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will you clean them?”

      Bert did so, and Freddie and Flossie sat down to watch the process of cake-making, being assured that they should have the first slices if the cake was a success.

      Nan had watched cake-making many times, so she knew exactly how to go to work. Bert was a good helper, and soon the batter was ready for the oven. The fire had been started up, and now Nan put the batter in the cake tin.

      The children waited impatiently while the cake was baking. Nan gave Freddie another cleaning, and Bert cleaned up the pantry and the kitchen floor. The flour had made a dreadful mess and the cleaning process was only half-successful.

      “’Most time for that cake to be done, isn’t it?” questioned Bert, after a quarter of an hour had passed.

      “Not quite,” answered Nan.

      Presently she opened the oven door and tried the cake by sticking a broom whisp into it. The flour was just a bit sticky and she left the cake in a little longer.

      When it came out it certainly looked very nice. The top was a golden brown and had raised beautifully. The cake was about a foot in diameter and Nan was justly proud of it.

      “Wished you had put raisins in it,” said Freddie. “Raisins are beautiful.”

      “No, I like plain cake the best,” said Bert.

      “I like chocolate,” came from Flossie.

      “And I like layer cake, with currant jelly in between,” said Nan. “But I didn’t dare to open any jelly without asking mamma.”

      “Let us surprise her with the cake,” said Bert.

      “Want cake now,” protested Freddie. “Don’t want to wait ’t all!”

      But he was persuaded to wait, and the cake was hidden away in the dining-room closet until the hour for the evening meal.

      When Dinah came home she noticed the mussed-up kitchen, but Nan begged of her to keep quiet.

      “All right, honey,” said the colored cook. “But I know youse been a-bakin’—I kin spell it in de air.”

      When they sat down to the evening meal all of the children produced the cake in great triumph.

      “Oh, Nan, a real cake!” cried Mrs. Bobbsey. “How nice it looks!”

      “We’ve got some real housekeepers around here,” said Mr. Bobbsey. “I’ll have to try that sure.”

      When the cake was cut all ate liberally of it. They declared it just right and said it could not be better. Even Dinah was tickled.

      “Couldn’t do no better maself,” she declared. “Bymeby Dinah will be cut out of a job—wid Miss Nan a-doin’ ob de bakin’.”

      “No, Dinah, you shall stay even if I do do the baking,” answered Nan; and went to bed feeling very happy.

      CHAPTER XIV

      Christmas

      As the time for Christmas drew shorter all of the Bobbsey children wondered what Santa Claus would bring them and what they would receive from their relatives at a distance.

      Freddie and Flossie had made out long lists of the things they hoped to get. Freddie wished a fireman’s suit with a real trumpet, a railroad track with a locomotive that could go, and some building blocks and picture books. Flossie craved more dolls and dolls’ dresses, a real trunk with a lock, fancy slippers, a pair of rubber boots, and some big card games.

      “All I want is a set of furs,” said Nan, not once but many times. “A beautiful brown set, just like mamma’s.”

      “And all I want is some good story books, some games, a new pocket-knife, a big wagon, and some money,” said Bert.

      “Mercy, you don’t want much, Bert,” cried Nan. “How much money—a thousand dollars?”

      “I want money, too,” piped in Freddie. “Want to start a bank account just like papa’s.”

      By dint of hard saving Bert and Nan had accumulated two dollars and ten cents between them, while Freddie and Flossie had each thirty-five cents. There was a wonderful lot of planning between the twins, and all put their money together, to buy papa and mamma and Dinah and Sam some Christmas presents. Freddie and Flossie had not yet purchased the cologne and handkerchief before mentioned, and now it was decided to get Mr. Bobbsey a new cravat, Mrs. Bobbsey a flower in a pot, Dinah a fancy apron, and Sam a pair of gloves. Nan and Bert made the purchases which, after being duly inspected by all, were hidden away in the garret storeroom.

      As the time for Christmas came on Flossie and Freddie grew very anxious, wanting to know if Santa Claus would be sure to come. Flossie inspected the chimney several times.

      “It’s a dreadfully small place and very dirty,” said she. “I am afraid Santa Claus won’t be able to get down with a very big load. And some of his things will get all mussed up.”

      “Santa Claus can spirit himself wherever he wants to, dear,” said Mrs. Bobbsey, with a quiet smile.

      “What do you mean by spirit himself, mamma?”

      “Never mind now, Flossie; you’ll understand that when you grow older.”

      “Does mamma mean a ghost?” asked Flossie, later on, of Nan.

      “No, Flossie; she means the part of a person that lives but can’t be seen.”

      “Oh, I know,” cried the child, brightening. “It’s just like when a person is good. Then they say it’s the spirit of goodness within him. I guess it’s the good spirit of Santa Claus that can’t be seen. But we can feel it, can’t we? and that’s what’s best.”

      On the day before Christmas the sitting-room door was closed and locked, so that none of the children might enter the room. Freddie was very anxious to look through the keyhole, but Bert told him that wouldn’t be fair, so he stayed away.

      “We are to hang up our stockings tonight,” said Nan. “And mamma says we must go to bed early, too.”

      “That’s to give Santa Claus a chance to get around,” said Freddie. “Papa said so. He said Santa Claus had his hands more than full, with so many boys and girls all over the world to take care of.”

      “Santa Claus must be a twin, just like you and me,” said Flossie. “Maybe he’s a twin a hundred times over.”

      At this Freddie roared. “What a funny twin that would be—with each one having the same name!”

      The stockings were hung up with great care, and Freddie and Flossie made up their minds to stay awake and watch Santa Claus at his work.

      “Won’t say a word when he comes,” said the little boy. “Just peek out at him from under the covers.” But alas! long before Santa Claus paid his visit that Christmas Eve both Freddie and Flossie were in dreamland, and so were Bert and Nan.

      It was Flossie who was the first awake in the morning. For the moment after she opened her eyes and sat up she could not remember why she had awakened thus early. But it was for some reason, she was sure of that.

      “Merry Christmas!” she burst out, all at once, and the cry awoke Freddie. “Merry Christmas!” he repeated. “Merry Christmas, ev’rybody!” he roared out, at the top of his lungs.

      The last call awoke Nan and Bert, and before long all were scrambling out to see what the stockings might contain.

      “Oh, I’ve got a doll!” shrieked Flossie, and brought forth a wonderful affair of paper.

      “I have a jumping-jack!” came from Freddie, and he began to work the toy up and down in a most comical fashion.

      There was some small gift for everybody and several apples and oranges besides, and quantities of nuts in the stockings.

      “We

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