sked Flossie, later on, of Nan.

"No, Flossie; she means the part of a person that lives but can't be
seen."

"Oh, I know," cried the child, brightening. "It's just like when a
person is good. Then they say it's the _spirit_ of goodness within him.
I guess it's the good spirit of Santa Claus that can't be seen. But we
can feel it, can't we? and that's what's best."

On the day before Christmas the sitting-room door was closed and locked,
so that none of the children might enter the room. Freddie was very
anxious to look through the keyhole, but Bert told him that wouldn't be
fair, so he stayed away.

"We are to hang up our stockings to-night," said Nan. "And mamma says we
must go to bed early, too."

"That's to give Santa Claus a chance to get around," said Freddie. "Papa
said so. He said Santa Claus had his hands more than full, with so many
boys and girls all over the world to take care of."

"Santa Claus must be a twin, just like you and me," said Flossie. "Maybe
he's a twin a hundred times over."

At this Freddie roared. "What a funny twin that would be--with each one
having the same name!"

The stockings were hung up with great care, and Freddie and Flossie made
up their minds to stay awake and watch Santa Claus at his work.

"Won't say a word when he comes," said the little boy. "Just peek out at
him from under the covers." But alas! long before Santa Claus paid his
visit that Christmas Eve both Freddie and Flossie were in dreamland,
and so were Bert and Nan.

It was Flossie who was the first awake in the morning. For the moment
after she opened her eyes and sat up she could not remember why she had
awakened thus early. But it was for some reason, she was sure of that.

"Merry Christmas!" she burst out, all at once, and the cry awoke
Freddie. "Merry Christmas!" he repeated. "Merry Christmas, ev'rybody!"
he roared out, at the top of his lungs.

The last call awoke Nan and Bert, and before long all were scrambling
out to see what the stockings might contain.

"Oh, I've got a doll!" shrieked Flossie, and brought forth a wonderful
affair of paper.

"I have a jumping-jack!" came from Freddie, and he began to work the toy
up and down in a most comical fashion.

There was some small gift for everybody and several apples and oranges
besides, and quantities of nuts in the stockings.

"We must get the presents for the others," whispered Nan to Bert and the
smaller twins, and soon all were dressed and bri