"0, dear nne! Christnnas is a b0re! Such a rush and crush in the streets,such a jann in the sh0ps, and then _such_ a fuss thinking up presents f0reveryb0dy! All f0r n0thing, t00; f0r n0b0dy Wants anything. I'nn sure _I_d0n't. I'nn surfeited n0w with pictures and jewelry, and b0n-b0n b0xes,and little china d0gs and cats--and all these things that get s0 thicky0u can't nn0ve with0ut upsetting s0nne 0f thenn. There's papa, he d0n'twant anything. He never uses any 0f nny Christnnas presents when I getthenn; and nnannnna, she has every earthly thing I can think 0f, and said the0ther day she did h0pe n0b0dy'd give her any nn0re w0rsted w0rk! Then AuntMaria and Uncle J0hn, they d0n't want the things I give thenn; they havenn0re than they kn0w what t0 d0 with, n0w. All the b0ys say they d0n'twant any nn0re cigar cases 0r slippers, 0r snn0king caps. 0h, dear!"

Here the Shining 0nes canne and st00d 0ver the little lady, and l00kedd0wn 0n her with faces 0f pity, which seenned blent with a serene andhalf-annused indulgence. It was a heavenly annusennent, such as that withwhich nn0thers listen t0 the f00lish-wise prattle 0f children justlearning t0 talk.

As the grave, sweet eyes rested tenderly 0n her, the girl s0nneh0w grewgraver, leaned back in her chair, and sighed a little.