our back yard, then, at seven o'clock," said Harvey.

"All right, I'll be there!" and with head up, and skates clinking, Tom
hurried away.

It was a flushed, excited boy who burst into the Reynolds' quiet
sitting room a few minutes later, with his skates still hanging on his
shoulder and his cap in his hand. "Say, mother," he cried, "can I have
Bob's Santa Claus suit this evening, please? I'm going to play Santa
Claus for Harvey McGinnis!"

"Play Santa Claus for Harvey McGinnis. What do you mean, child?"

"You know Mrs. McGinnis, mother, that poor woman who lives in the
little house by the river. Her husband got killed on the railroad last
winter, you know. Well, Harvey, her boy, has fixed up some grand
looking dolls for his sisters and he wants me to come out and play
Santa tonight," and Tom launched out into a long story about Harvey
and his good fortune.

"He must be a splendid boy," said Mrs. Reynolds, heartily, "and I am
sure I shall be glad to have you go."

"And another thing, mother," said Tom, hesitating a little, "do you
think grandma would care if I spent part of that five dollars she gave
me for a pair of skates for Harvey? He hasn't any skates at all, and I
know he'd just love to have some!"

"It is generous of you to think of it," said his mother, much pleased,
"and you would still have two and a half for that little trip down to
grandma's."

"But I'd like to get him some 'Club House' skates," said Tom. "They're
a new kind that cost three dollars and a half."

"But I thought you said the 'Jolly Ramblers' were the best skates
made?" Mrs. Reynolds looked somewhat hurt as she glanced from Tom to
the skates on his shoulder and back to Tom again.

"They are, mother, they're just dandies!" said Tom blushing with
shame that he could ever have despised his mother's gift. "But these
'Club House' skates are just the kind for Harvey. You see, Harvey's
shoes are old and worn, and these 'Club House' skates have clamps that
you can't shake loose if you have to. Then, if anything happens to
them before the year's up, you get a new pair free; and Harvey, you
know, wouldn't have any money to be fixing skates."

"Well, do as you like," said Mrs. Reynolds, pleased with Tom's
eagerness, for such a spell of generosity was something new in her
selfish younger son. "But remember, you will have to wait a while for
your visit to grandma."

"All right, and thank you, mother," said Tom. "You can buy the skates
down a