But his eye kept turning to some of the `` nice little bundles '' that lay on his table , as if the story he had heard suggested how he might follow Miss Kent 's example . I rather think he would not have disturbed himself if he had not heard the story told in such a soft voice , with a pair of bright eyes full of pity looking into his , for little girls were not particularly interesting to him , and he was usually too tired to notice the industrious creatures toiling up and down stairs on various errands , or sewing at the long red seams . Now that he knew something of their small troubles , he felt as if it would please Miss Kent , and be a good joke , to do his share of the pretty work she had begun . So presently he jumped up , and , opening his parcels , took out two oranges and two bunches of grapes , then he looked up two silver half-dollars , and stealing into the hall , laid the fruit upon the towel , and the money atop of the oranges . This addition improved the display very much , and Mr. Chrome was stealing back , well pleased , when his eye fell on Miss Kent 's door , and he said to himself , `` She too shall have a little surprise , for she is a dear , kind-hearted soul . '' In his room was a prettily painted plate , and this he filled with green and purple grapes , tucked a sentimental note underneath , and leaving it on her threshold , crept away as stealthily as a burglar . The house was very quiet when Mrs. Smith , the landlady , came up to turn off the gas . `` Well , upon my word , here 's fine doings , to be sure ! '' she said , when she saw the state of the upper hall . `` Now I would n't have thought it of Miss Kent , she is such a giddy girl , nor of Mr. Chrome , he is so busy with his own affairs . I meant to give those children each a cake to-morrow , they are such good little things . I 'll run down and get them now , as my contribution to this fine set out . '' Away trotted Mrs. Smith to her pantry , and picked out a couple of tempting cakes , shaped like hearts and full of plums . There was a goodly array of pies on the shelves , and she took two of them , saying , as she climbed the stairs again , `` They remembered the children , so I 'll remember them , and have my share of the fun . '' So up went the pies , for Mrs. Smith had not much to give , and her spirit was generous , though her pastry was not of the best . It looked very droll to see pies sitting about on the thresholds of closed doors , but the cakes were quite elegant , and filled up the corners of the towel handsomely , for the apron lay in the middle , with the oranges right and left , like two sentinels in yellow uniforms . It was very late when the flicker of a candle came up stairs , and a pale lady , with a sweet sad face , appeared , bringing a pair of red and a pair of blue mittens for her Dolly and Polly . Poor Mrs. Blake did have a hard time , for she stood all day in a great store that she might earn bread for the poor children who staid at home and took care of one another . Her heart was very heavy that night , because it was the first Christmas she had ever known without gifts and festivity of some sort . But Petkin , the youngest child , had been ill , times were very hard , the little mouths gaped for food like the bills of hungry birds , and there was no tender mate to help fill them .
If any elves had been hovering about the dingy XXXXX just then , they would have seen the mother 's tired face brighten beautifully when she discovered the gifts , and found that her little girls had been so kindly remembered .
Mr. bundles contribution display doors hall middle plate room times