“Yes,” said her mother, “Santa Claus won’t forget you, I am sure, although he has been kept pretty busy looking after the soldiers this winter.”

“Which side is he on?” asked Harry.

“The right side, of course,” said Mrs. Tracy, which was the most sensible answer she could possibly have given.  So: 

“The stockings were hung by the chimney with care, In hopes that St. Nicholas soon would be there.”

Two little rosy faces lay fast asleep upon the pillow when the good old soul came dashing over the roof about one o’clock, and after filling each stocking with red apples, and leaving a cornucopia of sugar-plums for each child, he turned for a moment to look at the sleeping faces, for St. Nicholas has a tender spot in his great big heart for a soldier’s children.  Then, remembering many other small folks waiting for him all over the land, he sprang up the chimney and was away in a trice.

Santa Claus, in the form of Mrs. Tracy’s farmer brother, brought her a splendid turkey; but because the Hessians were uncommonly fond of turkey, it came hidden under a load of wood.  Harry was very fond of turkey, too, as well as of all other good things; but when his mother said, “It’s such a fine bird, it seems too bad to eat it without father,” Harry cried out, “Yes, keep it for papa!” and Kitty, joining in the chorus, the vote was unanimous, and the turkey was hung away to await the return of the good soldier, although it seemed strange, as Kitty told Martha Washington, “to have no papa and no turkey on Christmas Day.”

The day passed and night came, cold with a steady fall of rain and sleet.  Kitty prayed that her “dear papa might not be out in the storm, and that he might come home and wear his beautiful blue stockings”; “And eat his turkey,” said Harry’s sleepy voice; after which they were soon in the land of dreams.  Toward morning the good people in Bordentown were suddenly aroused by firing in the distance, which became more and more distinct as the day wore on.  There was great excitement in the town; men and women gathered together in little groups in the streets to wonder what it was all about, and neighbours came dropping into Mrs. Tracy’s parlour, all day long, one after the other, to say what they thought of the firing.  In the evening there came a body of Hessians flying into the town, to say that General Washington had surprised the British at Trenton, early that morning, and completely routed them, which so frightened the Hessians in Bordentown that they left without the slightest ceremony.

It was a joyful hour to the good town people when the red-jackets turned their backs on them, thinking every moment that the patriot army would be after them.  Indeed, it seemed as if wonders would never cease that day, for while rejoicings were still loud, over the departure of the enemy, there came a knock at Mrs. Tracy’s door, and while she was wondering whether she dared open it, it was pushed ajar, and a tall soldier entered.  What a scream of delight greeted that soldier, and how Kitty and Harry danced about him and clung to his knees, while Mrs. Tracy drew him toward the warm blaze, and helped him off with his damp cloak!