as a head on her all right!" Sadie
exulted. But Olga could overlook her conceit since, for once, she had
taken thought for Elizabeth too.

Laura wondered if, amid all the bustle and excitement of Christmas
planning and doing, Jim would forget about the Christmas for the
Children's Hospital, but he did not forget; and when she told him that
she was depending upon him to tell her what the boys there would like,
Jim had no trouble at all in deciding. So one Saturday Miss Laura took
him down town early before the stores were crowded and they had a
delightful time selecting books and toys.

"My-ee!" Jim cried, as they were speeding up Connecticut Avenue, the car
piled with packages, "won't this be a splendid Christmas! Ours first at
home, and the hospital Christmas and the Camp Fire one and the old
ladies' one--it'll be four Christmases all in one year, won't it, Miss
Laura?" he exulted.

"Besides a tree and a gift for each one in your outdoor school," Laura
added.

Jim stared at her wide-eyed. "O, who's going to give them?" he cried.
"You?"

"You and I and the judge, Jim. That is our thank-offering for all that
the school is doing for you--and for Jo."

Jim moved close and hid his face for a long moment on Laura's shoulder.
She knew that he was afraid he might cry, but this time they would have
been tears of pure joy. He explained presently, when he was sure that
his eyes were all right.

"That will be the best Christmas of all, 'cause some of the out-doorers
wouldn't have a teeny bit of Christmas at home. Jo wouldn't. He says
they never hang up stockings or anything like that at his house. He said
he didn't care, but I know he did."

That evening Miss Laura asked, "How would you like to put something on
our tree for Jo?"

"The Camp Fire tree--and have him come?" Jim cried eagerly.

"Of course."

It took three somersaults to get that out of Jim's system. When he came
up, flushed and joyful, Laura said, "I'm going to tell you a Christmas
secret, Jim. I am going to have each Camp Fire Girl invite her mother,
or any one else she likes, to come to our tree. We can't have presents
for them all, of course, but there will be ice cream and cake enough for
everybody."

"O, Miss _Laura_!" Jim cried. "It's going to be the best Christmas that
ever was in this world!"

And Jim was not the only one who thought so before the Great Day was
over. The tree at the outdoor school, the day before, was a splendid
surprise to e