10 The First Real Christmas

CHAPTER 10 The First Real Christmas That winter, letters flew back and forth between Jasper and the Peppers. Jasper wrote to Mrs. Pepper as well. Remembering Jasper's wonderful stories about his many Christmases, Polly and Ben decided to make a real Christmas for the little Peppers. They told Mrs. Pepper their plan. To their great surprise, she agreed it was a fine idea.

"We must have a tree, just like Jasper's," Ben said. "We'll decorate it with candles and things so it looks just as elegant as can be!" Polly cried. "We'll have to make our plans after the little ones are asleep," Ben whispered. "Otherwise, they'll know, and it will spoil the surprise." Polly and Ben worked as hard as they could to come up with presents for the little ones and decorations for their first Christmas tree. Every night, after the younger children went to bed, Ben and Polly sat around the kitchen table with Mrs. Pepper. While she sewed by candlelight, they made ornaments out of colored paper. They sewed strings of popcorn and cranberries. Then they made presents for the children's stockings. Polly made a paper doll for Phronsie from the leftover bits of colored paper. Ben carved windmills and whistles for the boys and a little basket with a handle for Phronsie. Mrs.

Pepper sewed a pink dress and a little bonnet for Phronsie's baby doll. She knitted some mittens for Joel and Davie. Then she and Polly made taffy to put into the stockings, too. "We will have the best Christmas of anyone," Polly said joyfully as she looked at the growing pile of presents laid out on the table. "It's almost as much fun getting ready for Christmas as it is to have Christmas Day," Ben said as he carved away. Mrs. Pepper smiled an odd little smile. She'd had a secret letter from Jasper about Christmas, but she had not said a word to Ben and Polly. Jasper's plans would be their Christmas surprise. The weeks flew by, until it was only three days to Christmas. "Where should we put the tree?" Polly wondered. "We can't put it in the kitchen—the little ones will see it." "The storage room next to the house is the best place for it," Mrs. Pepper suggested.

Ben and Polly agreed. The next day, Mrs. Pepper told Joel and Davie and Phronsie that it was time to hang their Christmas stockings. Joel let out a whoop of delight. He and Davie turned the house upside down, looking for the biggest stockings they could find to hang over the fireplace. Phronsie carefully chose her brightest, reddest stocking to hang. "So Santa will know which one is mine," she said quietly. "Will Santa know which one is mine?" Joel worried. "Santa is very smart," Mrs. Pepper assured him. On Christmas Eve, everyone was so excited and the little ones were so full of questions, Polly was sure no one would get a wink of sleep. "Will Santa really come down the chimney?" Joel asked. "Will he be all covered with soot?" asked Davie.

"Will he bring something for my doll?" Phronsie asked with concern. "Yes, no, and yes!" Polly said, eager to get the little ones off to bed so she and Ben could fill their stockings before morning. "I'm going to stay up all night so I can see Santa," Joel vowed. "Me, too," Davie said. But soon enough, Joel and Davie nodded off, and Ben carried them into bed. After giving her red stocking a good night kiss, Phronsie crept into bed as well. As Polly tucked Phronsie in for the night, the little girl's eyes were happy and bright. "I wish I had something to give Santa," she whispered. Polly's heart filled with love. She covered Phronsie with kisses. "If you're a good girl, Phronsie, every day—that's the best present Santa could have." "Then I'll be good always, Polly!"

On Christmas morning, Polly called upstairs, "Merry Christmas!" Quick as a flash Joel, Davie, and Phronsie jumped out of their beds and headed straight for their stockings. "Santa did come!" Phronsie yelled as she spun around, hugging her very full red stocking. "Taffy!" Davie said, stuffing a piece into his mouth. "Oh, Davie! Candy for breakfast?" Mrs. Pepper exclaimed with a smile. "Candy's the best breakfast!" Joel added, munching on his own piece. The three little Peppers emptied their stockings. They laughed and smiled over each and every gift. "I wish every day was Christmas," Joel said,