How is this a sad Christmas?

Annjee has to give up the money she was saving for Sandy's Christmas to mail to Harriet. Jimboy hasn't sent word. Annjee is still too sick to work and so Hager, Annjee and Sandy are very poor, so poor that they can't afford a wreath or cake icing. Sandy really wants a sled, but the best his mother can do is to get Mr. Logan to build him one. Sandy saw his mother bring it over and had to fake being happy about it, despite being terribly disappointed