“We were going to hang up our stockings,” Grace remarked as the good nights were being said, “but we’ve had so many nice things already that it does seem as if we oughtn’t to do it.”

“Oh yes, hang them up,” said her father laughingly.  “Santa Claus won’t feel obliged to put anything into them.”

“And perhaps if he doesn’t find them hanging up he may feel hurt at your low opinion of his generosity,” laughed Violet.

“Oh I wouldn’t like to hurt his feelings, ’cause I’m sure he must be a very nice old fellow,” returned the little girl with an arch look and smile.  “So I’ll hang mine up.”

“And I mine,” said Lulu, twining her arms about her father’s neck and looking up lovingly into his face, “for I know he’s nice, and generous, and good as gold, though he isn’t old or the sort of person to be called a fellow.”

“Indeed! one might infer that you were quite well acquainted with him,” laughed the captain, giving her a hug and kiss.  “Yes, hang it up.  And, Max, if you don’t feel it beneath the dignity of a lad of your size, there will be no harm in your trying the same experiment.”

“I’m ashamed to think of it, sir, only because I’ve already had so much,” said Max.

“But you are always safe in following your father’s advice,” remarked Violet.

“Oh yes, I know that, and I’ll do it, Mamma Vi,” returned the boy, with ill-concealed satisfaction.

“Now all three of you get to bed and to sleep as soon as you can, in order to give the old fellow a chance to pay his visit,” said the captain; “for I have always understood that he never does so till all the children in the house are asleep.  I’ll go in to kiss my little girls good-night after they are snug in bed, but we will reserve our talk till morning.”

“Yes, papa, we will,” they said and hastened away to do his bidding.

At Ion too, there was a beautiful Christmas tree, bearing fruit not very dissimilar to that of the one at Woodburn.  It had been the occasion of much mirth and rejoicing on the part of the children, and pleasure to the older people:  the gifts had been apportioned, those of the servants bestowed and carried away, but most of those belonging to the family, and all the ornaments, were left upon it that the guests of to-morrow might be treated to the spectacle of its beauty.

CHAPTER VI.

Capt.  Raymond, going into Gracie’s room to fulfil his promise to give her a good night kiss, found Lulu there also; the two lying clasped in each other’s arms.

“We thought we’d sleep together to-night, papa,” said Lulu, “if you’re willing.”

“I have no objection,” he answered.  “Gracie was a little afraid to receive Santa Claus alone, was she?” looking down at them with a humorous smile as he stood by the bedside.

“Oh no, papa!  I’m pretty sure I know who he is, and I’m not one bit afraid of him,” answered the little girl, with a merry laugh, catching his hand and carrying it to her lips.