"BOB," said Bettina, as she served the plum pudding, "Christmas is in the very air these days!"
"Did the Christmas spirit inspire this plum pudding?" said he. "Blessings on the head of Santa Claus! But why your outburst?"
"Because today I went shopping in earnest! I bought the very things that seem most Christmassy: tissue paper, white and green, gold cord, a ball of red twine, Santa Claus and holly stickers, and the cards to tie to the packages. I love to wrap up Christmas things!"
"And are most of your gifts ready to be wrapped?"
"No, not all, for some of them can't be made till the last minute. For instance, I thought and thought about Uncle Eric's gift! I want so much to please him, but he has everything that money can buy except perhaps a cook that suits him. Finally I decided to send him a box containing a jar of spiced peaches, a jar of Russian dressing, a little round fruit cake, and a box of fudge. The things will all be wrapped with tissue paper, and gold cord and holly——"
"Lucky Uncle Eric!" sighed Bob. "I wish Santa Claus would bring me a Christmas box like that—fruit cake and spiced peaches and Russian dressing——"
"Maybe he will if you're very good!" laughed Bettina. "If you eat everything your cook sets before you."
"Tell me something hard to do!" said Bob, with enthusiasm. For dinner that night they had:
Escalloped Eggs and Cheese
Baked Potatoes Currant Jelly
Rolls
Plum Pudding with Yellow Sauce
Coffee