four o'clock
It was the very jolliest Christmas we ever had , but the day seemed long . When night came we were in a precious bustle . The wagon bed on bobs , filled with hay and covers , drawn by Ned and Jo , was brought up for the family , and the sleigh made spick-and-span and drawn by Laddie 's thoroughbred , stood beside it . Laddie had filled the kitchen oven with bricks and hung up a comfort at four o'clock to keep the Princess warm . Because he had to drive out of the way to bring her , Laddie wanted to start early ; and when he came down dressed in his college clothes , and looking the manliest of men , some of the folks thought it funny to see him carefully rake his hot bricks from the oven , and pin them in an old red breakfast shawl . I thought it was fine , and I whispered to mother : `` Do you suppose that if Laddie ever marries the Princess he will be good to her as he is to you ? '' Mother nodded with tear-dimmed eyes , but Shelley said : `` I 'll wager a strong young girl like the Princess will laugh at you for babying over her . ''