“已经是圣诞节早上了，”他说，“不幸的是，我没有人可以让我送点什么东西给他。你能让我送你回家，在你家门口说一声圣诞快乐吗？”
于是，在钟声齐鸣时，在幸福的人群中，皮特·里查德和这位还不知姓名的姑娘迈入了又一天的开端——那给世间每个人带来希望的伟大一天。
&eRichardwasthelomanintownonthedayJeahedoorofhisshop。It'sasmallshopwhiedowntrahelittlefrontnwithadisarrayofold-fashiohisasworniheCivilWar，gsandsilverboxes，imagesofjadeandivory，porfigurihiswinter'safternoonachildwasstandingthere，herfainsttheglass，earandeudyireasureasifshewerelookingforsomethingquitespeallyshestraightehasatisfiedairaore。
TheshadowyinteriorofPeteRichard'sestablishmentwaseveeredthanhissho。Shelveswerestackedwithjewelcaskets，duelingpistols，dlamps，andtheflooredwithirons，mandolinsandthingshardtofindanamefor。BehierstoodPetehimself，amahirtybutwithhairalreadyturninggray。Therewasableakairabouthimashelookedatthesmallerwhoflattenedherunglovedhaer。
"Mister，"shebegan，"wouldyoupleaseletmelookatthestringofbluebeadsinthewindow？"Petepartedthedraperiesaaurquoisestolyagainstthepallorofhispalmashespreadtheorbeforeher。"They'rejustperfect，"saidthetirelytoherself。"Willyouprettyforme，please？"
&udiedherwithastonyair。"Areyoubuyingtheseforsomeo;"They&#sister。Shetakese。Yousee，thiswillbethefirstChristmassiherdied。I'vebeenlookiwonderfulChristmaspresentformysister。"
"Howmueydoyouhave？"askedPetewarily。Shehadbeenbusilyusinahandkerdnowshepouredoutahandfulofpeheter。"Iemptiedmybank。"sheexplainedsimply。
&elookedatherthoughtfully。Thenhecarefullydrewbaecklace。Thepricetagwasvisibletohimbutnottoher。Howcouldhetellher？Thetrustinglookofherblueeyessmotehimlikethepainofanoldwound。"Justami;hesaid，aowardthebackofthestore。Overhisshoulderhecalled，"What'syour;Hewasverybusyaboutsomething。"Jea;
&ereturraceackagelayinhishand，edipaperahabowofgreen。"Hereyouare，"hesaidshortly，"Don'tloseitonthewayhome。"
Shesmiledhappilyoverhershoulderassheranoutofthedhtheatchedhergo，whiledesolatiohoughts。SomethingaboutJeanGradherstringofbeadshadstirredhimtothedepthsofagriefthatwouldnotstayburied。Thechild'shairwaswheatyellow，hereyesseablue，aime，notloehadbeehagirlwithhairofthatsameyellowaasblue。Aurquoiseohavebeenhers。
Buttherehadearainynight—atrugonaslipperyroad—andthelifewascrushedoutofhisdream。Siehadlivedtoomuchwithhisgriefinsolitude。Heolitelyatteomers，butafterhourshisworldseemedirrevocablyempty。Hewastryingtetiyideepeneddaybyday。TheblueeyesofJeaedhimintoacuteremembrahehadlost。Thepainofitmadehimretheexuberanceofholidayshtheradewasbrisk；gwomenswarmediriryingtaihelasterhadgoeonChristmasEve，hesighedwithrelief。ItwasoverforaforPetethenightwasnotquiteover。
Thedooropenedandayoungwomahaninexplicablestart，herealizedthatshelookedfamiliar，yetheberwhenorwherehehadseenherbefore。Herhairwasgoldenyelleeyeswereblue。Withoutspeaking，shedrewfromherpurseapackagelooselyusredpaper，abowofgreenribbonwithit。Preseringofbluebeadslaygleamingagainbeforehim。
"Didthisyourshop？"sheasked。
&eraisedhiseyestohersaly，"Yes，itdid。"
"Arethesto;
"Yes。quality—butreal。"
"berwhoitwasyousoldthemto？"
"Shewasasmallgirl。HernamewasJeahemforheroldersister'sChristmaspresent。"
"Howmucharetheyworth？"
"Theprice，"hetoldhersolemnly，"isalwaysatialmatterbetweentheselleraomer。"
"ButJeanhasneverhadmorethanafewpenniesofspendingmoney。Howcouldshepayforthem？"
"Shepaidthebiggestprieeverpay，"hesaid。"Shegaveallshehad。"
Therewasasilefilledthelittlecurioshop。Hesale，abellbeganringing。Thesoug，thelittlepagoer，thequestiohegirl，arangefeelirugglingunreasonablyiofPete，allhadetobebecauseoftheloveofachild。
"Butwhydidyoudoit？"
&hegiftinhishand。
"It'salreadyChristmasm，"hesaid。"Andit'smymisfortuIhaveogiveanythingto。WillyouletmeseeyouhomeandwishyouaMerryChristmasatyourdoor？"
Andso，tothesoundofmanybellsaofhappypeople，PeteRidagirlwhosetohear，walkedoutintothebeginnidaythatbriheworldforusall。