said Peter Benari tenderly , as he held his little daughter close , and gave her the good-night kiss . Tessa felt very rich as she crept under the faded counterpane , feeling as if she had received a lovely gift , and fell happily asleep with chubby Ranza in her arms , and the two rough black heads peeping out at the foot of the bed . She dreamed wonderful dreams that night , and woke in the morning to find real wonders before her eyes . She got up early , to see if the socks were all right , and there she found the most astonishing sight . Four socks , instead of three ; and by the fourth , pinned out quite elegantly was a little dress , evidently meant for her -- a warm , woollen dress , all made , and actually with bright buttons on it . It nearly took her breath away ; so did the new boots on the floor , and the funny long stocking like a grey sausage , with a wooden doll staring out at the top , as if she said , politely , ' A Merry Christmas , ma'am ! ' Tessa screamed and danced in her delight , and up tumbled all the children to scream and dance with her , making a regular carnival on a small scale . Everybody hugged and kissed everybody else , offered sucks of orange , bites of cake , and exchanges of candy ; every one tried on the new things , and pranced about in them like a flock of peacocks . Ranza skipped to and fro airily , dressed in her white socks and the red hood ; the boys promenaded in their little shirts , one with his creaking new shoes and mittens , the other in his gay cap and fine tippet ; and Tessa put her dress straight on , feeling that her father 's ` gold gown ' was not all a joke . In her long stocking she found all sorts of treasures ; for Tommo had stuffed it full of queer things , and his mother had made gingerbread into every imaginable shape , from fat pigs to full omnibuses . Dear me ! What happy little souls they were that morning ; and when they were quiet again , how like a fairy tale did Tessa 's story sound to them . Ranza was quite ready to be an angel ; and the boys promised to be marvellously good , if they were only allowed to see the tree at the ` palace , ' as they called the great house . Little Ranza was accepted with delight by the kind lady and her children , and Tessa learned the song quite easily . The boys were asked ; and , after a happy day , the young Italians all returned , to play their parts at the fine Christmas party . Mamma and Miss Rose drilled them all ; and when the folding-doors flew open , one rapturous ` Oh ! ' arose from the crowd of children gathered to the festival . I assure you , it was splendid ; the great tree glittering with lights and gifts ; and , on her invisible perch , up among the green boughs , sat the little golden-haired angel , all in white , with downy wings , a shining crown on her head , and the most serene satisfaction in her blue eyes , as she stretched her chubby arms to those below , and smiled her baby smile at them . Before any one could speak , a voice , as fresh and sweet as a lark 's , sang the Christmas Carol so blithely that every one stood still to hear , and then clapped till the little angel shook on her perch , and cried out , ` Be 'till , or me 'll fall ! ' How they laughed at that ; and what fun they had talking to Ranza , while Miss Rose stripped the tree , for the angel could not resist temptation , and amused herself by eating all the bonbons she could reach , till she was taken down , to dance about like a fairy in a white frock and red shoes .
Tessa and her friends had many presents ; the boys were perfect lambs , XXXXX played for the little folks to dance , and every one said something friendly to the strangers , so that they did not feel shy , in spite of shabby clothes .
Italians Tessa Tommo counterpane day folding-doors fourth fro gingerbread tippet