Christmas?”