“What can we give her?” whispered Margaret’s papa, as he looked down at his bundles; but Margaret knew, for she took from her basket a baby doll—­one that looked as if it wanted to be loved—­and laid it tenderly across the wooden shoes.  Then Margaret lifted a corner of the blanket from Gretchen’s rosy face and shouted “Merry Christmas!” with so much heartiness that the little girl woke with a start to find, not Margaret and her papa, for they had run away, but, oh! wonder of wonders! the dearest Christmas gift that ever came to a homesick little girl, and made her feel at home.

Oh! all the bells were singing and ringing, and Margaret and her papa answered them with their merry Christmas carol, as they sped on their way.

    “Carol, brothers, carol! 
        Carol merrily! 
       Carol the glad tidings,
        Carol cheerily! 
       And pray a gladsome Christmas
        To all our fellowmen,
       Carol, brothers, carol! 
        Christmas Day again.”

THE KING’S BIRTHDAY

    MOTTO FOR THE MOTHER

    Let the child feel Christ is near him;
      By your faith will grow his own;
    Death nor danger will affright him
      If he never feels alone.

Little Carl and his mother came from their home in the country one sweet summer day, because it was the king’s birthday, and all the city was to be glad and gay, and the king would ride on his fine gray horse for the people to see.

Little Carl had gathered a very fine bunch of flowers to throw before the king.  He had marigolds and pinks and pansies, and they had all grown in his mother’s garden.

This was a great day for little boy Carl, and before he started from home he told everything goodbye,—­the brindle calf and the mooley cow and the sheep and little white lambs.

“Good-bye!” he said; “I am going to see the king.”

The way was long, but Carl did not complain.  He trudged bravely on by his mother’s side, holding the flowers tightly in his little hand, and looking out of his great blue eyes for the king, in case the king should ride out to meet them.

Every now and then Carl wished for his father, who was obliged to work in the fields all day, and who had been up and away before Carl was awake.  Carl thought of the fine sights his father was missing, especially when they came to the city, where the flags were flying from every steeple and housetop and window.

There were as many people in the city as there were birds in the country; and when the drums beat, the crowd rushed forward and everybody called at once:  “The king! the king!  Long live the king!”

Carl’s mother lifted him up in her arms that he might see, The king rode slowly along on his great gray horse, with all his fine ladies and gentlemen behind him; and little Carl threw his flowers with the rest and waved his cap in his hand.