To-night her face was very sober , and her pretty brown eyes very thoughtful as she stared at the fire and knit her brows , as if perplexed . She was not thinking of her old shoes , nor the empty closet , nor the boys ' ragged clothes just then . No ; she had a fine plan in her good little head , and was trying to discover how she could carry it out . You see , Christmas was coming in a week ; and she had set her heart on putting something in the children 's stockings , as the mother used to do , for while she lived things were comfortable . Now Tessa had not a penny in the world , and did n't know how to get one , for all the father 's earnings had to go for food , fire , and rent . ` If there were only fairies , ah ! how heavenly that would be ; for then I should tell them all I wish , and , pop ! behold the fine things in my lap ! ' said Tessa to herself . ' I must earn the money ; there is no one to give it to me , and I can not beg . But what can I do , so small and stupid and shy as I am ? I must find some way to give the little ones a nice Christmas . I must ! I must ! ' and Tessa pulled her long hair , as if that would help her think . But it did n't , and her heart got heavier and heavier ; for it did seem hard that in a great city full of fine things , there should be none for poor Nono , Sep , and little Speranza . Just as Tessa 's tears began to tumble off her eyelashes on to her brown cheeks , the cricket began to chirp . Of course , he did n't say a word ; but it really did seem as if he had answered her question almost as well as a fairy ; for , before he had piped a dozen shrill notes , an idea popped into Tessa 's head -- such a truly splendid idea that she clapped her hands and burst out laughing . ` I 'll do it ! I 'll do it !
if father will let me , ' she said to herself , smiling and nodding at the XXXXX .
Nono Sep Speranza Tessa brows course fire heart penny week