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the while； and amuse one another？〃
〃Yes； indeed； but one day is so short！ It will be stupider than ever
when I go home to…night；〃 answered Jill； looking about her with
longing eyes。
〃But you are not going home to…night； you are to stay ever so long。
Didn't Mamma tell you？〃
〃No。 Oh； how splendid！ Am I really？ Where will I sleep？ What
will Mammy do without me？〃 and Jill almost sat up； she was so
delighted with the new surprise。
〃That room in there is all fixed for you。 I made Frank tell me so
much。 Mamma said I might tell you； but I'd idn't think she would
be able to hold in if she saw you first。 Your mother is coming； too；
and we are all going to have larks together till we are
The splendor of this arrangement took Jill's breath away； and
before she got it again； in came Frank and Ralph with two
clothes…baskets of treasures to be hung upon the tree。 While they
wired on the candles the children asked questions； and found out
all they wanted to know about the new plans and pleasures。
'Who fixed all this？〃
〃Mamma thought of it； and Ralph and I'd id it。 He's the man for
this
sort of thing； you know。 He proposed cutting out the arches and
sticking on birds and butterflies just where they looked best。 I put
those canaries over there； they looked so well against the blue〃；
and Frank proudly pointed out some queer orange…colored fowls；
looking as if they were having fits in the air； but very effective；
nevertheless。
〃Your mother said you might call this the Bird Room。 We caught a
scarlet…tanager for you to begin with； didn't we； Jack？〃 and Ralph
threw a hon…hon at Jill； who looked very like a bright little bird in
a warm nest。
〃Good for you！ Yes； and we are going to keep her in this pretty
cage till we can both fly off together。 I say； Jill； where shall we be
in our classes when we do get back？〃 and Jack's merry face fell at
the thought。
〃At the foot； if we don't study and keep up。 Doctor said I might
study sometimes； if I'd lie still as long as he thought best； and
Molly brought home my books； and Merry says she will come in
every day and tell me where the lessons are。 I don't mean to fall
behind； if my backbone is cracked；〃 said Jill； with a decided nod
that made several black rings fly out of the net to dance on her
forehead。
〃Frank said he d pull me along in my Latin； but I've been lazy and
haven't done a thing。 Let's go at it and start fair for New Year；〃
proposed Jack； who did not love study as the bright girl did； but
was ashamed to fall behind her in anything。
〃All right。 They ve been reviewing； so we can keep up when they
begin； if we work next week； while the rest have a holiday。 Oh；
dear； I do miss school dreadfully〃； and Jill sighed for the old desk；
every blot and notch of which was dear to her。
〃There come our things； and pretty nice they look； too；〃 said Jack；
and his mother began to dress the tree； hanging up the gay horns；
the gilded nuts； red and yellow apples and oranges； and festooning
long strings of pop…corn and scarlet cranberries from bough to
bough； with the glittering necklaces hung where the light would
show their colors best。
〃I never saw such a splendid tree before。 I'm glad we could help；
though we were ill。 Is it all done now？〃 asked Jill； when the last
parcel was tied on and everybody stood back to admire the pretty
sight。
〃One thing more。 Hand me that box； Frank； and be very careful
that you fasten this up firmly； Ralph；〃 answered Mrs。 Minot； as she
took from its wrappings the waxen figure of a little child。 The rosy
limbs were very life…like； so was the smiling face under the locks
of shining hair。 Both plump arms were outspread as if to scatter
blessings over all； and downy wings seemed to flutter from the
dimpled shoulders； making an angel of the baby。
〃Is it St。 Nicholas？〃 asked Jill； who had never seen that famous
personage； and knew but little of Christmas festivities。
〃It is the Christ…child； whose birthday we are celebrating。 I got the
best I could find； for I like the idea better than old Santa Claus；
though we may have him； too；〃 said Mamma； holding the little
image so that both could see it well。
〃It looks like a real baby〃； and Jack touched the rosy foot with the
tip of his finger； as if expecting a crow from the half…open lips。
〃It reminds me of the saints in the chapel of the Sacred Heart in
Montreal。 One little St。 John looked like this； only he had a lamb
instead of wings；〃 said Jill； stroking the flaxen hair； and wishing
she dared ask for it to play with。
〃He is the children's saint to pray to； love； and imitate； for he never
forgot them； but blessed and healed and taught them all his life。
This is only a poor image of the holiest baby ever born； but I hope
it will keep his memory in your minds all day； because this is the
day for good resolutions； happy thoughts； and humble prayers； as
well as play and gifts and feasting。〃
While she spoke； Mrs。 Minot； touching the little figure as tenderly
as if it were alive； had tied a broad white ribbon round it； and；
handing it to Ralph； bade him fasten it to the hook above the
tree…top； where it seemed to float as if the downy wings supported
it。
Jack and Jill lay silently watching； with a sweet sort of soberness
in their young faces； and for a moment the room was very still as
all eyes looked up at the Blessed Child。 The sunshine seemed to
grow more golden as it flickered on the little head； the flames
glanced about the glittering tree as if trying to climb and kiss the
baby feet； and； without； a chime of bells rang sweetly； calling
people to hear again the lovely story of the life begun on
Christinus Day。
Only a minute； but it did them good； and presently； when the
pleasant work was over； and the workers gone； the boys to church；
and Mamma to see about lunch for the invalids； Jack said； gravcly；
to Jill；
〃I think we ought to be extra good； everyone is so kind to us； and
we are getting well； and going to have such capital times。 Don't see
how we can do anything else to show we are grateful。〃
〃It isn't easy to be good when one is sick；〃 said Jill； thoughtfully。 〃I
fret dreadfully； I get so tired of being still。 I want to scream
sometimes； but I don't； because it would scare Mammy； so I cry。
Do you cry； Jack？〃
〃Men never do。 I want to tramp round when things bother me； but I
can t； so I kick and say； 'Hang it！ and when I get very bad I pitch
into Frank； arid he lets me。 I tell you； Jill； he's a good brother！〃 and
Jack privately resolved then and there to invite Frank to take it out
of him in any form he pleased as soon as health would permit。
〃I rather think we shall grow good in this pretty place； for I don't
see how we can be bad if we want to； it is all so nice and sort of
pious here；〃 said Jill； with her eyes on the angel over the tree。
〃A fellow can be awfully hungry； I know that。 I didn't h