Are n't they all worth while ? '' `` Of course they are , '' laughed Clorinda . `` Only , unfortunately , Christmas gifts ca n't be coined out of them . '' `` Did you ever try ? '' asked Aunt Emmy . `` Think out that question , too , in your thinking out , Clorinda . '' `` Well , I must say bye-bye and run home . I feel cheered up -- you always cheer people up , Aunt Emmy . How grey it is outdoors . I do hope we 'll have snow soon . Would n't it be jolly to have a white Christmas ? We always have such faded brown Decembers . '' Clorinda lived just across the road from Aunt Emmy in a tiny white house behind some huge willows . But Aunt Mary lived there too -- the only relative Clorinda had , for Aunt Emmy was n't really her aunt at all . Clorinda had always lived with Aunt Mary ever since she could remember . Clorinda went home and upstairs to her little room under the eaves , where the great bare willow boughs were branching athwart her windows . She was thinking over what Aunt Emmy had said about Christmas gifts and giving . `` I 'm sure I do n't know what she could have meant , '' pondered Clorinda . `` I do wish I could find out if it would help me any . I 'd love to remember a few of my friends at least .
There 's Miss Mitchell ... she 's been so good to me all this year and helped me so much XXXXX my studies .
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