"
Mr. Peterkin thought it was quite natural.
Solomon John wondered if it were too late for them to go into
town now.
Elizabeth Eliza could not go in the next morning, for there was to
be a grand Christmas dinner, and Mr. Peterkin could not be
spared, and Solomon John was sure he and Agamemnon would
not know what to buy. Besides, they would want to try the candles
to-night.
Mr. Peterkin asked if the presents everybody had been preparing
would not answer. But Elizabeth Eliza knew they would be too
heavy.
A gloom came over the room. There was only a flickering gleam
from one of Solomon John's candles that he had lighted by way of
trial.
Solomon John again proposed going into town. He lighted a match
to examine the newspaper about the trains. There were plenty of
trains coming out at that hour, but none going in except a very late
one. That would not leave time to do anything and come back.
"We could go in, Elizabeth Eliza and I," said Solomon John, "but
we should not have time to buy anything."
Agamemnon was summoned in. Mrs. Peterkin was entertaining the
uncles and aunts in the front parlor. Agamemnon wished there
was time to study up something about electric lights. If they could
only have a calcium light! Solomon John's candle sputtered and
went out.
At this moment there was a loud knocking at the front door. The
little boys, and the small cousins, and the uncles and aunts, and
Mrs.
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