Christmas was now but four weeks away, and the stores of Lakeport had their windows filled with all sort of nice things for presents. Nan and Bert had gazed into the windows a number of times, and even walked through the one big department store of which the town boasted, and they had told Freddie and Flossie of many of the things to be seen.  
"Oh, I want to see them, too!" cried Flossie, and begged her mother to take her along the next time she went out.
 
"I want to go, too," put in Freddie. "Bert says there are sixteen rocking horses all in a row, with white and black tails. I want to see them."
 
"I am going to the stores to-morrow," answered Mrs. Bobbsey. "You can go with me, after school. It will be better to go now than later on, when the places are filled with Christmas shoppers."
 
The twins were in high glee, and Freddie said he was going to spend the twenty-five cents he had been saving up for several months.
 
"Let us buy mamma something for Christmas," said Flossie, who had the same amount of money.
 
"What shall we buy?"
 
That question was a puzzling one. Flossie thought a nice doll would be the right thing, while Freddie thought an automobile¹ that could be wound up and made to run around the floor would be better. At last both consulted Nan.
 
"Oh, mamma doesn't want a doll," said Nan. "And she ought to have a real automobile, not a tin one."
 
"Can't buy a real auto'bile," said Freddie. "Real auto'biles cost ten dollars, or more."
 
"I'll tell you what to do," went on Nan. "You buy her a little bottle of cologne, Freddie, and you, Flossie, can buy her a nice handkerchief."
 
"I'll buy her a big bottle of cologne," said Freddie. "That big!" and he placed his hands about a foot apart.
 
"And I'll get a real lace handkerchief," added Flossie.
 
"You'll have to do the best you can," said practical Nan, and so it was agreed.
 
When they left home each child had the money tucked away in a pocket. They went in the family sleigh, with Sam as a driver. The first stop was at Mr. Ringley's shoe store, where Mrs. Bobbsey purchased each of the twins a pair of shoes. It may be added here, that the broken window glass had long since been replaced by the shoe dealer³, and his show window looked as attractive as ever.
 
"I heard you had a window broken not long ago," said Mrs. Bobbsey, when paying for her purchases.
 
"Yes, two bad boys broke the window," answered the shoe dealer.
 
"Who were they?"
 
"I couldn't find out. But perhaps I'll learn some day, and then I mean to have them arrested," said Mr. Ringley. "The broken glass ruined several pairs of shoes that were in the window." And then he turned away to wait on another customer.
 
Soon the large department store was reached and Mrs. Bobbsey let Freddie and Flossie take their time in looking into the several windows. One was full of dolls, which made the little girl gape⁴ in wonder and delight.
 
"Oh, mamma, what a flock of dolls!" she cried. "Must be 'bout² ten millions of them, don't you think so?"
 
"Hardly that many, Flossie; but there are a good many."
 
"And, oh, mamma, what pretty dresses! I wish I had that doll with the pink silk and the big lace hat," added the little girl.
 
"Do you think that is the nicest, Flossie?"
 
"Indeed, indeed I do," answered the little miss. "It's too lovely for anything. Can't we get it and take it home?"
 
"No, dear; but you had better ask Santa Claus to send it to you," continued her mother with a smile.
 
Some wooden soldiers and building blocks caught Freddie's eye, and for the time being his favorite fire engines were forgotten.
 
"I want wooden soldiers," he said. "Can set 'em up in a row, with the sword-man in front, an' the man with the drum."
 
"Perhaps Santa Claus will bring you some soldiers in your stocking, Freddie."
 
"Stocking ain't big enough—want big ones, like that," and he pointed⁵ with his chubby⁶ hand.
 
"Well, let us wait and see what Sa............