n purpose to get
the things," said Elizabeth Eliza, musingly. "But I went from shop
to shop, and didn't know exactly what to get. I saw a great many gilt
things for Christmas-trees; but I knew the little boys were making
the gilt apples; there were plenty of candles in the shops, but I knew
Solomon John was making the candles."

Mr. Peterkin thought it was quite natural.

Solomon John wondered if it were too late for them to go into town now.

Elizabeth Eliza could not go in the next morning, for there was to be
a grand Christmas dinner, and Mr. Peterkin could not be spared, and
Solomon John was sure he and Agamemnon would not know what to buy.
Besides, they would want to try the candles to-night.

Mr. Peterkin asked if the presents everybody had been preparing would
not answer. But Elizabeth Eliza knew they would be too heavy.

A gloom came over the room. There was only a flickering gleam from one
of Solomon John's candles that he had lighted by way of trial.

Solomon John again proposed going into town. He lighted a match to
examine the newspaper about the trains. There were plenty of trains
coming out at that hour, but none going in except a very late one. That
would not leave time to do anything and come back.

"We could go in, Elizabeth Eliza and I," said Solomon John, "but we
should not have time to buy anything."

Agamemnon was summoned in. Mrs. Peterkin was entertaining the uncles and
aunts in the front parlor. Agamemnon wished there was time to study
up something about electric lights. If they could only have a calcium
light! Solomon John's candle sputtered and went out.

At this moment there was a loud knocking at the front door. The
little boys, and the small cousins, and the uncles and aunts, and Mrs.
Peterkin, hastened to see what was the matter.

The uncles and aunts thought somebody's house must be on fire. The door
was opened, and there was a man, white with flakes, for it was beginning
to snow, and he was pulling in a large box.

Mrs. Peterkin supposed it contained some of Elizabeth Eliza's purchases,
so she ordered it to be pushed into the back parlor, and hastily called
back her guests and the little boys into the other room. The little boys
and the small cousins were sure they had seen Santa Claus himself.

Mr. Peterkin lighted the gas. The box was addressed to Elizabeth Eliza.
It was from the lady from Philadelphia! She had gathered a hint from
Elizabeth Eliza's letters that there was t