, and told Karin
calmly that her father seemed pleased that she liked having a new
mother.

CHAPTER VI.

CHRISTMAS EVE.

Christmas Eve had come. There had been joy in the curate's home--carols
and prayer around the lighted tree, the distribution of simple gifts,
and the consumption of any amount of rice porridge. Even the grave
pastor had grown playful as the evening went on. This had prompted one
of the boys to exclaim that he was the very best father in the world--a
comprehensive assertion that was approved by all parties present. The
power to cast off care and even serious thought for a time, and frolic
with children, was one of the secrets of the curate's personal power. In
his sacred capacity he was above and apart from all; as a father or a
friend he was near and familiarly dear to all, even to the youngest in
his household and the humblest of his people.

Now he gave a start, and there was a look of astonishment all round the
family as there was the sound of heavy cart-wheels grinding along over
the sand under the parsonage windows.

In another moment there was a steady tramping on the side steps, then
through the passage to the dining-room, where the family were assembled.

Four strong men were bearing a huge box, and now entered, much
embarrassed at being unable to take off their caps in the presence of
the pastor, but their deep voices pronounced a "Good Yule!" and their
thick, soft caps went off in a hurry when they had deposited their heavy
burden. "We were to open it, pastor," they said, and they forthwith
produced their tools from the slouching pockets of their strong coats.
The pastor's wife disappeared instantly, thinking, as usual, of others
more than of herself; for she, too, would have liked a peep into the box
when the thick boards had been thrown up and the packed stores were
first visible. She had, however, what pleased her better--some hot
coffee, a cake of saffron bread, and the remains of the porridge on the
table in the kitchen when the last nail had been drawn out. The men
disappeared, grinning with satisfaction; while the wondering children
superintended, with occasional wild dances and leaps of delight, the
unfolding of the secrets of the wonderful box.

A prosperous "possessionat" who had learned that the chief joy of
possession is the power of giving had sent household stores on a
munificent scale. A happy wife, accustomed to see her own husband always
dressed as for a hol