Now I 'll surprise her , and she shall have a good supper too . She is going to split wood , and I 'll fix it while she 's gone . ' So Tilly put down the old tea-pot , carefully poured out a part of the milk , and from her pocket produced a great , plummy bun , that one of the school-children had given her , and she had saved for her mother . A slice of the dry bread was nicely toasted , and the bit of butter set by for her put on it . When her mother came in there was the table drawn up in a warm place , a hot cup of tea ready , and Tilly and birdie waiting for her . Such a poor little supper , and yet such a happy one ; for love , charity , and contentment were guests there , and that Christmas eve was a blither one than that up at the great house , where lights shone , fires blazed , a great tree glittered , and music sounded , as the children danced and played . ` We must go to bed early , for we 've only wood enough to last over to-morrow . I shall be paid for my work the day after , and then we can get some , ' said Tilly 's mother , as they sat by the fire . ` If my bird was only a fairy bird , and would give us three wishes , how nice it would be ! Poor dear , he ca n't give me any thing ; but it 's no matter , ' answered Tilly , looking at the robin , who lay in the basket with his head under his wing , a mere little feathery bunch . ` He can give you one thing , Tilly , -- the pleasure of doing good . That is one of the sweetest things in life ; and the poor can enjoy it as well as the rich . ' As her mother spoke , with her tired hand softly stroking her little daughter 's hair , Tilly suddenly started and pointed to the window , saying , in a frightened whisper , -- ' I saw a face , -- a man 's face , looking in ! It 's gone now ; but I truly saw it . ' ` Some traveller attracted by the light perhaps . I 'll go and see . ' And Tilly 's mother went to the door . No one was there . The wind blew cold , the stars shone , the snow lay white on field and wood , and the Christmas moon was glittering in the sky . ` What sort of a face was it ? '
asked Tilly 's XXXXX , coming back . '
contentment daughter head mother place robin slice whisper wind wood