mother--Marthy was so tender-hearted; she kind o' drooped an' pined
after that. So now they 've been asleep side by side in the
buryin'-ground these thirty years.

"That's why I 'm so sad-like whenever Chris'mas comes," said Joel,
after a pause. "The thinkin' of long ago makes me bitter almost. It's
so different now from what it used to be."

"No, Joel, oh, no," said Santa Claus. "'T is the same world, and human
nature is the same and always will be. But Christmas is for the little
folks, and you, who are old and grizzled now, must know it and love it
only through the gladness it brings the little ones."

"True," groaned Joel; "but how may I know and feel this gladness when I
have no little stocking hanging in my chimney corner--no child to
please me with his prattle? See, I am alone."

"No, you 're not alone, Joel," said Santa Claus. "There are children
in this great city who would love and bless you for your goodness if
you but touched their hearts. Make them happy, Joel; send by me this
night some gift to the little boy in the old house yonder--he is poor
and sick; a simple toy will fill his Christmas with gladness."

"His little sister, too--take _her_ some present," said Joel; "make
them happy for me, Santa Claus--you are right--make them happy for me."

How sweetly Joel slept! When he awoke, the sunlight streamed in
through the window and seemed to bid him a merry Christmas. How
contented and happy Joel felt! It must have been the talk with Santa
Claus that did it all; he had never known a sweeter sense of peace. A
little girl came out of the house over the way. She had a new doll in
her arms, and she sang a merry little song and she laughed with joy as
she skipped along the street. Ay, and at the window sat the little
sick boy, and the toy Santa Claus left him seemed to have brought him
strength and health, for his eyes sparkled and his cheeks glowed, and
it was plain to see his heart was full of happiness.

And, oh! how the chimes did ring out, and how joyfully they sang their
Christmas carol that morning! They sang of Bethlehem and the manger
and the Babe; they sang of love and charity, till all the Christmas air
seemed full of angel voices.

Carol of the Christmas morn--
Carol of the Christ-child born--
Carol to the list'ning sky
Till it echoes back again
"Glory be to God on high,
Peace on earth, good will tow'rd men!"

So all this music--the carol of the chime