"When," faltered Aunt Judith from the doorway, "did you--do it?" "It must have been after midnight. I came in very quietly. The ride was long--I went to Matsville. You must have been in bed asleep--" Jimsy embarked upon a handspring of celebration. "Two trees!" he shouted, caution quite forgotten in his wild excitement, "two suits of clothes--two everything! Oh, my gosh, Specks ain't in it. I'm the Christmas kid!" and then in a panic he was on his feet again, his face hot and red. "Aunt Judith," he exclaimed, almost crying, "I'm awfully sorry--" Aunt Judith's tremulous laugh seemed tears and silver. "Never mind, dear. It's all right now. Abner," she swallowed bravely, "one of--one of Jimsy's Christmas trees is in the sewing-room. I--I'd like you to see it." [Illustration] [Illustration] VI THE TRIUMPH Specks reviewed the Christmas tree in the sitting-room after breakfast and looked upset. It was bigger than his own. "Got one downstairs, too," crowed Jimsy. "Uncle Ab," he added, "he sort o' wanted it to be awful Christmasy through the whole house, an'--an' Jiminy Crickets, Specks, it is!" "Uncle Ab--who's Uncle Ab?" "Uncle Ab Sawyer." Jimsy bristled. "What ye got to say about it?" "Nuthin'." "Did _you_ get _two_ trees, Specks?" "Naw. Hain't many folks did, I guess. 'Tain't nuthin' to crow about, anyway." "Huh! Thought ye said the Middletons was more Christmasy'n us." "I didn't." "Ye did." "I didn't." "Ye did, too, and I walloped ye fur it. I'll wallop ye again if ye say ye didn't." "Jimsy!" Aunt Judith's gentle voice put an end to controversy. An armistice was pledged. [Illustration] "Did ye get skates, Specks?" "Nope." "Gosh, I'm sorry fur that. I got two pairs. Mebbe--Aunt Judith?" "Yes, Jimsy?" "Would ye mebbe mind me givin' Specks a pair o' skates? Mr. Middleton he ain't so Christmasy as you an' Uncle Ab--" Specks swallowed hard and accepted this and the skates. But he could not forbear at least one shaft of triumph. "I got a sled, Jimsy!" "Huh!" said Jimsy. "So did I. Two of 'em." It was too much. The street urchin in Specks came to the fore in a mighty wave of envy. "Gawd!" he gulped. Jimsy glowered. "Hey!" he whispered fiercely "Hain't ye got no decency?" Specks blushed apology and departed. [Illustration] Later, Jimsy reviewed the Sawyer turkey with a reverential glisten in his eye. "Specks!" he yelled from the kitchen window. "Yi, Specksy!" "What d'ye want?" "Come over an' see the turkey." "Y'ain't got two, have ye?" demanded Specks with suspicion. "Naw," said Jimsy. "One's enuff. This un's bigger'n the turkey Pete Googan raffled off last Christmas eve."