s," commented Fat. "Mike's a
friend of mine and I'm sorry he isn't going to have any Christmas."

"So am I," echoed Herbie, after a short silence.

Chuck said he'd hate to awaken Christmas morning and not find any
presents.

"Guess I've been mighty selfish wanting so many things," he thought.

Toad and Reddy, who had moved away from the other boys, were talking
together in low, excited whispers. Then, when the others went to the
window to look at the green outside, they slipped from the room and
hurried down the hall to the kitchen.

"Mother," called Toad from the doorway, "may we speak to you for a
minute?"

Mother Brown handed the bowl in which she had been stirring something
to the cook and crossed the room toward the boys, saying as she did so:

"I can only spare a few minutes to-day, Thomas, for I am very busy."

"But, Mother," exclaimed Toad, "we have a great idea!"

"It's a Christmas surprise party," chimed in Reddy, "for the O'Reillys,"
and together the two boys went on to tell Mrs. Brown of their plans.

"If we could just have the horse and sleigh to get around in," ventured
Toad. "Do you think Father would allow us to hitch old Meg to the big
sleigh?"

"It's a wonderful idea," agreed Mother Brown. "Suppose you ask him. But
how about presents for the three children? Have you thought of that?"

"If it were only after Christmas we could give away some of our new
things," sighed Toad.

"But would you give them away?" asked his mother. "Supposing you were
going to get a sled,--the kind you have been wanting," and she paused to
hear Toad's answer.

He thought very hard for a moment, then answered:

"Yes, because I always get a lot of things and it might be the only
present Mike would get."

"Well," remarked his mother, "I have bought you a sled, and you may give
it to him."

Reddy looked at Toad, as Mother Brown turned toward the kitchen.

"Are you sorry now that you said 'yes'?" he asked.

"No, I'm not," returned Toad.

"Well, I'll ask Mother to let me give them something new of mine, too,"
declared Reddy consolingly, putting his arm about Toad's shoulder.

CHAPTER VII

THE BOYS PLAN A SURPRISE

At two o'clock the sleigh was ready, for Father Brown had willingly
given the boys permission to use it that afternoon. It was planned to
have Chuck drive, for Toad, Reddy, Fat and Herbie expected to be too
busy calling at the different houses to gather the presents which they
hoped to