"But he does not write stories; so you need not be troubled about that." "He can write them if he chooses, and very clever ones too, I am certain. He may be encouraging me to go on just to find out how it will all end, but I am only one in a universe full of souls; and if others, many others, get benefited, there will be far greater gain than loss." "That is the true, brave spirit to have, and the only kind that will bring genuine happiness." "Now to return to our festival. Do you think cook will be willing to share her abundance with us?" "Go and ask her, I do not think she will disappoint you." I went directly to the large, cheery kitchen, a favorite haunt of mine of late. It was always so clean and homely, and cook was usually in a gracious mood and permitted me to assist in any of her culinary undertakings when I was so minded. Among my other enterprises I had an ambition to become a practical housekeeper in case I might some day be married to a poor man, and have a family to bake and brew for with my own hands. When I entered the kitchen I found her more than usually busy, with both Reynolds and Esmerelda pressed into the service. "Shall we ever get all your dainties eaten? Won't they spoil on your hands?" "I dare say some of them will; but Christmas time we expect a little to go to waste." "Don't you give away some?" I asked. "All that's asked for." "I am so glad to hear it. I want some ever so much." "What's up now?" she asked, scarcely with her accustomed deference. "I want so much to have a little treat for my friends, if you will only help. It all depends on you." "Why certainly; it's my place to cook for all the parties you choose to make. It's not my place to dictate how the victuals is to be used." "You do not understand me. It is not here that I wish to entertain my friends. Mr. Winthrop has given his permission, on condition you are willing." She was greatly mollified at this and responded heartily. "Of course I'm willing; and, bless me, there's plenty to give a good share to them that needs it; and I guess it's them you're wanting to give it to." "Thank you very, very much. Now you must come to my Christmas tree, and see how much pleasure you have been able to confer. Without your consent nothing would have been done." "Yes, I'll come and help you too, and you'll need me," she said, with much good humor. I did not wait long in the kitchen, so much now must be done. Alas, Christmas day was so near I could not celebrate my festival on that day; but another day might find us just as happy; and after all it would be "curdling" too much joy into one of the shortest of our days. I put on my wraps and went immediately to confer with Mrs. Blake. I found her, like every one else, in the midst of busy preparations for Christmas.