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Then he pulled out a new pair of mittens Mother had knit the wrists and backs in a fancy stitch He pulled out an orange, and he pulled out a little package of dried figs And he thought that was all He thought no boy ever had a better Christmas

But in the toe of the sock there was still so ine what it was He pulled it out, and it was a jack-knife It had four blades Almanzo yelled and yelled He snapped all the blades open, sharp and shining, and he yelled, “Alice, look! Look, Royal! Lookee, lookee my jack-knife! Lookee my cap!”

Father’s voice came out of the dark bedroom and said:

“Look at the clock”

They all looked at one another Then Royal held up the candle and they looked at the tall clock Its hands pointed to half past three Even Eliza Jane did not knohat to do They had waked up Father and Mother, an hour and a half before tiet up

“What time is it?” Father asked

Almanzo looked at Royal Royal and Almanzo looked at Eliza Jane Eliza Jane sed, and opened her mouth, but Alice said:

“Merry Christmas, Father! Merry Christmas, Mother! It’s—it’s—thirty minutes to four, Father”

The clock said, “Tick! Tock! Tick! Tock! Tick!” Then Father chuckled

Royal opened the dampers of the heater, and Eliza Jane stirred up the kitchen fire and put the kettle on The house arot up, and they had a whole hour to spare There was time to enjoy the presents

Alice had a gold locket, and Eliza Jane had a pair of garnet earrings Mother had knitted new lace collars and black lace mitts for them both Royal had the silk ht he had the best presents of all It was a wonderful Christmas

Then Mother began to hurry, and to hurry everyone else There were the chores to do, the milk to skietables to be peeled, and the whole house must be put in order and everybody dressed up before the company came

The sun rushed up the sky Mother was everywhere, talking all the time, “Almanzo, wash your ears! Goodness mercy, Royal, don’t stand around underfoot! Eliza Jane, re them, and don’t leave so many eyes they can see to jump out of the pot Count the silver, Alice, and piece it out with the steel knives and forks The best bleached tablecloths are on the bottom shelf Mercy on us, look at that clock!”

Sleigh-bells ca up the road, and Mother slae her apron and pin on her brooch; Alice ran downstairs and Eliza Jane ran upstairs, both of the Mother to fold his cravat Then Uncle Wesley’s sleigh stopped with a last clash of bells

Al, and Father and Mother came behind him, as calm as if they had never hurried in their lives Frank and Fred and Abner and Mary tuh, all bundled up, and before Aunt Lindy had handed Mother the baby, Uncle Andrew’s sleigh was co The yard was full of boys and the house filled with hoopskirts The uncles stamped snow off their boots and unwound their mufflers