Poor bird ! Give it some of your warm bread and milk . ' ` Why , mother , what a big bowlful ! I 'm afraid you gave me all the milk , ' said Tilly , smiling over the nice , steaming supper that stood ready for her . ` I 've had plenty , dear . Sit down and dry your wet feet , and put the bird in my basket on this warm flannel . ' Tilly peeped into the closet and saw nothing there but dry bread . ` Mother 's given me all the milk , and is going without her tea , 'cause she knows I 'm hungry . Now I 'll surprise her , and she shall have a good supper too . She is going to split wood , and I 'll fix it while she 's gone . ' So Tilly put down the old tea-pot , carefully poured out a part of the milk , and from her pocket produced a great , plummy bun , that one of the school-children had given her , and she had saved for her mother . A slice of the dry bread was nicely toasted , and the bit of butter set by for her put on it . When her mother came in there was the table drawn up in a warm place , a hot cup of tea ready , and Tilly and birdie waiting for her . Such a poor little supper , and yet such a happy one ; for love , charity , and contentment were guests there , and that Christmas eve was a blither one than that up at the great house , where lights shone , fires blazed , a great tree glittered , and music sounded , as the children danced and played . ` We must go to bed early , for we 've only wood enough to last over to-morrow . I shall be paid for my work the day after , and then we can get some , ' said Tilly 's mother , as they sat by the fire . ` If my bird was only a fairy bird , and would give us three wishes , how nice it would be ! Poor dear , he ca n't give me any thing ; but it 's no matter , ' answered Tilly , looking at the robin , who lay in the basket with his head under his wing , a mere little feathery bunch . ` He can give you one thing , Tilly , -- the pleasure of doing good . That is one of the sweetest things in life ; and the poor can enjoy it as well as the rich . '
As her mother spoke , with her tired hand softly stroking her little daughter 's hair , XXXXX suddenly started and pointed to the window , saying , in a frightened whisper , -- ' I saw a face , -- a man 's face , looking in !
Mother Poor Tilly blither bowlful fire guests school-children table tea-pot