d the suffering any share of her own Christmas cheer, and how
this was the only way she could think of to remedy her neglect.

"And it's so lovely," she concluded; "for there are forty little
boy-children. And with this money I can get them each a fifty-cent
present."

"So you can," said Nan. "I'll go with you to-morrow to select them. And
if we can get some cheaper than fifty cents, and I think we can, you'll
have a little left for extras."

"That's so," agreed Patty. "They often have lovely toys for about
thirty-nine cents, and I could get some marbles or something to fill up."

"To fill up what?" asked her father.

"Oh, to fill up the tree. Or I'll get some ornaments, or some tinsel to
decorate it. Oh, father, you are so good to me! This is a lovely
Christmas present."

CHAPTER III

THE DAY BEFORE CHRISTMAS

Mr. Fairfield's gift to his wife was a beautiful motor-car, and as they
were going away for the holiday, he presented it to her the day before
Christmas.

It was practically a gift to Patty as well, for the whole family could
enjoy it.

"It's perfectly lovely," said Nan, as they all started out for a little
spin, to try it. "I've had so much trouble of late with taxicabs, that
it's a genuine comfort to have my own car at my beck and call. It's a
lovely car, Fred, and Patty and I shall just about live in it."

"I want you to enjoy it," returned Mr. Fairfield, "and you may have every
confidence in the chauffeur. He's most highly recommended by a man I know
well, and he's both careful and skilful."

"A nice-mannered man, too," observed Patty. "I like his looks, and his
mode of address. But if this car is partly my present, then I ought not
to have had that gold money to buy drums with."

"Oh, yes, you ought," said her father. "That was your individual gift. In
this car you and Nan are partners. By the way, Puss, did you ever get
your forty drums? I didn't hear about them."

"You're lucky that you didn't hear them," laughed Patty. "Yes, I did get
them,--not all drums, some other toys,--and I took them down to the
Sunshine place yesterday. I went with Mrs. Morse and Clementine. You know
the kiddywids had their Christmas tree, the little poor children, and
such a noise you never heard! They yelled and shouted for glee, and they
banged drums and tooted horns, and then they sang songs, and I think I
never knew such a noisy celebration, even on the fourth of July."

"And were they glad to get yo