“Here is a pair of woolen gloves I knitted for you,” put in his aunt. “I’m sure they’re not as nice as this Christmas book.”
“They’re a good deal more useful,” replied Tom. “Why, this is a pretty good Christmas, after all, even if I have lost my job,” he said, deciding this was a good time to break the unpleasant news.
“Lost your job, Tom!” exclaimed Mrs. Baldwin.
“Mercy sakes! Lost—your—job!” added his aunt.
“Well, I sort of expected it,” the youth answered ruefully, and he told how it had come about.
“I rather hoped he might keep you on after the holidays,” remarked Mrs. Baldwin.
“So did I,” said her son, “but, never mind, I’ll get a place somewhere. Things are sure to be lively after the first of the year, and that’s only a week off.”
“Oh, we’ll manage to get along, somehow,” declared Mrs. Baldwin slowly. She did not want Tom to know how little money she had, nor what a little sewing there was in prospect for her and her sister.
But in spite of these drawbacks it was quite a merry little Christmas for Tom and his relatives, even though they had beef instead of turkey, and no dessert at all.
Tom started off, early the next morning, to look for work, but he found the Christmas spirit rather a detriment than otherwise, for many places took advantage of the holidays and paid little attention to business. The lad tramped the streets in vain, and came home that night, tired and discouraged.