"Here we are!" called Mr. Carford after a fine ride. "Come in and get
warm. I guess my sister has a few cookies left," for a maiden sister
kept house for the old gentleman.

Into the big old-fashioned farmhouse the children tramped, to be met
by a motherly-looking woman, who helped them brush the snow from their
feet. Then she bustled about, and brought in a big pitcher of milk, a
plateful of molasses cookies, and some glasses. The children's eyes
sparkled at the sight of this fine lunch.

"There you are!" cried Mr. Carford heartily, as he passed around the
good things. "Eat as much as is good for you. I've got to go out to
the barn for a while. Emma," he asked his sister, "have you got any
more packages made up?"

"James Carford, are you going to give away more stuff?" demanded his
sister. "Why, you'll be in the poorhouse first thing you know."

"Oh, I guess not," he said with a laugh, "We can afford it, and
there's many who can't. It's going to be a hard winter on the poor.
Put up a few more packages, and I'll tie up some bags of potatoes!"

"I never saw such a man--never in all my born days!" exclaimed Miss
Carford, shaking her head. "He'd give away the roof over us if I
didn't watch him."

"What is he doing?" asked Bert.

"Oh, the same as he does every Christmas," said the sister-