In his room was a prettily painted plate , and this he filled with green and purple grapes , tucked a sentimental note underneath , and leaving it on her threshold , crept away as stealthily as a burglar . The house was very quiet when Mrs. Smith , the landlady , came up to turn off the gas . `` Well , upon my word , here 's fine doings , to be sure ! '' she said , when she saw the state of the upper hall . `` Now I would n't have thought it of Miss Kent , she is such a giddy girl , nor of Mr. Chrome , he is so busy with his own affairs . I meant to give those children each a cake to-morrow , they are such good little things . I 'll run down and get them now , as my contribution to this fine set out . '' Away trotted Mrs. Smith to her pantry , and picked out a couple of tempting cakes , shaped like hearts and full of plums . There was a goodly array of pies on the shelves , and she took two of them , saying , as she climbed the stairs again , `` They remembered the children , so I 'll remember them , and have my share of the fun . '' So up went the pies , for Mrs. Smith had not much to give , and her spirit was generous , though her pastry was not of the best . It looked very droll to see pies sitting about on the thresholds of closed doors , but the cakes were quite elegant , and filled up the corners of the towel handsomely , for the apron lay in the middle , with the oranges right and left , like two sentinels in yellow uniforms . It was very late when the flicker of a candle came up stairs , and a pale lady , with a sweet sad face , appeared , bringing a pair of red and a pair of blue mittens for her Dolly and Polly . Poor Mrs. Blake did have a hard time , for she stood all day in a great store that she might earn bread for the poor children who staid at home and took care of one another . Her heart was very heavy that night , because it was the first Christmas she had ever known without gifts and festivity of some sort . But Petkin , the youngest child , had been ill , times were very hard , the little mouths gaped for food like the bills of hungry birds , and there was no tender mate to help fill them . If any elves had been hovering about the dingy hall just then , they would have seen the mother 's tired face brighten beautifully when she discovered the gifts , and found that her little girls had been so kindly remembered . Something more brilliant than the mock diamonds in Miss Kent 's best earrings fell and glittered on the dusty floor as Mrs. Blake added the mittens to the other things , and went to her lonely room again , smiling as she thought how she could thank them all in a sweet and simple way . Her windows were full of flowers , for the delicate tastes of the poor lady found great comfort in their beauty . `` I have nothing else to give , and these will show how grateful I am , '' she said , as she rejoiced that the scarlet geraniums were so full of gay clusters , the white chrysanthemum stars were all out , and the pink roses at their loveliest . They slept now , dreaming of a sunny morrow as they sat safely sheltered from the bitter cold .
But that XXXXX was their last , for a gentle hand cut them all , and soon three pretty nosegays stood in a glass , waiting for dawn , to be laid at three doors , with a few grateful words which would surprise and delight the receivers , for flowers were rare in those hard-working lives , and kind deeds often come back to the givers in fairer shapes than they go .
Chrome Kent Smith brighten day festivity left night plums right