But all at once Overholt was aware of a little change in the colour of things, and he slowly rubbed his eyes and looked about him, and towards the window.  The moon had set long ago; there was a grey light on the snow outside and in the clear air, and Overholt knew that it was the dawn.  He looked at his watch then, and it was nearly seven o’clock; for in New York and Connecticut, as you may see by your pocket calendar, the sun rises at twenty-three minutes past seven on Christmas morning.

He sprang to his feet in astonishment, and at the sound Newton awoke and looked up in blank and sleepy surprise.

“Merry Christmas, my boy!” cried Overholt, and he laughed happily.

“Not yet,” answered Newton in a disappointed tone, and rubbing his arm, which was stiff.  “I’ve got to go to bed first, I suppose.”

“Oh no!  You and I have slept in our chairs all night and the sun is rising, so it’s merry Christmas in earnest!  And the Motor is running still, after nine or ten hours.  What a sleep we’ve had!”

The boy looked out of the window stupidly, and vaguely wished that his father would not make fun of him.  Then he saw the dawn, and jumped up in wild delight.

“Hurrah!” he shouted.  “Merry Christmas!  Hurrah! hurrah!” If anything could make that morning happier than it had promised to be, it was to have actually cheated bed for the first time in his life.

They were gloriously happy, as people have a right to be, and should be, when they have been living in all sorts of trouble, with a great purpose before them, and have won through and got all they hoped for, if not quite all they could have wished—­because there is absolutely no limit to wishing if you let it go on.

The people watched them curiously in church, for they looked so happy; and for a long time the man’s expression had always been anxious, if it had no longer been sad of late, and the boy’s young face had been preternaturally grave; yet every one saw that neither of them even had a new coat for Christmas Day, and that both needed one pretty badly.  But no one thought the worse of them for that, and in the generous Good Will that was everywhere that morning everybody was glad to see that every one else looked happy.

In due time the two got home again; the Motor was still working to perfection, as if nothing could ever stop it again, and Overholt oiled the bearings carefully, passed a leather over the fixed parts, and examined the whole machine minutely before sitting down to the feast, while Newton stood beside him, looking on and hoping that he would not be long.

The boy had his new watch in his pocket, and it told him that it was time for that turkey at last, and his new skates were in the parlour, and there was splendid ice on the pond where the boys had cleared away the snow, and it was the most perfect Christmas weather that ever was; and in order to enjoy everything it would be necessary to get to work soon.