joel protested up to the very last that he couldn't go to see the big lady in the black silk coat.

"but maybe she won't have it on," said david, who had been anxiously hanging on joel's every word, and surveying his round countenance in fear. supposing joel shouldn't really go! this would be worse than all, and david clasped and unclasped his hands nervously.

"of course she won't have it on!" exclaimed polly, briskly. "why, the very idea, she wouldn't wear that in the house!"

"now you see, joel," cried david, much relieved, and his face brightening, "she won't, really, for polly says so."

"well, you've got to go anyway," declared ben, in a downright way there was no mistaking. "so say no more, joe, but get your cap."

the other pepper children were all in a bunch in the wide hall revolving around joel, who felt, as long as he postponed getting his coat and cap, he was surely safe from making the awful expedition. but now, seeing ben's blue eyes upon him, he set out for the closet in the back hall where the boys' outer garments were kept, grumbling at every step.

"o dear me! this is too dreadful for anything," sighed polly, sinking down on the last step of the stairs. when phronsie saw her do this, she hurried over, and snuggled up in her fur-trimmed coat as close as she could get to her side.

"i wish jasper was home," said ben, with a long breath, and going across to stand in front of the two.

"so we wish all the time," said polly, "but then, he can't come till friday, and that's just forever."

little david, left alone, thought the best thing he could do would be to run after joel. so he precipitated himself upon that individual, who, just knocking down his cap from its hook, was beginning to prowl around the floor in the corner of the closet.

"can't find it," growled joel, knocking off more things in his irritation.

"oh, let me!" cried david, delighted to help. "let me, joel; i'll get it!"

"you keep off," cried joel, lifting a hot, red face; "i'll get it myself. and i won't go to see that old woman!" he declared savagely.

"oh, yes, you must, joe!" cried david, in alarm.

"i won't, i won't, i won't!" declared joel, feeling with each repetition of the word a happy independence.

"yes, indeed, the children have gone," a voice suddenly proclaimed above the stairs, as somebody opened the door and came out into the upper hall. "yes, mrs. whitney, they have gone to mrs. van ruypen's."

"it's mamsie," gasped david, clutching joel's shoulders, who ducked back into his corner so suddenly that they both went down in a little heap.

"did she hear?" gasped joel, holding his breath for the answer.

"i don't believe so," said david, when he could extricate himself from joel sufficiently, who now grasped him by both hands in a way very uncomfortable for conversation. "no, i don't really believe she did, joel, 'cause she said we'd gone."

"she'll hear us now, anyway," said joel, thrust into the depths of gloom, his independence completely deserting him; "what'll we do?"

little david found his feet and tiptoed out to listen under the stairs. "she's going into her room," he announced in a whisper, coming back to the closet. "come, joey, do hurry."

so joel picked up his cap and crammed it on his head, and stepped out of the closet, but he had a very gloomy air when the two boys presented themselves in the front hall.

"o there! now you see," said polly to ben, quite in despair, "just how very dreadful it's all going to be, when joel goes with such a face."

"well, come on," said ben, setting his lips tightly together. so polly and phronsie got off from the stair, and if the expedition was not begun in hilarity, it was at least started.

but when they reached the big house of mrs. van ruypen, that loomed up across the square like a heavy, dark brown fortress, the situation was much worse.

"i'm not going in," declared joel, all his terrors returning, and he planted his feet firmly on the pavement, determined not to go up the first step. how it was done, he never knew, but the next moment he was at the top of the flight under ben's hands, who released him enough to ring the bell, and the butler answering the summons, joel was really the first person to enter, which he did with a bound, as if extremely eager to get in.

and then, it was all like a dream! they were ushered into a reception room, high and dark and gloomy, and told to take off their things, for madam would receive them upstairs. in the excitement of it all, polly, while undoing phronsie's coat and taking off her bonnet, forgot all about joel, and it wasn't really until after they had mounted the long stairs that she had the first thought about him. and then, o dear me! there stood madam van ruypen, with a long white hand, fairly blazing with rings, outstretched to welcome them.

"where's the other boy?" she demanded, looking over the group.

"he came," said polly, faintly, growing quite scarlet at such dreadful manners in one of her family, for which she felt responsible. "he really did, ma'am."

"impossible!" exclaimed madam van ruypen; "you can see for yourself he's not here," and her face fell.

ben said never a word, but dashed down the long flight. there was joel, the picture of gloom, on one of the big chairs in the reception room. he had run back, after ben supposed that he was at his heels, and found the only refuge he could think of.

"you're a nice boy," said ben, picking him off from his chair. "now march, joe," and he kept him well in front of him; and at last, there he was, and madam van ruypen had taken his hand. but he didn't look at her.

"well, at last you are all here," she was saying; "now i'm going to tell you what i wanted you for."

no one of the five little peppers appeared to breathe, except phronsie, who chirped out, "oh, we've come all this way to see you!"

"yes, yes, i know," said madam van ruypen, who was vastly pleased at that, and she nodded her head, that had a ponderous affair of lace and jet upon it, down toward phronsie; "but there was something i especially wanted of you, and i'll tell it in one word. you must choose the toys i'm going to send to some poor children." without another word, she turned and swung the door wide to another room, and there, before their entranced eyes, was toyland!

joel took one look, and howled out, "oh, i will; let me; let me!" bounding in.

"so you shall," said madam van ruypen, laughing heartily. "there, get in there, all of you, and set to work."

there was no need to tell them this, and they were soon running about, not pausing long in any spot, for the attractions overflowed on tables and chairs, and even the carpet appeared to be covered with the best specimens of toys from all the shops in town. but phronsie went directly over and sat down in front of a big doll, and gazed at her without a word.

"oh, it's just like gallagher's," cried polly, flying about with sparkling eyes, and she clasped her hands. "oh, what richness!"

"hoh, it's better than gallagher's," retorted joel, in scorn, who had always thought that shop was the very finest place imaginable. "dave, here's the steam-engine, the very one!" he cried, spying it in a corner.

madam van ruypen laughed again, and this time it seemed as if she were not going to stop. and pretty soon the whole room looked as if santa claus himself had been there with his load, while as for the babel of voices,—well, it was exactly like a flock of blackbirds all chattering together.

"you said they were going to poor children," said polly, at last, flying up to the tall figure that now it seemed as if they had known all their lives. "oh, do tell us about it."

"so i will." madam van ruypen swept off the articles from a big easy-chair, preparatory to sitting down.

"let me!" said ben, coming up in his slow way. but the toys were half off, and polly had gathered up the rest, and the big figure was already in the chair.

"you see," she began—

"oh, would you please wait?" begged polly, in great distress, looking over across the room where joel and david were deep in the charms of some mechanical toy.

"yes, to be sure," said madam van ruypen, good naturedly, while polly ran over to them. "boys, come!" she cried hurriedly.

"something's the matter with this pig," said joel, not looking at her, and fussing with the animal in question.

"well, put it down," said polly, impatiently. "she's going to tell us what she wants us to do."

"then dave'll get my pig," said joel, with one eye askance at that individual.

"oh, no, he won't touch it; will you, davie?" said polly. "do put it down, joe, and come along."

"no, i won't," said david, "touch it a single bit." so joel laid the pig carefully down, and the two boys hurried after polly.

madam van ruypen now began again.

"phronsie ought to hear," said joel, as he crowded up.

"hush," said ben, looking over at her where she still sat absorbed in the big doll; "you let her be, joel, and keep still."

"i have had so much trouble over every christmas," said madam van ruypen, proceeding briskly, "selecting presents for some children i happen to know about, who ought to have them, that really i sometimes wish there wasn't any christmas."

wish there wasn't any christmas! every one of the peppers who heard those direful words tumbled back in dismay and gazed at her in amazement.

"i really did, but i don't now!" madam van ruypen drew a long breath, then she laughed again. "well, here we are, and this christmas i mean to have an easy time, for i'm not to select a single thing myself, but put all the responsibility on you young people."

"do you really mean," cried polly pepper, crowding up quite closely, with flushed cheeks, "that we can pick out the toys and things for you to give to your poor children? oh, do you mean it?"

"to be sure, bless you, yes; why, that is just why i got you over here, and what i've had this room turned into a toy-shop for." she waved her long, white hands over at the array.

"oh, oh, joel," polly seized the arm next to her and gave it a little tweak, "do begin, for she wants us to pick out the things she is to send to the poor children. i'm going to choose that work-box, and that backgammon board, and—" and polly ran off and was deep in a dozen things at once.

"hoh, i'm not," said joel, who couldn't bear backgammon; "i'm going to choose my pig, when i fix him so he'll squeak, and my steam-engine. yes, sir! that's the best of all."

and immediately the entire room was in a bustle.

ben turned off with the others, but presently came slowly back to stand a minute at madam van ruypen's chair, where she sat with folded hands.

"well, what is it?" she asked, looking up into his face.

"were you picking out toys for the poor children when we saw you yesterday?" asked ben, looking at her steadily.

"dear me, yes; what do you suppose could have induced me to go into such a mob?" cried madam van ruypen.

"oh!" said ben, then he turned back and set to work on doing what he could to pick out the things he should want if he were really a poor boy, not likely to get presents in any other way.

but the nicest of all things, so he thought,—thick boots, mittens, and fur tippets to keep out the cold,—were not there, and he stifled a sigh, and gave his mind to do the best he could under the circumstances.

"something is the matter, i see." he didn't know it, but there the old lady was, close by his side, and the next words showed clearly that she had discovered what was on his mind.

"out with it, ben,—for that's your name, i believe."

"yes," said ben, "it is."

"well, you might as well tell me, for i see very plainly that you don't think i've had the right things sent up from the stores. what would you send to poor children for their christmas?"

"i think a boy would like a pair of boots," said ben, slowly; then he came to the conclusion that he might as well tell the whole, "or a thick coat, or some mittens, and a tippet."

"but those wouldn't be christmas presents; those are everyday things," said the old lady, sharply.

"they wouldn't be his everyday things," said ben, sturdily.

"oh, perhaps that is so," said madam van ruypen, thoughtfully. "well, let us see." she took up some books, whirled the pages a minute, to give herself time to think, then she pushed them all away impatiently. "you go on, and choose what you think some boys would like out of the things that are here, as we haven't any clothes among them," then she turned away, and swept back into her seat. and ben, feeling very sure that the wrong thing had been said by him, set to work, as best he might, to do as she wanted.

when the task was over, it seemed as if all the toys and gay articles had been chosen, every one!

"they are all perfectly beautiful," sighed polly, "and we can't leave any out."

"so i am to send them all," said madam van ruypen, much pleased to think that her experiment in having the things sent up was so approved, and looking around at them all.

"oh, yes, yes!" they cried, joel especially vociferating that not a single one was to be omitted. now that he had discovered the weak part in the pig's voice, and had fixed it to his satisfaction, everything was all right.

"please give her to the poor child," begged phronsie, who had the whole thing explained to her by polly, and coming up with very pink cheeks to hold as high as she could the big doll. "oh, do, please do, and give it right away."

"oh, i shall not give it," said madam van ruypen, decidedly.

a quiver came into phronsie's voice and her lip drooped, and she looked as if she were going to cry. "please," she began.

"santa claus is going to take it to her," said the old lady, making haste to explain when she saw phronsie's face. "don't you be afraid, child; the poor little girl will get her doll."

"oh, then i'm glad," said phronsie, beginning to smile. and two little tears that were just starting out determined to go back again. then she laughed gleefully. "polly, polly," she cried in great excitement, "the big lady is going to take it to the poor little girl; she is, polly, she said so."

"i shan't take it," said madam van ruypen, nodding over to polly; "the little girl won't know it's from me, but she will have it all the same."

"shan't you tell her you sent it?" demanded joel, who had caught the words, and whirling around suddenly; "shan't you tell her about any of the things?" waving his hands in all directions.

"of course not," declared madam van ruypen. "dear me, not for the world, joel, would i have them know where the things come from. the presents all go from santa claus."

"oh!" said joel.

"and now you don't know—you can't even guess," said madam van ruypen, "what a load you have taken off my mind by coming here to help me."

"have we?" cried polly, with glistening eyes.

"oh, so much!" declared the old lady.

"i haven't," said joel; "i've only had a good time," and patting his steam-engine lovingly. then he set it off once more. "whee,—whiz,—see her go!" he cried.

"stop, joey, we're all through," said polly.

"and it's time to go," said ben.

"and send 'em to-night, do," said joel, deserting his engine abruptly to march up to the old lady.

"oh, joel!" cried polly, much ashamed.

"and tell the boy who gets the pig to turn him upside down when the squeak won't come," said joel, nowise abashed.

"come on, joe," said ben, picking his sleeve.

"oh, wait a moment, ben," said madam van ruypen, laying a detaining hand on his arm, as the others said good-by and filed downstairs to get coats and hats on. "i think, myself, it might be advisable to add a few things to wear to these presents, and i want you to go to-morrow afternoon with me to choose them. will you?"

and ben said "yes," quite overwhelmed with the thought. he was actually going shopping with madam van ruypen!