exclaimed Mr. Joseph heartily , `` if you do n't mind a shakedown by the kitchen fire for the night . My , Mrs. Ralston , '' as his wife helped her off with her things , `` but you are snowed up ! I 'll see to putting your horse away , Mr. Ralston . This way , if you please . '' When the two men came stamping into the house again Mrs. Ralston and Mrs. Joseph were sitting at the fire , the former with a steaming hot cup of tea in her hand . Mr. Ralston put the big basket he was carrying down on a bench in the corner . `` Thought I 'd better bring our Christmas flummery in , '' he said . `` You see , Mrs. Joseph , my brother has a big family , so we are taking them a lot of Santa Claus stuff . Mrs. Ralston packed this basket , and goodness knows what she put in it , but she half cleaned out my store . The eyes of the Lindsay youngsters will dance tomorrow -- that is , if we ever get there . '' Mrs. Joseph gave a little sigh in spite of herself , and looked wistfully at the heap of gifts on the corner table . How meagre and small they did look , to be sure , beside that bulgy basket with its cover suggestively tied down . Mrs. Ralston looked too . `` Santa Claus seems to have visited you already , '' she said with a smile . The Josephs laughed . `` Our Santa Claus is somewhat out of pocket this year , '' said Mr. Joseph frankly . `` Those are the little things the small folks here have made for each other . They 've been a month at it , and I 'm always kind of relieved when Christmas is over and there are no more mysterious doings . We 're in such cramped quarters here that you ca n't move without stepping on somebody 's secret . '' A shakedown was spread in the kitchen for the unexpected guests , and presently the Ralstons found themselves alone .
Mrs. Ralston went over to the Christmas table and XXXXX at the little gifts half tenderly and half pityingly .
bring exclaimed helped looked packed relieved said seems snowed tied