at work!

By and by December came, and the little Americans began to talk about
Christmas. One day, when Piccola's curly head and bright eyes came
peeping through the hole in the wall, they ran to her and helped her
in; and as they did so, they all asked her at once what she thought
she would have for a Christmas present. "A Christmas present!" said
Piccola. "Why, what is that?"

All the children looked surprised at this, and Rose said, rather
gravely, "Dear Piccola, don't you know what Christmas is?"

Oh, yes, Piccola knew it was the happy day when the baby Christ was
born, and she had been to church on that day, and heard the beautiful
singing, and had seen a picture of the Babe lying in the manger, with
cattle and sheep sleeping round about. Oh, yes, she knew all that very
well, but what was a Christmas present?

Then the children began to laugh, and to answer her all together.
There was such a clatter of tongues that she could hear only a few
words now and then, such as "chimney," "Santa Claus," "stockings,"
"reindeer," "Christmas Eve," "candies and toys." Piccola put her hands
over her ears, and said, "Oh, I can't understand one word. You tell
me, Rose." Then Rose told her all about jolly old Santa Claus, with
his red cheeks and white beard and fur coat, and about his reindeer
and sleigh full of toys. "Every Christmas Eve," said Rose, "he comes
down the chimney, and fills the stockings of all the good children;
so, Piccola, you hang up your stocking, and who knows what a beautiful
Christmas present you will find when morning comes!" Of course Piccola
thought this was a delightful plan, and was very pleased to hear about