“Shall I split some kindling, too?” asked Jack.
“If you know how!” said Aunt Jane. “I can’t have you cutting your foot and messing my clean shed all up.”
Jack found some fresh pine wood and a bright hatchet, and he split up a great pile of kindling and thought it fun. He stacked it neatly, and then he brought in a pail of water and filled the kettle.
“What else can I do?” he asked. “There are twenty minutes more.”
“Humph!” said Aunt Jane. “You might feed the pig.”
Jack fed the pig, who thanked him in his own way.
“Ten minutes more!” he said. “What shall I do now?”
“Humph!” said Aunt Jane. “You may sit down and tell me why you came.”
“It is a Christmas present!” said Jack. “I am giving hours for presents. I had twelve, but I gave one to Mother, and another one was gone before I knew I had it. This hour was your present.”