I 've always known it , in a way , but I never realized it before . '' `` Blessing on Jean 's Christmas inspiration , '' said Nellie . `` But , girls , let us try to make it an all-the-year-round inspiration , I say . We can bring a little of our own sunshine into Miss Allen 's life as long as we live with her . '' `` Amen to that ! '' said Jean heartily . `` Oh , listen , girls -- the Christmas chimes ! '' And over all the beautiful city was wafted the grand old message of peace on earth and good will to all the world . A Christmas Mistake `` Tomorrow is Christmas , '' announced Teddy Grant exultantly , as he sat on the floor struggling manfully with a refractory bootlace that was knotted and tagless and stubbornly refused to go into the eyelets of Teddy 's patched boots . `` Ai n't I glad , though . Hurrah ! '' His mother was washing the breakfast dishes in a dreary , listless sort of way . She looked tired and broken-spirited . Ted 's enthusiasm seemed to grate on her , for she answered sharply : `` Christmas , indeed . I ca n't see that it is anything for us to rejoice over . Other people may be glad enough , but what with winter coming on I 'd sooner it was spring than Christmas . Mary Alice , do lift that child out of the ashes and put its shoes and stockings on . Everything seems to be at sixes and sevens here this morning . '' Keith , the oldest boy , was coiled up on the sofa calmly working out some algebra problems , quite oblivious to the noise around him . But he looked up from his slate , with his pencil suspended above an obstinate equation , to declaim with a flourish : `` Christmas comes but once a year , And then Mother wishes it was n't here . ''
`` I do n't , then , '' said Gordon , son number two , who was preparing his own noon lunch of bread and molasses at the table , and making an atrocious mess XXXXX crumbs and sugary syrup over everything .
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