Nicholas.
"Pretty good, if you please, dear St. Nicholas," said Kit in a
very small voice.
"Children who always mind their mothers and fathers and
grandfathers and grandmothers?" said St. Nicholas, "and who do
not quarrel?"
Kat couldn't say anything at all, though the Saint looked right
at her! Vrouw Vedder spoke.
"I think, dear St. Nicholas, they are very good children," she
said.
"Then I will leave these for them and carry the rod along to some
bad little boy and girl, if I find one," said St. Nicholas.
"There seem to be very few about here. I haven't left a single
rod yet." And he handed one big package to Kit, and another to
Kat.
"Thank you," said Kit and Kat.
St. Nicholas smiled at them and waved his hand. Then the door
shut, and he was gone!
Kit and Kat dropped on their knees to pick up the cakes and
candies. They passed the cakes and candies around to each one.
Vrouw Vedder lighted the candles, and then they all gathered
around to see Kit and Kat open their bundles.
"You open yours first," said Vrouw Vedder to Kat.
Kat was so excited that she could hardly untie the string. When
she got the bundle open, there was a beautiful new Sunday dress
much prettier than the torn one had ever been! Oh, how pleased
Kat was! She hugged her motherand her grandmother and her father
and her grandfather.
"I just wish I could hug dear St. Nicholas, too," she said.
Then Kit opened his bundle; and there was a beautiful new
velveteen suit, with his very own silver buttons on it! It had
pockets in it! He put his hand in one pocket.
Pages:
65
66
67
68
69
70
71
72
73
74
75
76
77
78
79
80