little boy and girl, if I find one," said St. Nicholas. "There seem to
be very few about here. I haven't left a single rod yet." And he handed
one big package to Kit, and another to Kat.

"Thank you," said Kit and Kat.

St. Nicholas smiled at them and waved his hand. Then the door shut, and
he was gone!

Kit and Kat dropped on their knees to pick up the cakes and candies.
They passed the cakes and candies around to each one. Vrouw Vedder
lighted the candles, and then they all gathered around to see Kit and
Kat open their bundles.

"You open yours first," said Vrouw Vedder to Kat.

Kat was so excited that she could hardly untie the string. When she got
the bundle open, there was a beautiful new Sunday dress much prettier
than the torn one had ever been! Oh, how pleased Kat was! She hugged
her mother and her grandmother and her father and her grandfather.

"I just wish I could hug dear St. Nicholas, too," she said.

Then Kit opened his bundle; and there was a beautiful new velveteen
suit, with his very own silver buttons on it! It had pockets in it! He
put his hand in one pocket. It had a penny in it! Then he put his hand
in the other pocket. There was another penny!

"I'm going to see if there's a pocket in mine," said Kat.

She hunted and hunted and hunted. By and by she found a pocket. And
sure enough, there was a penny in that too!

Then some presents came from somewhere for Father and Mother Vedder and
for Grandfather and Grandmother Winkle; and such a time as they all
had, opening the bundles and showing their presents!

Then Mother Vedder tried on Kit's suit and Kat's dress, to see if they
were the right size. They were just right exactly.

"St. Nicholas even knows how big we are," said Kat.

"Oh, I wish St. Nicholas Day would last a week," said Kit.

"That reminds me," said Vrouw Vedder, and she looked at the clock.
"Half-past ten, and these children still up! Bless my heart, this will
never do! Come here, Kit and Kat, and let me undo your buttons!"

"May we take our new clothes to bed with us?" Kat asked.

"Yes, just this once," said Mother Vedder, "because this is St.
Nicholas night."

They kissed their Grandfather and Grandmother good-night, and their
Mother and Father, and said their prayers like good children; and then
they climbed up into their little cupboard bed, and Vrouw Vedder drew
the curtains, so they would go to sleep sooner.

"Good-night, dear little Twins," she said.

And so