d as much like kids as we could, which is all there
is to any Christmas. My socks was full of candy, and Old Man Wright he
had a Teddy bear in his--part ways anyhow. Then Bonnie Bell she give him
a new gold watch with bells in it, and me a couple of pins for my
necktie. I never could get 'em in right.

After a while we come down to breakfast. We was in a big room that faced
toward the Wisners' and likewise toward the lake. I reckon you could see
forty miles up and down from where we set eating. It was warm in the
room, though there wasn't much fire, and we all felt comfortable.

You could see out our windows right over the lot of the Wisners'; we
could see into their house same as they could see into ours. There was a
garridge set back toward the lake, same as ours, about on the same line,
and beyond that you could see a boathouse. They had trees in their yard
like ours, but ours was almost as big, though just planted. You could
see where our flower beds was laid out, and the lines of little green
trees all set in close together. On beyond the Wisners' you could see a
whole row of other houses, all big and fine like theirs and ours.

All the whole country was covered with snow that morning. The wind was
still blowing and the lake coming in mighty rough; you could hear the
noise of it through the windows. It looked mighty cold outside and it
was cold. You can freeze to death respectable in Wyoming, but in Chicago
you keep on freezing and don't freeze to death, but wish you would, you
are that cold.

Well, like I said, it was warm in the big room where we et. Bonnie Bell
had a couple of yellow canary birds which was able to set up and sing,
which Old Man Wright said was almost more than he could do hisself.
Breakfast come on a little at a time--you couldn't tell how much of it
there was going to be; but it made good, though it didn't start out
very strong. By and by it got round to ham and aigs, which made us feel
better. I never tasted better coffee; it was better than anything we had
on the Yellow Bull. Ours out there was mostly extract, in pound
packages--beans, I think, maybe.

"How do you like our new house, dad?" says she.

"They can't beat it, Bonnie Bell," says he.

"Dad; dear old dad!" says she. "I'm so glad you like it. I done it all
for you."

"How do you mean?" says he.

"Why, of course, you know what a sacrifice it was for me to come here
and leave the old place! But I seen you wanted it. If I thoug