“Well，yes，“saidSpindler，withaslighthesitation，“yesee，I\'mreckonin\'tohevakinderChristmasgatherin\'ofmy“——hewasabouttosay“folks，“butdismisseditfor“relations，“andfinallysettledupon“relatives“asbeingmorecorrectinapreacher\'shouse。
Mrs。Pricethoughtitaverygoodidea。Christmaswasthenaturalseasonforthefamilytogatherto“seewho\'shereandwho\'sthere，who\'sgettin\'onandwhoisn\'t，andwho\'sdeadandburied。Itwasluckyforthemwhoweresoplacedthattheycoulddosoandbejoyful。“HerinvinciblephilosophyprobablycarriedherpastanydangerousrecollectionsofthelonelygraveinKansas，andholdingupthestockingtothelight，sheglancedcheerfullyalongitsleveltoMr。Spindler\'sembarrassedfacebythefire。
“Well，Ican\'tsaymucheztothat，“respondedSpindler，stillawkwardly，“foryouseeIdon\'tknowmuchaboutitanyway。“
“Howlongsinceyou\'veseen\'em？“askedMrs。Price，apparentlyaddressingherselftothestocking。
Spindlergaveaweaklaugh。“Well，yousee，efitcomestothat，I\'veneverseen\'em！“