"But I must begin at the beginning."
In a country village not very far from the seaside lived a little boy and girl with their father and mother.
Now these people were very, very poor.
It was drawing very near to Christmas time, and they were thinking of all the nice presents and things that little boys like you would be sure to get on Christmas morning.
Said Robbie (for that was the boy's name) to his sister,—
"Mamie, do you think Father Christmas will bring us anything this year?"
"I do hope so," said Mamie. "I have tried to be good."
"What would you like?" said Robbie.