rance a few minutes afterward--still dressed as they were in
the play--they were received with more clapping of hands, and this time
with plenty of kisses too.

After that, some ice cream and cake were handed round; and then the
company went home perfectly delighted, resolving in their own minds to
get up something themselves in behalf of the soldiers. So certain is it,
that one good action will prompt another.

The Little Mother hastily counted over the nice warm mittens with their
thumbs and fingers sticking out in every direction, while the children
looked on with breathless interest.

"Fifty-seven pairs," said the Little Mother.

"Fifty-seven pairs!" echoed the children, with a shout that made the
windows rattle. "Oh, goody! goody! goody! how glad we are!" and they
danced round the pile which lay on the floor in perfect ecstasies.

"How glad brother George will be!" said Willie.

"Oh, if he could only have been here to-night," said Clara, and her
loving eyes filled with tears.

The Little Mother's lip trembled. She knew that her soldier boy, sooner
or later, must know what a battle was; and a prayer rose in her heart
that a Protecting Power would guard him from harm, and return him safe
to her loving arms.

The children kissed her softly, and tenderly, and went quietly off to
bed, almost forgetting that Santa Claus was to come that very night, and
fill their stockings. But _he_ did not forget; for when the bright
morning sun of the clear, cold Christmas day, peeped in at the nursery
windows, he certainly must have thought that Santa Claus had considered
these children as pinks and patterns of perfection; for there were no
less than three new dolls; a grocery store for them to shop at; two
elegant workboxes with "Anna" engraved on the lid of one, and "Clara" on
the other; a beautiful writing desk, filled with nice pens, ink, and
paper, for Johnny; a mahogany tool chest, completely filled, for Harry;
an entire set of Cousin Alice's excellent and interesting books, for
Bennie and Willie; a most charming little book, called "Our Little
Girls," for Lillie; and two others by the same author, who is a
minister's daughter, as good as she is lovely, for Minnie. These were
called "A Little Leaven," and "Two Little Heaps;" and, let me tell you,
Minnie considers them the best books that ever were written; while
little Fanny's favorite was, and is, the "R. R. B's." It is the history
of a dear little Robin Redbreast and