gathered in his eyes as he thought of the glimpse of
true refinement which these few weeks had given him.
Mr. and Mrs. Burton looked with satisfaction at
the young faces about the table.
“A pretty good-sized family,” said Mr. Burton,
as his eye swept from Phil to Dophine.
“We are seven,” quoted Reddy.
you count Tom and me.”
“We certainly do," said Mrs, Burton, “and you
know the number is 2 magic one. We shall expeet
good things, if not great ones, of all of vou.”
As the dinner drew to a close, Jack, at a signal from
Mrs. Burton, slipped out of the room, winle the
others remained to hear the end of a story which Mr.
Burton was telling.
When they entered the great hiving room, everyone
was amazed af the seenung transformation. At the
end of the room usually occupied by Margaret 's und
Ned's Little study table and chairs, there between
the two great windows, stood a symmetrical Christ-
mas tree, touching with its single slender top spike,
the cetling itsell. Fach branch shimmered mo the
light of myriads of white candles caaght up and
reflected hy the ght tering diamond dost and filmy
silver strands that resembled the most deheate tee
and snow. In the corner, at the left of the tree, was
an trregular white mound. at, foo, glistening as
though covered with freshly fallen snow. Here oud
there about the room candles were alight, hat the
fire burned low, and neither gag nor cleetrie Light
were allowed recogmtion.
The stillness and =olemmty of Chinstimnas eve was
ne the roomy, and evervone was {owched hy oat,
Dophine, with wide eves upon the beautiful tree,
crept close to her mother and shipped her tiny hand
ito the stronger, protecting one. No one spoke for
a little, hat at last cach found a seat, and all gave
themselves up to the spirit of the hour,
Mr. Burton had gone to his usual seat at the
library table. His voice, in the rich, full tones of a
man whose heart 1s in what he reads, broke the
silence with the old 1 “Fear not:
“That w=, Af
familiar words:
for, behold, T bring vou good tidings of great joy,
which shall he to all people. For unto vou i= born this
day mn the city of David a Saviour, whieh is Christ
the Lord.
And he continued on through the heautitnd story
as told in the second chapter of Luke.
When he had finished, Mrs Burton repeated, as
though without her own volition, but as though m-
pelled by deep reverence, “Glory to God nt the
highest, and on earth peace, good will to nen.”
Then she rose and going to the plano struck a few
notes. The family gathered around and sang with
feeling:
“Carol, brothers, carol!
Carol joyfully.
Carol for the coming
Of Christ's nativity.”
PAGE TWELVE
This opened the way for others, and one after
another followed until they sang themselves from
the serious attitude into the lighter joyousness of the
Christmas time.
Then came the explanation of the snow bank in
the corner. Under it were concealed the various
Christmas remembrances which were to be dis-
tributed in the morning. When the bedtime of the
vounger children approached, they made mys-
terious journeys in and out of the room, and packages
of strange shape were shipped into the mound winder
the white covering,
“It looks as though there would be quite a snow
drift in that corner by morning,” said Mr. Burton,
as Margaret tucked her last bundle out of sight.
“Now for the stockings, ehldren!’ said Mrs,
Burton. “How many are going to hang then up, I
wonder?”
“You can count on saving room {or mine,” said
Reddy, "andi T don't get a red apple and a stick of
candy, Tl never agam believe im Santa Clans!
“Why can't we all get mto the game?” asked
Phil. If a Yale man can play kid, T guess the rest
of nus can qualify.”
“AW right,” said Mrs, Burton. Tom is going to
tay here tonight and Jack ean lend an extra stock-
tng for the occasion. Now scanper and get them
rowdy”
In Rerroseyer
There was a scurrying of feet, hig and little, up
the stadrway, and ina short time stockings of as-
sorted lengths were hanging from the mantle, and af
one looked at the fourteen shimmg eyes, he could not
tell whieh one held most of childish joy.
When Margaret, Ned, and Josephine had gone to
hed, the others gathered around the fre for one of
those good visits which never seem so perfect at
any other time,
“This year has heen an eventful one to von voung
fellows,” said Mr. Burton. © 1 wonder it it will not be
teresting to take an account of stock wand see
where we stand. Phil, vou sre the oldest, suppose
vou tell in what direction the year has done the
most for you.”
Phil was not an easy talker, but he did earveful
thinking, and usually knew where he stood.
“The year has not been a starthng one to me
especially. 1 have gone on with my college work
without flunking, and I've had my share of college
fun, but I've escaped some of the difficulties that
ome of my classmates have fallen to.”
“What kind of difficulties?” asked Reddy, who
was always alert to any situation.
“The difhculties that came from their own
foolishness and lack of self-control. IT am grateful
every day for the traimng my home gave me in
settling my own personal questions, and in letting
(Concluded on page 24)
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