By the time the sun was looking over the tree tops, Mr. Payson and the children were riding toward Mrs. Grant's with a basket of good things and a great many kind words.
They found the little Grants in quite an uproar. They had hung up their stockings for the first time in their lives, and now they were spreading out Santa Claus's wonderful gifts with great glee.
The basket was carried in, and Mr. Payson told Mrs. Grant what more would be done for her every-day comfort.
Tears came in her eyes when she thanked him and the children.
"It almost made me feel like crying," said Rebecca, when they had left the house, "to see poor lame Harry's face look so happy."
At Mrs. Fisher's they found a gloomy and unhappy scene.
Mr. Fisher sat with his hair falling over his half-shut eyes, while the hungry and cold children were huddled around the half-warmed stove on which their mother was trying to cook something for breakfast.
"My children have come to bring some smiles to yourself and your little ones this Christmas morning," said Mr. Payson to Mrs. Fisher, as they stepped into the miserable home.
"Mamma says, will you please have a good dinner?" said Rebecca, as she and Joshua carried the basket to Mrs. Fisher, whose eyes filled with tears at this unexpected kindness.
Mr. Payson gave her the tickets for coal and food, and told her that his wife would call sometimes and see how she enjoyed them.