I suppose you do n't allow mortals at your meetings ? ' said I , burning to go , in spite of the storm . ` No , ma'am . We meet on the Common ; and , in the present state of the weather , I do n't think flesh and blood would stand it . Bronze , marble , and wood are sterner stuff , and can defy the elements . ' ` Good evening ; pray , call again , ' I said , hospitably . ' I will ; your eyrie suits me : but do n't expect me to call in the daytime . I 'm on duty then , and ca n't take my eye off my charge . The city needs a deal of watching , my dear . Bless me ! it 's striking eight . Your watch is seven minutes slow by the Old South . Good-night , good-night ! ' And as I opened the window , the great bird soared away like a flash of light through the storm , leaving me so astonished at the whole performance that I have n't got over it yet . TILLY 'S CHRISTMAS . ` I 'm so glad to-morrow is Christmas , because I 'm going to have lots of presents . ' ` So am I glad , though I do n't expect any presents but a pair of mittens . ' ` And so am I ; but I sha n't have any presents at all . ' As the three little girls trudged home from school they said these things , and as Tilly spoke , both the others looked at her with pity and some surprise , for she spoke cheerfully , and they wondered how she could be happy when she was so poor she could have no presents on Christmas . ` Do n't you wish you could find a purse full of money right here in the path ? '
XXXXX Kate , the child who was going to have ` lots of presents . '
Bless expect got leaving said sha stand trudged watching wondered