Now the rain did n't seem dismal , the wind cold , nor the way long , as they bought their gifts and hurried home , for kind words and the sweet magic of charity had changed all the world to them . I think the good spirits who fly about on Christmas Eve , to help the loving fillers of little stockings , smiled very kindly on Tessa as she brooded joyfully over the small store of presents that seemed so magnificent to her . All the goodies were divided evenly into three parts and stowed away in father 's three big socks , which hung against the curtain . With her three dollars , she had got a pair of shoes for Nono , a knit cap for Sep , and a pair of white stockings for Ranza ; to her she also gave the new hood ; to Nono the mittens ; and to Sep the tippet . ` Now the dear boys can go out , and my Ranza will be ready for the lady to see , in her nice new things , ' said Tessa , quite sighing with pleasure to see how well the gifts looked pinned up beside the bulging socks , which would n't hold them all . The little mother kept nothing for herself but the pleasure of giving everything away ; yet , I think , she was both richer and happier than if she had kept them all . Her father laughed as he had not done since the mother died , when he saw how comically the old curtain had broken out into boots and hoods , stockings and tippets . ' I wish I had a gold gown and a silver hat for thee , my Tessa , thou art so good . May the saints bless and keep thee always ! ' said Peter Benari tenderly , as he held his little daughter close , and gave her the good-night kiss . Tessa felt very rich as she crept under the faded counterpane , feeling as if she had received a lovely gift , and fell happily asleep with chubby Ranza in her arms , and the two rough black heads peeping out at the foot of the bed . She dreamed wonderful dreams that night , and woke in the morning to find real wonders before her eyes . She got up early , to see if the socks were all right , and there she found the most astonishing sight . Four socks , instead of three ; and by the fourth , pinned out quite elegantly was a little dress , evidently meant for her -- a warm , woollen dress , all made , and actually with bright buttons on it . It nearly took her breath away ; so did the new boots on the floor , and the funny long stocking like a grey sausage , with a wooden doll staring out at the top , as if she said , politely , ' A Merry Christmas , ma'am ! ' Tessa screamed and danced in her delight , and up tumbled all the children to scream and dance with her , making a regular carnival on a small scale . Everybody hugged and kissed everybody else , offered sucks of orange , bites of cake , and exchanges of candy ; every one tried on the new things , and pranced about in them like a flock of peacocks . Ranza skipped to and fro airily , dressed in her white socks and the red hood ; the boys promenaded in their little shirts , one with his creaking new shoes and mittens , the other in his gay cap and fine tippet ; and Tessa put her dress straight on , feeling that her father 's ` gold gown ' was not all a joke . In her long stocking she found all sorts of treasures ; for Tommo had stuffed it full of queer things , and his mother had made gingerbread into every imaginable shape , from fat pigs to full omnibuses . Dear me !
What happy little souls they were that XXXXX ; and when they were quiet again , how like a fairy tale did Tessa 's story sound to them .
Nono Ranza Tessa counterpane dollars fourth fro morning right tippets