A gloom came over the room. There was only a flickering gleam
from one of Solomon John's candles that he had lighted by way of
trial.

Solomon John again proposed going into town. He lighted a match
to examine the newspaper about the trains. There were plenty of
trains coming out at that hour, but none going in except a very late
one. That would not leave time to do anything and come back.

"We could go in, Elizabeth Eliza and I," said Solomon John, "but
we should not have time to buy anything."

Agamemnon was summoned in. Mrs. Peterkin was entertaining the
uncles and aunts in the front parlor. Agamemnon wished there
was time to study up something about electric lights. If they could
only have a calcium light! Solomon John's candle sputtered and
went out.

At this moment there was a loud knocking at the front door. The
little boys, and the small cousins, and the uncles and aunts, and
Mrs. Peterkin, hastened to see what was the matter.

The uncles and aunts thought somebody's house must be on fire.
The door was opened, and there was a man, white with flakes, for
it was beginning to snow, and he was pulling in a large box.

Mrs. Peterkin supposed it contained some of Elizabeth Eliza's
purchases, so she ordered it to be pushed into the back parlor, and
hastily called back her guests and the little boys into the other
room. The little boys and the small cousins were sure they had