On that bright, cold Christmas morning, the poor widow thought how happy the rich must be, who had plenty to eat, and plenty of coal to keep them warm. She thought of the future, and feared she should be obliged to ask the town to help her. She did not want to do this, but she could not think of letting her children suffer for the want of food, or shiver in the cold.
While she was thinking of these things, Mr. Lee drove up to the front door, and the children all got out of the carryall. Mrs. White wondered what they had come for, and she was still more surprised when she saw the great load of wood, the cart with the barrels, and the wagon full of buckets and bundles.
She did not know what to make of it, for she did not understand that all these things were for her.
“I wish you a merry Christmas!” shouted Flora, as she rushed into the kitchen, where Mrs. White and the children were.
“Thank you, Miss Flora,” replied Mrs. White. “May you live to see a great many, and all of them happy as the present.”
All the rest of the children wished the poor widow and all her family a merry Christmas. Flora capered about the room, almost beside herself with joy.
“We have brought you lots of good things, Mrs. White,” said she, when the children had all wished the family a merry Christmas. “We put all our money together, and bought you a load of wood, some flour, and potatoes, and apples, and tea, and sugar, and pepper, and salt, and mustard, and——”
“That will do, Flora,” said her father. “Mrs. White will soon find out what you have brought.”
“I am very grateful to you all, children, for thinking of me. May God reward you for your kindness!” replied Mrs. White, with tears in her eyes.
“We wanted to make it a happy day for you, and David, and the rest of the children,” added Flora.