The tinker answered quickly: "Oh, I've always a little for a Christmas, an' I'll buy the gifts. Ah, boy, let's away for the gifts. We'll—we'll punish him with kindness."
They went together and bought a pair of mittens and a warm muffler for Riley Brooke and walked to his door with them and rapped upon it. Brooke came to the door with a candle.
"What d'ye want?" he demanded.
"To wish you Merry Christmas and present you gifts," said Trove.
The old man raised his candle, surveying them with surprise and curiosity.
"What gifts?" he inquired in a milder tone.
"Well," said the boy, "we've brought you mittens and a muffler."
"Ha! ha! Yer consciences have smote ye," said Brooke, "Glory to God who brings the sinner to repentance!"
"And fills the bitter cup o' the ungrateful," said the tinker. And they went away.
"I'd like to bring one other gift," said Darrel.