no noise or confusion; it was just a
merry time. Now, may I close the door and leave you alone? I will
steal in softly the first thing in the morning, and see if you are all
right; but I think you need to be quiet."

"Oh, I'm willing to stay alone; but I am not sleepy yet, and I am going
to hear the music by and by, you know."

"Yes, I have opened the window a little, and put the screen in front of
it, so that you will not feel the air."

"Can I have the shutters open; and won't you turn my bed a little,
please? This morning I woke ever so early, and one bright beautiful
star shone in that eastern window. I never saw it before, and I
thought of the Star in the East, that guided the wise men to the place
where Jesus was. Good night, Mama. Such a happy, happy day!"

"Good night, my precious little Christmas Carol--mother's blessed
Christmas child."

"Bend your head a minute, mother dear," whispered Carol, calling her
mother back. "Mama, dear, I do think that we have kept Christ's
birthday this time just as He would like it. Don't you?"

"I am sure of it," said Mrs. Bird, softly.

VII.

THE BIRDLING FLIES AWAY.

The Ruggleses had finished a last romp in the library with Paul and
Hugh, and Uncle Jack had taken them home, and stayed a while to chat
with Mrs. Ruggles, who opened the door for them, her face all aglow
with excitement and delight. When Kitty and Clem showed her the
oranges and nuts they had kept for her, she astonished them by saying
that at six o'clock Mrs. Bird had sent her in the finest dinner she had
ever seen in her life; and not only that, but a piece of dress-goods
that must have cost a dollar a yard if it cost a cent. As Uncle Jack
went down the little porch he looked back into the window for a last
glimpse of the family, as the children gathered about their mother,
showing their beautiful presents again and again, and then upward to a
window in the great house yonder. "A little child shall lead them," he
thought; "well, if--if anything ever happens to Carol, I will take the
Ruggleses under my wing."

"Softly, Uncle Jack," whispered the boys, as he walked into the library
a little while later; "We are listening to the music in the church.
They sang 'Carol, brothers, carol,' a while ago, and now we think the
organist is beginning to play 'My ain countree' for Carol."

"I hope she hears it," said Mrs. Bird; "but they are very late
to-night, and I dare not speak to her lest she