herself. She let the
knitting go that night, and cut up an old waist to make white
under-clothing with touches of lace, and a pretty dress. Then Kate
went to her room, tied the doll in a safe place on the tree, put on the
books, and set the candles with pins. As she worked she kept biting
her lips, but when it was all finished she thought it was lovely, and
so it was. As she set the sled in front of the tree she said: "There,
little folks, I wonder what you will think of that! It's the best I
can do. I've a nice chicken to roast; now if only, if only Mother or
Nancy Ellen would come, or write a line, or merely send one word by
Tilly Nepple."

Suddenly Kate lay down on the bed, buried her face in the pillow while
her shoulders jerked and shook in dry sobs for a long time. At last she
arose, went to the kitchen, bathed her face, and banked the fires. "I
suppose it is the Bates way," she said, "but it's a cold, hard
proposition. I know what's the matter with all of them. They are
afraid to come near me, or show the slightest friendliness, for fear
I'll ask them to help support us. They needn't worry, we can take care
of ourselves."

She set her tree on the living room table, arranged everything to the
best advantage, laid a fire in the stove, and went to sleep Christmas
eve, feeling more like herself than she had since the explosion.
Christmas morning she had the house warm and the tree ready to light
while the children dressed. She slipped away their every-day clothing
and laid out their best instead. She could hear them talking as they
dressed, and knew the change of clothing had filled them with hope.
She hastily lighted the tree, and was setting the table as they entered
the dining room.

"Merry Christmas, little people," she cried in a voice they had not
heard in a long time. They both rushed to her and Kate's heart stood
still as they each hugged her tight, kissed her, and offered a tiny
packet. From the size and feeling of these, she realized that they
were giving her the candy they had received the day before at school.
Surprises were coming thick and fast with Kate. That one shook her to
her foundations. They loved candy. They had so little! They had
nothing else to give. She held them an instant so tightly they were
surprised at her, then she told them to lay the packages on the living
room table until after breakfast. Polly opened the door, and screamed.
Adam ran, and then both of them st