WE COULD HEAR the water running into the tub. We looked
at the presents scattered over the bed where mamma had
wrapped them in the colored paper, with our names on them
so Grandpa could tell who they belonged to easy when he
would take them off the tree. There was a present for every-
body except Grandpa because mamma said that Grandpa is
too old to get presents any more.

"This one is yours," I said.

"Sho now," Rosie said. "You come on and get in that
tub like your mamma tell you."

"I know what's in it," I said. "I could tell you if I wanted
to."

Rosie looked at her present. "I reckon I kin wait twell
hit be handed to me at the right time," she said.

"I'll tell you what's in it for a nickel," I said.

Rosie looked at her present. "I ain't got no nickel," she
said. "But I will have Christmas morning when Mr. Rodney
give me that dime."

"You'll know what's in it anyway then and you won't
pay me," I said. "Go and ask mamma to lend you a nickel."

Then Rosie grabbed me by the arm. "You'come on and
get in that tub," she said. "You and money! If you ain't
rich time you twenty-one, hit will be because the law done
abolished money or done abolished you."

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