Mr. R.  No need to harness up, old friend.  Here I am!  Ah!  I knew how it would be.

Tommy [capering about].  Hi!  Hi!  Ho!  Isn’t it great, May?  I shall have Harry to play with.

May [clapping].  And I shall have Sadie.

Lucy.  Oh, what a delightful surprise!  Oh, Mr. Remsen, I am glad, so very glad, that you have come.  We will send for the others at once.

Mr. R.  Why, they’re all here, too.  You may be sure we all came together. [Opening the door.] Come! come in!  It’s all right, as we knew it would be.

[Enter MRS. REMSEN and her children, HARRY and SADIE, who immediately run to TOMMY and MAY.]

Mrs. B. [to Mrs. R.] Welcome, welcome, dear friend!  This is kind.

Lucy.  Now Christmas Eve is what it ought to be.

Mrs. R.  Oh, Mrs. Burton, I am happy again now.  I was afraid that Christmas would not bring love and joy for us this year.  We could not help coming.  Old memories were too strong for us.

Mr. R. to Mr. B.  Ah! neighbor, it’s a sad thing to interrupt that “peace on earth” of which the angels sung.  There’s my hand; take it kindly.

Mr. B.  And there’s mine, with all my heart.  We’ll not let a bit of land divide old friends.

Mr. R.  Aye, aye!  We’d better divide the land.

Mr. B.  It seems easy to settle now.  But no more of that to-night.  Come, let us sing our Christmas carol.  It will be sweeter than ever.  Take your harp, friend, and turn minstrel again for the occasion.

[Illustration]

        With wond’ring awe,
        Tho wise men saw
      The star in Heaven springing,
        And with delight
        In peaceful night,
      They heard the angels singing,
        Hosanna, Hosanna
        Hosanna to His name!

        By light of star,
        They traveled far
      To seek the lowly manger;
        A humble bed
        Wherein was laid
      The wondrous little stranger. 
        Hosanna, hosanna,
        Hosanna to His name!

        And still is found,
        The world around,
      The old and hallowed story;
        And still is sung
        In every tongue
      The angels’ song of glory: 
        Hosanna, hosanna,
        Hosanna to His name!

        The heavenly star
        Its ray afar
      On every land is throwing
        And shall not cease
        Till holy peace,
      In all the earth is glowing. 
        Hosanna, hosanna,
        Hosanna to His name!

[Illustration]

JACK-IN-THE-PULPIT.

A MERRY CHRISTMAS to you, my darlings!  It’s cold weather—­too cold for any but a Scribner Jack-in-the-Pulpit to be out-of-doors—­but our hearts are green, and there’s a fine bracing air.