The Josephs were poor at any time , but this winter they were poorer than ever . The crops had failed in the summer , and as a consequence the family were , as Jimmy said , `` on short commons . '' But they made the brave best of their small resources , and on Christmas Eve every little Joseph went to bed with a clear conscience , for was there not on the corner table in the kitchen a small mountain of tiny -- sometimes very tiny -- gifts labelled with the names of recipients and givers , and worth their weight in gold if love and good wishes count for anything ? It was beginning to snow when the small small Josephs went to bed , and when the big small Josephs climbed the stairs it was snowing thickly . Mr. and Mrs. Joseph sat before the fire and listened to the wind howling about the house . `` I 'm glad I 'm not driving over the prairie tonight , '' said Mr. Joseph . `` It 's quite a storm . I hope it will be fine tomorrow , for the children 's sake . They 've set their hearts on having a sleigh ride , and it will be too bad if they ca n't have it when it 's about all the Christmas they 'll have this year . Mary , this is the first Christmas since we came west that we could n't afford some little extras for them , even if 't was only a box of nuts and candy . '' Mrs. Joseph sighed over Jimmy 's worn jacket which she was mending . Then she smiled . `` Never mind , John . Things will be better next Christmas , we 'll hope . The children will not mind , bless their hearts . Look at all the little knick-knacks they 've made for each other . Last week when I was over at Taunton , Mr. Fisher had his store all gayified up , ' as Jim says , with Christmas presents . I did feel that I 'd ask nothing better than to go in and buy all the lovely things I wanted , just for once , and give them to the children tomorrow morning . They 've never had anything really nice for Christmas . But there !
We 've all got each other and good health and spirits , and a XXXXX would n't be much without those if we had all the presents in the world . ''
Christmas Mr. anything crops extras knick-knacks nothing time week year