“But what are you going to do with them?” asked Johnny.
“I—I think I’m going to try to make them happy,” said the jolly sailor, only his voice wasn’t quite so jolly now, though it was very kind. “I don’t think they look very happy, do you? I don’t believe they’ve had any Christmas at all,” and the sailorman’s voice was low and gentle, and he blew his nose very hard, almost like a horn.
“I don’t believe they’ve had any Christmas, either!” exclaimed Mary.
“Nor I! Nor I!” added Tommy and Johnny.
“But I know what I’m going to do!” went on the little Trippertrot girl. “I’m going down and get a whole basketful of good things to eat, and I’m going to take some of my toys, and some of the music-box money, and I’m going to give them to those poor children that I choose. I’m going to make-believe keep ’em,” she said, to the sailorman, “and I’m going to try to make ’em happy!”
“So am I!” cried Tommy. “So am I!” cried Johnny.
“I thought you would!” said the sailorman, and now his voice was as happy again as heart could wish, and he was smiling, as he stumped all around the room on his wooden leg.
And then the Trippertrot children, and the sailorman, filled a fine big basket of good things to eat, and they put in some toys for the girl and boy, and some money, and then they hurried out to give it to them—the sailor stumping along behind, and blowing his nose like a Christmas trumpet.
“Here!” cried Mary, as she handed the basket to the poor boy.
“What—what’s this for?” he asked.