time, from the direction of the office, a great chorus of
song came:

"Silent night, holy night,
All is calm, all is bright----"

the famous old Christmas carol that children and grown people everywhere
love.

When the last notes of the song had died away, Edith Evans, the
story-teller of the group, related the pretty little legend of "Why the
Chimes Rang"--telling how a small boy, who had only ten cents to give
at Christmas time, gave it with his whole heart, and the magical chimes,
which sounded only for great gifts, and which had been silent now for
many years, rang out through the clear stillness of that Christmas
night.

There is perhaps no other Christmas story which contains the real
Christmas spirit so much as this one, with its simple message of
whole-hearted giving; and it did not fail to produce the desired effect.
The children were just in the mood of what followed: the appearance of
Santa Claus!

With a jolly "Ha! Ha!" and the ringing of sleigh bells, he came in
through the open door carrying a huge pack on his back, and was greeted
with tremendous applause.

Reaching into his pocket, he took out the notes and held them up to
examine.

"I got every one of your letters," he said, "and I hope you will all be
satisfied with your presents. I have tried to do the best I could. Ha!
Ha! Ha! Christmas is a jolly time!"

Santa's laughter was so real and his enjoyment so genuine that the
children beamed with happiness. It seemed as if their dreams had really
come true.

"Here's a package for Mary Connelly," he said, taking off his pack; "and
here's one for Peter Myers."

The children hesitated a moment, and then went forward to receive their
gifts. Edith and Frances brought the others out from beneath the tree,
and there were half a dozen left over, even after the unexpected guests
had been provided for.

"And a box of candy for everybody," concluded Santa Claus, reaching for
the pile of boxes, each wrapped in white paper, and handing them to his
helpers.

"And now I must be gone!" he said. "I've many places to visit before
Christmas day. A merry Christmas to all!" he cried, and as they
answered, "The same to you!" he vanished through the doorway. The
tingling of sleighbells announced the fact that he had gone.

The short winter day was drawing to a close, and the children suddenly
realized, as they were looking at their presents, that it was getting
quite dark. But in an instant, as if by