You know that , twins . '' Yes , the twins knew it and , cheered by Jimmy 's superior wisdom , their doubts passed away . There had been one terrible moment when Theodora had sighed and told them they must n't be too much disappointed if Santa Claus did not come this year because the crops had been poor , and he might n't have had enough presents to go around . `` That does n't make any difference to Santa Claus , '' scoffed Jimmy . `` You know as well as I do , Theodora Prentice , that Santa Claus is rich whether the crops fail or not . They failed three years ago , before Father died , but Santa Claus came all the same . Prob ` bly you do n't remember it , twins , 'cause you were too little , but I do . Of course he 'll come , so do n't you worry a mite . And he 'll bring my skates and your dolls . He knows we 're expecting them , Theodora , 'cause we wrote him a letter last week , and threw it up the chimney . And there 'll be candy and nuts , of course , and Mother 's gone to town to buy a turkey . I tell you we 're going to have a ripping Christmas . '' `` Well , do n't use such slangy words about it , Jimmy-boy , '' sighed Theodora . She could n't bear to dampen their hopes any further , and perhaps Aunt Elizabeth might manage it if the colt sold well . But Theodora had her painful doubts , and she sighed again as she looked out of the window far down the trail that wound across the prairie , red-lighted by the declining sun of the short wintry afternoon . `` Do people always sigh like that when they get to be sixteen ? '' asked Jimmy curiously . `` You did n't sigh like that when you were only fifteen , Theodora . I wish you would n't . It makes me feel funny -- and it 's not a nice kind of funniness either . ''
`` It 's a bad habit I 've got into lately , '' said XXXXX , trying to laugh .
'cause Claus Elizabeth Jimmy Mother Prentice Prob Theodora afternoon funniness