'"
That night when the Christ child came silently over the mountains
and down into the sleeping town, he lingered beside their pillows,
to whisper to Jean words of encouragement for the coming days of
toil, to paint bright visions of the well-filled stockings which
the boys were to find in the morning, and to bring to five girls
and one young lad his thanks for their helping to do his work here
upon the earth. And if the morning brought the merry Christmas to
them all, to none it came more truly than to Jean as she watched
the children's rapture over their lumpy, shapeless stockings,
while she turned, again and again, to look over and caress her own
generous share of gifts which the Christmas eve had brought her.
CHAPTER XII.
HALF A DOZEN COOKS.
Christmas had come and gone, and the new year was well started in
its course. The time was passing rapidly for the seven young
people, who were making the very most of the cold, bracing winter
weather. There were coasting frolics and skating parties, long
walks and longer sleigh-rides, and even one grand snowball fight
which was brought to an untimely end by a carelessly aimed ball
that flew straight from Jessie's hand to the back of Aunt Jane's
stately neck, just as that good woman was starting for the jail
with a large package of tracts clasped in her black-gloved hands.
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