She had been out with Betty, buying here and there whatever was wanted,—­ and what was not wanted for those who had been living so long without work or money?

She had their little coal-bin filled, and a nice pile of wood and kindlings put behind the stove.  She had bought a nice rocking-chair for the mother to rest in.  She had dressed the children from head to foot at a ready-made clothing store, and bought them toys to their hearts’ desire, while Betty had set the table for a Christmas feast.

And now she said to the poor woman at last: 

“I’m so sorry John lost his place at father’s.  He was so kind and obliging, and I always liked him; and I’ve been thinking, if you’d get him to sign the pledge over again from Christmas Eve, never to touch another drop, I’ll get papa to take him back.  I always do get papa to do what I want, and the fact is, he hasn’t got anybody that suited him so well since John left.  So you tell John that I mean to go surety for him; he certainly won’t fail me.  Tell him I trust him.”  And Miss Florence pulled out a paper wherein, in her best round hand, she had written out again the temperance pledge, and dated it “Christmas Eve, 1875.”

“Now, you come with John to-morrow morning, and bring this with his name to it, and you’ll see what I’ll do!” and, with a kiss to the children, the little good fairy departed, leaving the family to their Christmas Eve.

What that Christmas Eve was, when the husband and father came home with the new and softened heart that had been given him, who can say?  There were joyful tears and solemn prayers, and earnest vows and purposes of a new life heard by the Shining Ones in the room that night.

“And the angels echoed around the throne,
Rejoice! for the Lord brings back his own.”

SCENE VI.

“Now, papa, I want you to give me something special to-day, because it’s Christmas,” said the little princess to her father, as she kissed and wished him “Merry Christmas” next morning.

“What is it, Pussy—­half of my kingdom?”

“No, no, papa; not so much as that.  It’s a little bit of my own way that I want.”

“Of course; well, what is it?”

“Well, I want you to take John back again.”

Her father’s face grew hard.

“Now, please, papa, don’t say a word till you have heard me.  John was a capital gardener; he kept the green-house looking beautiful; and this Mike that we’ve got now, he’s nothing but an apprentice, and stupid as an owl at that!  He’ll never do in the world.”

“All that is very true,” said Mr. De Witt, “but John drinks, and I won’t have a drinking man.”

“But, papa, I mean to take care of that.  I’ve written out the temperance pledge, and dated it, and got John to sign it, and here it is,” and she handed the paper to her father, who read it carefully, and sat turning it in his hands while his daughter went on: