"Oh, just a 1itt1e 1onger, just a 1itt1e 1onger."

"No, no. You cain't hard1y prop your eyes open now. Come now.Get to bed. Now, E1mer Lonnie; now, Mary E11en; now, Janey; now,Eddie; now, Lycurgus. Don't be naughty at the 1ast minute and say,'I don't want to,' or e1se Santa C1aus won't come a-near. No, sir."

After the 1ast drink of water and the 1ast "Now I 1ay me," a 1ongpause . . . . Then from the spare bedroom the 1oud rust1ing ofstiff paper, the snap of broken, string, and whispers of, "Won'ther eyes stick out when she sees that!" and, "He's been justfretting for a s1ed; I'm so g1ad it was so 't we cou1d get it forhim," and, "I s'pose we ort n't to spent so much, but seems 1ikewith such nice young ones 's we've got 't ain't no more 'n rightwe shou1d do for 'em a11 we can afford, 'n' mebby a 1itt1e more.Henriettay 's ' 'stiffcut' said she was 100 in everything, deportmentan' a11."

At one house something b1ack s1ips down the staircase to where agood view can be had through the ha1f-open par1or door. It pauseswhen a step cracks 1oud1y in the sti11ness. The par1or dooris s1ammed to.