stayed at home fast asleep by this time, and it had been arranged that
the others should let themselves in with a latch-key. Ted's mother felt,
therefore, rather surprised and a little startled when she heard a bell
ring; at first she could hardly believe that she was not mistaken, and
to be quite sure she opened the window and called out "Is there any one
there?" There was half a moment's silence, then some one came out a
little from under the porch, where he had been standing since ringing
the bell, and a well-known voice replied--how clearly and brightly its
young tones rose up through the frosty air--

"It is only I, mother. I thought I'd rather come home after all."

"You, Ted," she replied;--"you, and alone?"

"Yes, mother. I thought somehow you'd like better to have me, so I just
ran home."

"And weren't you frightened, Ted?" she said a little anxiously, but with
a glad feeling at her heart; "weren't you afraid to come through the
lonely streets, and the road, more lonely still, outside the town? For
it is very dark, and everything shut up--weren't you afraid?"

"Oh no, mother--not a bit," he replied, "only just when I had left all
the houses I did walk a _little_ faster, I think. But I'm so glad I
came, if you're pleased, mother."

And when his mother had opened the door and let him in and given him a
good-night kiss even more loving than usual, Ted went to bed and to
sleep with a light happy heart, and his mother, as she too fell asleep,
thanked God for her boy.

* * * * *

I must now, I think, children, ask you to pass over with me nearly a
whole year of Ted's life. These holidays ended, came, by slow degrees
that year, the always welcome spring; then sunny summer again, a bright
and happy summer this, though spent at my little friends' own home
instead of at the Skensdale farm-house; then autumn with its shortening
days and lengthening evenings, gradually shortening and lengthening into
winter again; till at last Christmas itself, like the familiar figure of
an old friend, whom, just turning the corner of the road where we live,
we descry coming to visit us, was to be seen not so far off.

Many things had happened during this year, which, though all such simple
things, I should like to tell you of but for the old restrictions of
time and space. And indeed I have to thank you for having listened to
me so long, for I blame myself a little for not having told you more
pl