e were stockings and stockings, and hers were such little
mites that some one had hung a white bag on the brass nail that held the
feather-duster, and marked it "For Hanny." And a box lay in a chair.

There was a cruller man with eyes, nose, and mouth. There were candies
galore, the clarified ones, red and yellow, idealized animals of all
kinds. There was an elegant silver paper cornucopia tied with blue
ribbons. There was a box of beautiful pop-corn that had turned itself
inside out. Ribbon for her hair, a paint-box, a case of Faber pencils,
handkerchiefs, a lovely new pink merino dress, a muff that purported to
be ermine, a pair of beautiful blue knit slippers tied with ribbons.
These didn't come from Santa Claus, for they had on a card--"With best
love and a Merry Christmas, from Dolly." That was Dolly Beekman. Hanny
laid them up against her face and kissed them, they were so soft and
beautiful.

She drew a long breath before she opened the box. Of course it couldn't
be a real live kitty. John and Steve were coming in at the door.

"Merry Christmas!" she shouted with the boys They were not so very far
ahead of her.

Steve caught her under the arms and held her almost up to the ceiling,
it seemed. She was so little and light.

"Ten kisses before you can come down."

She paid the ten kisses, and would have given twice the number.

"I'm trying to guess what is in the box." She looked perplexed and a
crease came between her eyes.

"It's a chrononhontontholagosphorus!"

"A--what?" Her face was a study.

The boys shouted with laughter.

"Yes, Joe sent it. Santa Claus had given his all out, and Joe had to
skirmish around sharp to get one."

"Is it alive?" she asked timidly, her eyes growing larger with something
that was almost fright.

"Oh, Steve!" said Margaret, in an upbraiding tone. "Boys, you're enough
to frighten one."

Steve untied the string and took off the cover. Hanny had tight hold of
her sister's hand. Steve lifted some tissue paper and tilted up the box.
There lay a lovely wax doll with golden hair, a smiling mouth that just
betrayed some little teeth, eyes that would open and shut. She was
dressed in light-blue silk and beautiful lace. Though her mother had
said she was too big to have a doll, Joe knew better.

She was almost speechless with joy. Then she knelt down beside it and
took one pretty hand.

"Oh," she said, "I wish you could know how glad I am to have you!
There's only one thin