But he knew the minister would keep his word , and much against his will James set about earning money in his spare hours , lest the wood-box should get empty . He did all sorts of things , ran errands , took care of a neighbor 's cow , helped the old sexton dust and warm the church on Sundays , and in these ways got enough to buy fuel in small quantities . But it was hard work ; the days were short , the winter was bitterly cold , and precious time went fast , and the dear books were so fascinating , that it was sad to leave them , for dull duties that never seemed done . `` The minister watched him quietly , and seeing that he was in earnest helped him without his knowledge . He met him often driving the wood sleds from the forest , where the men were chopping and as James plodded beside the slow oxen , he read or studied , anxious to use every minute . ` The boy is worth helping , this lesson will do him good , and when he has learned it , I will give him an easier one , ' said the minister to himself , and on Christmas eve a splendid load of wood was quietly dropped at the door of the little house , with a new saw and a bit of paper , saying only , '' ` The Lord helps those who help themselves . ' `` Poor James expected nothing , but when he woke on that cold Christmas morning , he found a pair of warm mittens , knit by his mother , with her stiff painful fingers . This gift pleased him very much , but her kiss and tender look as she called him her ` good son , ' was better still . In trying to keep her warm , he had warmed his own heart , you see , and in filling the wood-box he had also filled those months with duties faithfully done . He began to see this , to feel that there was something better than books , and to try to learn the lessons God set him , as well as those his school-master gave . `` When he saw the great pile of oak and pine logs at his door , and read the little paper , he knew who sent it , and understood the minister 's plan ; thanked him for it , and fell to work with all his might . Other boys frolicked that day , but James sawed wood , and I think of all the lads in the town the happiest was the one in the new mittens , who whistled like a blackbird as he filled his mother 's wood-box . '' `` That 's a first rater ! '' cried Dan , who enjoyed a simple matter-of-face story better than the finest fairy tale ; `` I like that fellow after all . '' `` I could saw wood for you , Aunt Jo ! '' said Demi , feeling as if a new means of earning money for his mother was suggested by the story . `` Tell about a bad boy . I like them best , '' said Nan . `` You 'd better tell about a naughty cross-patch of a girl , '' said Tommy , whose evening had been spoilt by Nan 's unkindness . It made his apple taste bitter , his pop-corn was insipid , his nuts were hard to crack , and the sight of Ned and Nan on one bench made him feel his life a burden .
But there were no more stories from Mrs. XXXXX , for on looking down at Rob he was discovered to be fast asleep with his last corn firmly clasped in his chubby hand .
Demi Jo Nan Tommy cross-patch days months morning pop-corn unkindness