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〃They have taken care of them；〃 said Harrington； reverently。 〃The ship is safe in dock； and your sister Nora is in Roxbury； at 99 Linwood Street！〃
And a broad grin lighted his face as he spoke the words。
There was joy in every bed and at every door of the five rooms。 Then John hastily donned coat； cardigan； and ulster。 He persuaded Harrington to drink a cup of red… hot tea which was brewing on the stove。 While the good fellow did so； and ate a St。 Anne's bun； which Mrs。 McLaughlin produced in triumph； John was persuading Hermann Gross； the expressman next door； to put the gray into a light pung he had for special delivery。 By the time Harrington went to the door two lanterns were flitting about in the snow…piled yard behind the two houses。
Harrington assisted in yoking the gray。 In five minutes he and John were defying the gale as they sped across the silent bridge； bound south to Roxbury。 Poor little Nora was asleep in the parlor on the sofa。 She had begged and begged that she need not be put to bed； and by her side her protector sat reading about the antarctic。 But of a sudden Harrington reappeared。
Is it Santa Claus？
Indeed it is！ Beard； hat； coat； all white with snow！
And Santa Claus has come for the best present he will deliver that evening！
Dear little Nora is wrapped in sealskins and other skins； mauds and astrakhan rugs。 She has a hot brick at her feet； and Pompey； the dog； is made to lie over them； so John McLaughlin No。 68 takes her in triumph to 99 Linwood Street。
That was a Christmas to be remembered！ And Christmas morning； after church； the Brothers of St。 Patrick； which was the men's society； and the Sodality of St。 Anne's； which was the women's； determined on a great Twelfth… night feast to celebrate Nora's return。
It was to show 〃how these brethren love one another。〃
They proposed to take the rink。 People didn't use it for skating in winter as much as in summer。
Nora was to receive； with John McLaughlin and his wife to assist。 The other 74 John McLaughlins were to act as ushers。
The Salvation Army came first； led by the lass who found Michael。
Procession No。 2 was Mike and the teamsters who 〃don't take nothing for such as she。〃
Third； in special horse…cars； which went through from Dorchester to Somerville by a vermilion edict from the West End Company； the eleven families of that No。 99。 They stopped in Roxbury to pick up Ellen and the hostess of the Review Club。
Fourth； all the patrolmen who had helped and all who tried to help； led by 〃cop〃 No。 47。
Fifth； all the school children who had told the story and had made inquiries。
Sixth； the man who made the Somerville Directory。
Seventh and last； in two barouches； Harrington and the chiefs of staff at the general post…office。 And the boys asked Father McElroy to make a speech to all just before the dancing began。
And he said： 〃The lost sheep was never lost。 She thought she was lost in the wilderness； but she was at home； for she was met by the Christmas greeting of the world into which the dear Lord was born！〃
NOTE。It may interest the reader to know that the important part of this story is true。
IDEALS
CHAPTER I
IN ACCOUNT
I have a little circle of friends； among all my other friends quite distinct； though of them。 They are four men and four women； the husbands more in love with their wives than on the days when they married them； and the wives with their husbands。 These people live for the good of the world； to a fair extent； but much； very much； of their lives is passed together。 Perhaps the happiest period they ever knew was when； in different subordinate capacities； they were all on the staff of the same magazine。 Then they met daily at the office； lunched together perforce； and could make arrangements for the evening。 But； to say true； things differ little with them now； though that magazine long since took wings and went to a better world。
Their names are Felix and Fausta Carter； Frederic and Mary Ingham； George and Anna Haliburton； George and Julia Hackmatack。
I get the children's names wrong to their faces except that in general their name is Legion； for they are manyso I will not attempt them here。
These people live in very different houses； with very different 〃advantages；〃 as the world says。 Haliburton has grown very rich in the rag and paper business； rich enough to discard rag money and believe in gold。 He even spits at silver； which I am glad to get when I can。 Frederic Ingham will never be rich。 His regular income consists in his half…pay as a retired brevet officer in the patriot service of Garibaldi of the year 1859。 For the rest； he invested his money in the Brick Moon； and； as I need hardly add； insured his life in the late Continental Insurance Company。 But the Inghams find just as much in life as the Haliburtons； and Anna Haliburton consults Polly Ingham about the shade of a flounce just as readily and as eagerly as Polly consults her about the children's dentistry。 They are all very fond of each other。
They get a great deal out of life； these eight； partly because they are so closely allied together。 Just two whist…parties； you see； or； if they go to ride； they just fill two carriages。 Eight is such a good number makes such a nice dinner…party。 Perhaps they see a little too much of each other。 That we shall never know。
They got a great deal of life； and yet they were not satisfied。 They found that out very queerly。 They have not many standards。 Ingham does take the 〃Spectator；〃 Hackmatack condescends to read the 〃Evening Post；〃 Haliburton； who used to be in the insurance business； and keeps his old extravagant habits； reads the 〃Advertiser〃 and the 〃Transcript；〃 all of them have the 〃Christian Union；〃 and all of them buy 〃Harper's Weekly。〃 Every separate week of their lives they buy of the boys； instead of subscribing； they think they may not want the next number； but they always do。 Not one of them has read the 〃Nation〃 for five years； for they like to keep good…natured。 In fact； they do not take much stock in the general organs of opinion； and the standard books you find about are scandalously few。 The Bible； Shakespeare； John Milton； Polly has Dante； Julia has 〃Barclay's Apology；〃 with ever so many marks in it； one George has 〃Owen Felltham；〃 and the other is strong on Marcus Aurelius。 Well； no matter about these separate things； the uniform books besides those I named； in different editions but in every house； are the 〃Arabian Nights〃 and 〃Robinson Crusoe。〃 Hackmatack has the priceless first edition。 Haliburton has Grandville's （the English Grandville）。 Ingham has a proof copy of the Stothard。 Carter has a good copy of the Cruikshank。
If you ask me which of these four I should like best； I should say as the Laureate did when they gave him his choice of two kinds of cake； 〃Both's as good as one。〃
Well； 〃Robinson Crusoe〃 being their lay gospel and creed； not to say epistle and psalter； it was not queer that one night； when the election had gone awfully； and the men were as blue as that little porcelain Osiris of mine yonder； who is so blue that he cannot stand on his feetit was not queer； I say； that the