‘Oh!’ said Patty again, her eyes fixed on the stocking, ‘oh, Polly, look!’
Up on a chair climbed Patty and with nimble fingers unfastened the stocking and lifted it down.
Then into Mother’s room she ran to wake Mother and Father and Grandmother, too, across the hall, and to be the very first one to wish them all a Merry Christmas Day.
You would never guess all the presents that had been crowded into Patty’s stocking.
Of course there were apples and oranges and candies and nuts.
There was a little watch to be worn on Patty’s wrist.
‘Not a really truly watch,’ explained Patty, ‘but just as good as a really truly one.’
There was a pair of soft gray gloves all lined with fur.
‘As soft as a kitten and as warm as a bear,’ declared Patty, trying them on at once. ‘Maybe Santa Claus wears this kind his very own self.’
‘Maybe he does,’ answered Father. ‘Open that long box, Patty. It says on the card, “Merry Christmas from Thomas.” Perhaps Santa Claus came in through the hall last night, for Thomas must have asked him to put this in your stocking for him.’