able that remains. I noticed some hay there which you can give to
him. Then come to the kitchen. Mr. Moncrieffe, whose name be praised,
says that you're the best cook since those employed by Lucullus.
It's great praise, Caesar, but in my opinion it's none too great."

Caesar, highly flattered, led his horse to the stable, and the approving
looks of the youths followed him.

"Sometimes I've had my doubts about Santa Claus" said Happy Tom.

"So have I," said St. Clair, "but like you I have them no longer."

"And there's a curious thing about this restoration of our belief in
Santa Claus," said Dalton.

"Since we see him in person we all observe the fact," said Harry.

"That he is a very large man."

"Six feet two at the very least."

"Weight about two twenty, and all of it bone and muscle."

"And he is coal black."

"So black that even on a dark night he would seem to be clothed around
with light."

"Why did it never occur to anybody before that Santa Claus was a very
black, black man?"

"Because we are the first who have ever seen him in the flesh."

Caesar stabled his horse, went to the kitchen, where he lighted a
fire in the big stove, and fell to work with a will and a wonderful
light-handed dexterity that justified Mr. Moncrieffe's praise of him.
The younger officers helped in turn, but in the kitchen they willingly
allowed to Caesar his rightful position as lord and master.

Delicious aromas arose. The luxury of the present was brightened by the
contrast with the hardships and hunger of two years. More than twenty
officers were present, and by putting together three smaller tables they
made a long one that ran full length down the center of the sitting-room.

"We'll save a portion of what we have for friends not so fortunate,"
said Colonel Talbot.

"You have always had a generous heart, Leonidas," said
Lieutenant-Colonel Hector St. Hilaire.

"We have much for others and much for ourselves. But many of our
friends and many thousands of the brave Southern youth have gone,
Hector. However, we will not speak of that to-day, and we will try
not to think of it, as we are here to celebrate this festival with the
gallant lads who are still living."

Caesar proved to be all that his master had promised and all that they
had hoped. No better Christmas dinner was eaten that day in the whole
United States. Invincible youth was around the board, and the two
colonels lent dignity to the gathering, w