they did not earn much, for
every one seemed in a hurry, and the noise of many sleigh-bells drowned
the music. Slowly they made their way up to the great squares where the
big houses were, with fine ladies and pretty children at the windows.
Here Tessa sung all her best songs, and Tommo played as fast as his
fingers could fly; but it was too cold to have the windows open, so the
pretty children could not listen long, and the ladies tossed out a
little money, and soon went back to their own affairs.

All the afternoon the two friends wandered about, singing and playing,
and gathering up their small harvest. At dusk they went home, Tessa so
hoarse she could hardly speak, and so tired she fell asleep over her
supper. But she had made half a dollar, for Tommo divided the money
fairly, and she felt rich with her share. The other days were very much
like this; sometimes they made more, sometimes less, but Tommo always
'went halves;' and Tessa kept on, in spite of cold and weariness, for
her plans grew as her earnings increased, and now she hoped to get
useful things, instead of candy and toys alone.

On the day before Christmas she made herself as tidy as she could, for
she hoped to earn a good deal. She tied a bright scarlet handkerchief
over the old hood, and the brilliant color set off her brown cheeks and
bright eyes, as well as the pretty black braids of her hair. Tommo's
mother lent her a pair of boots so big that they turned up at the toes,
but there were no holes in them, and Tessa felt quite elegant in whole
boots. Her hands were covered with chilblains, for she had no mittens;
but she put them under her shawl, and scuffled merrily away in her big
boots, feeling so glad that the week was over, and nearly three dollars
safe in her pocket. How gay the streets were that day! how brisk every
one was, and how bright the faces looked, as people trotted about with
big baskets, holly-wreaths, and young evergreens going to blossom into
splendid Christmas trees!

'If I could have a tree for the children, I'd never want anything again.
But I can't; so I'll fill the socks all full, and be happy,' said Tessa,
as she looked wistfully into the gay stores, and saw the heavy baskets
go by.

'Who knows what may happen if we do well?' returned Tommo, nodding
wisely, for he had a plan as well as Tessa, and kept chuckling over it
as he trudged through the mud. They did _not_ do well somehow, for every
one seemed so full of their own