ed produced a wonderful array of cheap workboxes,
needle-cases, pin-trays, ornamental pens, boxes full of bon-bons, penny
whistles, twopenny flutes, a Jew's-harp or two; in short, a medley of
every kind of heterogeneous presents which could be produced with the
modest sum of from a penny to twopence halfpenny. Grannie fully
believed in numbers. She knew from past experience that the children
would rather have half a dozen small things than one big thing. The
worsted stockings, too, which had been knit in a bygone age, by the
celebrated Mrs. Simpson, the inventor of the sprig, were deep and long.
They took a great deal of filling, and Grannie knew what keen
disappointment would be the result if each stocking was not chock-full.
She collected her wares, sorted them into six parcels, laid the six
stockings on the table by the side of the gifts, and then began to
select the most appropriate gifts for each. Yes; Alison should have
the little basket which contained the pretty thimble, the little plush
pin-cushion glued on at one corner, and two reels of cotton kept in
their place by a neat little band, and the needle-book at the opposite
side.

"This is the werry nattiest thing I have seen for many a day," murmured
Grannie, "and only tuppence three farthings. I'll take the price off,
of course. Now, suppose Ally comes back an engaged girl, could she
have anything prettier than this little basket? It shall go in the top
of the stocking, jest where it can peep out and look at her the first
thing in the morning."

The stockings were filled at last; the toes and heels dexterously
stuffed out with apples and oranges; the gifts following next--each
separate gift wrapped in paper, and tied neatly with string.

"Quite half the fun is in the untying of the string," thought Mrs.
Reed. "Oh, how the little 'earts will go pitter-patter! Don't I know
it myself? Why, when I were nothing more than a five-year-old Phipps,
I remember as well as possible taking my presents out of this werry
stocking, and trembling all over when I couldn't untie the knot of the
parcel which held that cock made of sugar, wot I kept on the
chimney-piece for many and many a day afterward; for though mother give
it to me, she wouldn't let me eat it."

The six stockings were filled, and each stocking hung at the foot of
its future owner's bed. The children were sound asleep now, and the
boys at the club, and the girl at her party forgot all about such