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When the children went back to the barn with the empty bag, they themselves had a surprise.
當孩子們拿著空袋子回到谷倉時，他們自己也滿是驚喜。
A gray squirrel had stolen in at the open door and was sitting up on his hind legs under the Christmas tree, eating the corn that had been spilled.
一只灰松鼠從開著的門口偷偷溜進來，蹲在圣誕樹下，吃著灑出來的玉米。
He seemed as much at home as if he had been invited to the party.
它看起來像是受邀參加聚會一樣自在。
"I think he must be our poor family," laughed Betty as she threw him another handful of corn.
“我想它一定是我們窮苦的家人，”貝蒂笑著又扔給它一把玉米粒。
Father's Surprise
父親的驚喜
"Children!" suddenly called a man's voice from the yard. Only Father called like that.
“孩子們！”院子里突然傳來一個男人的聲音，只有父親才這樣呼喊他們。
The children turned, and there he stood in the door of the barn, smiling at them. They rushed to his arms.
孩子們轉過身，父親站在谷倉門口朝他們微笑。他們沖進他的懷里。
How happy they were to see him!
他們見到他真是太高興了！
"So you children had a Christmas tree for the animals, did you?" said Father.
“你們給動物們裝點了一棵圣誕樹，是嗎？”父親說。
"Well, run into the house with your father, and I'll see what the tree will have for you," said Uncle Tom, who stood just behind their father, his arms loaded with bundles.
“好吧，和爸爸一起跑進房子里，我來看看怎么裝點這棵樹，”湯姆叔叔說，他站在父親身后，胳膊上抱滿了包裹。
Soon Uncle Tom called, and everyone went out to the Christmas tree.
不久，湯姆叔叔喊大家，于是他們都到圣誕樹那兒去了。
"Your Uncle Tom and I must start for home by five o'clock; so you children had better open your presents right now," said Father.
父親說：“我和湯姆叔叔必須在五點前回家，你們最好現在就拆禮物。”
Betty and Bob did not need to be told twice. Eagerly they opened the packages, gay with ribbons and seals.
父親話音剛落，貝蒂和鮑勃就急切地打開帶著絲帶和封條的包裹。
There were books, snowshoes, a red silk umbrella for Betty, and a pair of skating boots for Bob; candy and a gold piece for each from Uncle Tom;
貝蒂的禮物有書、雪地鞋和一把紅色綢傘。鮑勃的禮物是一雙溜冰鞋，湯姆叔叔送給每人糖果和一枚金幣；
and best of all, a little penciled note from Mother to tell them that she was really better and to wish them a Merry Christmas.
最重要的是，母親用鉛筆給他們寫了一張小紙條，告訴他們她真的好多了，并祝他們圣誕快樂。
"Well," said Bobby as the big car drove out of the yard with Father and Uncle Tom, "this has certainly been a surprise Christmas for us all!"
父親和湯姆叔叔開著大轎車駛出院子時，鮑勃說：“好吧，這對我們大家來說無疑是個驚喜的圣誕節！”
