“Will you show me some of your gifts?” asked Nina, timidly.

The spirit drew nearer and took from her bosom a glittering gem.  It was clear and flawless, and though it was white a thousand sparks of flame broke from its heart, and flashed their different hues to every side.  As Nina looked, wrapped in admiration, she felt her heart grow big, and she felt a great longing to do some one a kindness,—­to do good to some one, no matter to whom.

The spirits gazed at her kindling eyes.

“There!” they cried in joyous unison, “Love has already given you her gift.  The way you must use it is always to put in everything you do.  It will never grow less, but will always grow more if you do as we say.  And it is the same with Hope and Peace and Good-will and all the rest.  If all to whom we give our gifts should use them aright, the world would hold a festival all the year.”

And at this all the blessed throng closed about her, and loaded her down with their offerings, until she was quite overcome with gratitude and emotion.

“All we ask is that you use them well,” they repeated with one accord.  “Let nothing injure them, for some day you will be called to account for them all, you know.  And now you are to have a special gift,—­one by which you can gain world-praise and world-glory.  And oh! be careful of it, dear; it will gain for you great good if you do not abuse it, and you need never be tired nor cold nor sad-hearted any more—­”

“But I have no place to keep all these things,” cried Nina.  “I have no home.  I live anywhere.  I am only a poor little Italian singing-girl.  I—­”

“Keep them in your heart,” answered the spirits, softly; and then one of them bent over and kissed her upon the lips.

“Ah, gracia, gracia,—­thanks, thanks!” she cried; but even as she spoke she sank back in dismay, for everything about her was dark and still, and for a moment she did not know where she was.  Then groping blindly about in the shadow, she felt the wooden back of the pew in which she sat, and then she remembered.

But the gifts,—­the spirits’ Christmas gifts to her.  Where were they?  For a long time she searched, stretching out her hand and passing it over cushion, bench, and floor; but all in vain.  No heavenly object met her grasp, and at last she gave a poor little moan of disappointment and sorrow,—­

“It was only a dream after all,—­only a dream.”

But now through the tall windows stole a faint streak of light.  It grew ever stronger, and by its aid Nina made her way to the doors, in order to escape from the church in which she had slept away the night.  But alas! they were closed and fastened tight.  She could not get out.  She wandered to and fro through the silent aisles, growing quite familiar with the dusky place and feeling not at all afraid.  She thought over her dream, and recalled the fact that it was Christmas Day,—­the Festa del Gesu Bambino.