must excuse me!"

Miss Fidely sat in a thing like a child's go-cart on four wheels. Her
little withered feet clad in soft leather moccasins peeped out from
under her scant brown calico skirt. They could never have supported the
strong square body and powerful head, Calvin thought; she must have
spent her life in that cart; and at the thought a mist came over his
brown eyes. But he took the hard brown hand that was held out to him,
and shook it cordially.

"I am real pleased to make your acquaintance!" he said. "Nice weather
we're havin'; a mite cold, but 'tis more seasonable that way, to my
thinkin'."

"I was so afraid Mittie May wouldn't catch you!" Miss Fidely went on. "I
s'pose she's told you my misfortune, sir. I order my candy from a firm
in Tupham Centre; and I had a letter this mornin' statin' that they had
burned up and lost all their stock, and couldn't fill any orders. 'Twas
too late to order elsewhere, and I couldn't make enough for all
hands--thirty children I expect to-morrow, and some of 'em comin' from
nine or ten miles away--and what to do I didn't know; when all of a
sudden Mittie May thought of you. She lives on the next ro'd, not fur
from here, Mittie doos, and she helps me get the tree ready; don't you,
Mittie May? I don't know what I should do without her, I'm sure."

She smiled at Mittie May, who glowed with pride and pleasure. Calvin
thought he had seen only one smile brighter than Miss Fidely's.

"It did seem real providential," she went on, "if only she could catch
you, and I'm more than pleased she did. Here's my bags all ready," she
pointed to a neat pile that lay on a table beside her; "and if you've
got the goods to fill 'em, I guess we sha'n't need to do much
bargainin'. I've got the money ready too."

"I guess that's all right!" said Calvin, rising. "I'll bring my stock
right in, what's left of it, and you can take your pick. I've sold the
heft of it, but yet there's a plenty still to fill them bags twice't
over."

"Mittie May, it's time for you to go," said Miss Fidely. "Your Ma'll be
lookin' for you to help get supper. Mebbe you can run over to-night to
hang the bags, or first thing in the morning."

"I'll hang the bags!" said Calvin Parks.

"Oh!" said Miss Fidely. "You're real kind, but that's too much to ask,
isn't it?"

"I guess not!" said Calvin. "I guess I'd rather trim a Christmas Tree
than eat my supper any day in the week. You run along, Mittie May; I'll
tend to thi