the cunning waterproof cloaks and a trunk--in
fact, everything that could be bought for a doll (and in these days
that means all articles of apparel, whether for use or ornament, that
could be bought for a real person); but Mrs. Page explained that she
would not need so many things in Mad River Village, so he was
contented with a trunk which he selected himself, while his mother and
Beth bought a little hat and cloak, shoes, stockings, and a pretty
sunshade--the dresses and underclothing Beth thought she could make
with the aid of her mother's seamstress, and she was very ambitious to
try.

Freddie thought the "small boy" and the "baby" ought to have presents
sent to them also; so he was allowed to select a drum, which he was
sure the boy "would like best of anything," and a pretty rattle and a
rubber cow for the baby.

It was a very busy season of the year for the Pages as well as for
other people, and Beth had many presents to think about, but she kept
the little dresses and clothes for Lucy's doll in mind and worked and
planned with a will all the time she could spare for them, and Mary,
the seamstress, sewed and sewed, and as she knew how to cut dresses as
well as make them, in about two weeks they had, as Beth said, "a
lovely fit out," even to a tiny muff and collar made from some bits of
fur mamma had and a sweet little hood made just like Beth's own.

Then Miss Doll was dressed in her travelling suit, muff and all, her
other dresses and clothing packed in the little trunk, and she herself
carefully tucked in on top, then Beth shut the cover and locked it,
tying the key to one of the buckles of the side strap--a box had been
procured and into it was packed the trunk, the drum, and the presents
for the baby, supplemented by Freddie with a ball which he had found
among his own playthings and two cornucopias of candy which he had
purchased himself, saying that "Christmas won't be Christmas if they
don't have some candy." Mrs. Page "filled in the nooks and corners
just to steady the whole," as she modestly said, with a pair of strong
warm mittens for Mr. Tillage, some magazines and books, several pairs
of long thick stockings which Freddie had outgrown but not worn out,
and over the whole a beautiful warm shawl.

Then Beth and Fred composed a letter together which Beth wrote and
they both signed:

DEAR LUCY TILLAGE:--The turkey brought the letter safely to
us and we wanted to be Santa Claus ourselves a