At last Beatrice found her voice; but “Did you ever!” was all she said, and “Did you ever!” was all Josephine said, until they remembered to thank the postmaster for his kindness.
On Christmas Eve the little girls could keep their secret no longer, and solemnly presented their mother with the magic gift.
Mother cried. Tears of joy rolled down her face when she saw it.
“I never before had a picture of any of you children,” said she, “and I never expected to, because we live so far from a photographer. And this is so beautiful! Such happy faces! Oh, it seems too good to be true! It would not have happened if you were not such good little girls, always thinking of your mother!”
The next day two joyous little girls danced about the cabin, singing:
“White magic,
Christmas magic,
Brought our mother a Christmas gift!
“Gold magic,
Christmas magic,