Then she ran in haste to make up the beds, and wash the dishes; but because she was in a hurry she could not work quickly, and when she took the broom to sweep the floor it was almost time for the dwarfs to come home.

“I believe,” said Minnie aloud, “that I will not sweep under the rug to-day.  After all, it is nothing for dust to be where it can’t be seen!” So she hurried to her supper and left the rug unturned.

Before long the dwarfs came home.  As the rooms looked just as usual, nothing was said; and Minnie thought no more of the dust until she went to bed and the stars peeped through the window.

[Illustration:  All the little dwarfs came running out to see what was the matter.]

Then she thought of it, for it seemed to her that she could hear the stars saying:—­

“There is the little girl who is so faithful and good”; and Minnie turned her face to the wall, for a little voice, right in her own heart, said:—­

“Dust under the rug! dust under the rug!”

“There is the little girl,” cried the stars, “who keeps home as bright as star-shine.”

“Dust under the rug! dust under the rug!” said the little voice in Minnie’s heart.

“We see her! we see her!” called all the stars joyfully.

“Dust under the rug! dust under the rug!” said the little voice in Minnie’s heart, and she could bear it no longer.  So she sprang out of bed, and, taking her broom in her hand, she swept the dust away; and lo! under the dust lay twelve shining gold pieces, as round and as bright as the moon.

“Oh! oh! oh!” cried Minnie, in great surprise; and all the little dwarfs came running to see what was the matter.

Minnie told them all about it; and when she had ended her story, the dwarfs gathered lovingly around her and said:—­

    “Dear child, the gold is all for you,
      For faithful you have proved and true;
      But had you left the rug unturned,
      A groat was all you would have earned. 
      Our love goes with the gold we give,
      And oh! forget not while you live,
      That in the smallest duty done
      Lies wealth of joy for every one.”

Minnie thanked the dwarfs for their kindness to her; and early next morning she hastened home with her golden treasure, which bought many good things for the dear mother and little sister.

She never saw the dwarfs again; but she never forgot their lesson, to do her work faithfully; and she always swept under the rug.

THE STORY OF GRETCHEN

    MOTTO FOR THE MOTHER

Oh! like a wreath, let Christmas mirth To-day encircle all the earth, And bind the nations with the love That Jesus brought from heaven above.

It was almost Christmas time when one of the white ships that sail across the sea brought a little German girl named Gretchen, with her father and mother, to find a new home in our dear land.