Both children were getting excited , for the various pleasures of the day had been rather too much for them , and there is no knowing but they would have added the sad surprise of a quarrel to the pleasant ones of the day , if a cheerful whistle had not been heard , as Ralph came in to light the candles and give the last artistic touches to the room . `` Well , young folks , how goes it ? Had a merry time so far ? '' he asked , as he fixed the steps and ran up with a lighted match in his hand . `` Very nice , thank you , '' answered a prim little voice from the dusk below , for only the glow of the fire filled the room just then . Jack said nothing , and two red sulky faces were hidden in the dark , watching candle after candle sputter , brighten , and twinkle , till the trembling shadows began to flit away like imps afraid of the light . `` Now he will see my face , and I know it is cross , '' thought Jill , as Ralph went round the last circle , leaving another line of sparks among the hemlock boughs . Jack thought the same , and had just got the frown smoothed out of his forehead , when Frank brought a fresh log , and a glorious blaze sprung up , filling every corner of the room , and dancing over the figures in the long chairs till they had to brighten whether they liked it or not . Presently the bell began to ring and gay voices to sound below : then Jill smiled in spite of herself as Molly Loo 's usual cry of `` Oh , dear , where is that child ? '' reached her , and Jack could not help keeping time to the march Ed played , while Frank and Gus marshalled the procession . `` Ready ! '' cried Mrs. Minot , at last , and up came the troop of eager lads and lasses , brave in holiday suits , with faces to match . A unanimous `` O , o , o ! '' burst from twenty tongues , as the full splendor of the tree , the room , and its inmates , dawned upon them ; for not only did the pretty Christ-child hover above , but Santa Claus himself stood below , fur-clad , white-bearded , and powdered with snow from the dredging-box . Ralph was a good actor , and , when the first raptures were over he distributed the presents with such droll speeches , jokes , and gambols , that the room rang with merriment , and passers-by paused to listen , sure that here , at least , Christmas was merry . It would be impossible to tell about all the gifts or the joy of the receivers , but every one was satisfied , and the king and queen of the revels so overwhelmed with little tokens of good-will , that their beds looked like booths at a fair . Jack beamed over the handsome postage-stamp book which had long been the desire of his heart , and Jill felt like a millionaire , with a silver fruit-knife , a pretty work-basket , and oh ! -- coals of fire on her head ! -- a ring from Jack . A simple little thing enough , with one tiny turquoise forget-me-not , but something like a dew-drop fell on it when no one was looking , and she longed to say , `` I 'm sorry I was cross ; forgive me , Jack . ''
But it could not be done then , so she turned to admire Merry 's bed-shoes , the pots of pansies , hyacinths , and geranium which Gus and his sisters sent for her window garden , Molly 's queer Christmas pie , and the zither XXXXX promised to teach her how to play upon .
Ed Frank Gus Loo dredging-box fire first forget-me-not gambols hemlock