n a grove of evergreens. The ceiling had been
draped across with dark blue material, and was studded with stars, made
of tiny electric lights.

Bunches and wreaths of holly, tied with red ribbons, gave a touch of
colour to the general effect, and in one corner beneath a green arched
bower, a chime of bells pealed softly at intervals.

Altogether, the whole place breathed the very spirit of Christmas, and so
perfect were the appointments, that no false note marred the harmony of
it all.

"Now for the presents!" cried Bobby. "Oh, daddy, there's my 'lectric
railroad! Won't you other people wait till I see how it works?"

The others all laughed at the eager, apologetic little face, as Bobby
found it impossible to curb his impatience to see his new toy.

It was indeed a fine electric railway, and every one became interested as
Mr. Farrington began to take it from its box and put the parts together.

"This is the way it goes, dad," said Roger, kneeling on the floor beside
his father.

"No, this way," said Kenneth, as he adjusted some of the parts.

Quite content to wait for their gifts, Mrs. Farrington and the girls
stood round watching the proceedings with interest, and soon Patty and
Elise were down on the floor, too, breathlessly waiting the completion of
the structure, and cheering gaily as the first train went successfully
round the long track. Other trains followed, switches were set, signals
opened or closed, bridges crossed, and all the manoeuvres of a real
railroad repeated in miniature.

"I haven't had so much fun since I was a kid," said Kenneth, rising from
the floor and mopping his heated brow with his handkerchief.

"Nor I!" declared Mr. Farrington. "I'd rather rig up that toy for that
boy of mine than--than to own a real railroad!"

"I believe you would!" said his wife, laughing. "And now, suppose you see
what Santa Claus has for the rest of us."

"Father's all in," said Roger. "You sit on that heap of snow, dad, and
Kenneth and I will unload these groaning branches."

Bobby was too absorbed in his cars to think of anything else, so the
little girls acted as messengers to distribute the gifts from the tree.

And this performance was a lengthy one.

Parcel after parcel, daintily wrapped and tied, was given to Patty, and,
of course, the Farringtons had many more.

But Patty had a great quantity, for knowing where she was to spend her
Christmas, all her young friends had sent gifts to her at the