dith's gentle voice put an end to controversy. An
armistice was pledged.

[Illustration]

"Did ye get skates, Specks?"

"Nope."

"Gosh, I'm sorry fur that. I got two pairs. Mebbe--Aunt Judith?"

"Yes, Jimsy?"

"Would ye mebbe mind me givin' Specks a pair o' skates? Mr. Middleton he
ain't so Christmasy as you an' Uncle Ab--"

Specks swallowed hard and accepted this and the skates. But he could not
forbear at least one shaft of triumph.

"I got a sled, Jimsy!"

"Huh!" said Jimsy. "So did I. Two of 'em."

It was too much. The street urchin in Specks came to the fore in a
mighty wave of envy.

"Gawd!" he gulped.

Jimsy glowered.

"Hey!" he whispered fiercely "Hain't ye got no decency?"

Specks blushed apology and departed.

[Illustration]

Later, Jimsy reviewed the Sawyer turkey with a reverential glisten in
his eye.

"Specks!" he yelled from the kitchen window. "Yi, Specksy!"

"What d'ye want?"

"Come over an' see the turkey."

"Y'ain't got two, have ye?" demanded Specks with suspicion.

"Naw," said Jimsy. "One's enuff. This un's bigger'n the turkey Pete
Googan raffled off last Christmas eve."

So Specks returned to envy--for the house of Sawyer had outdone the
house of Middleton once more--and Jimsy in a glow of noisy delight led
him to rows of pies and a barrel of ruddy apples--to celery and
tarts--to fruit cake and cranberries and simmering vegetables--in short
to every home-keeping kitchen device for filling a country house with
the odor of Christmas and the promise of good cheer. The Sawyer kitchen
to-day was a wonderful place of shine and spice. Even Aunt Judith felt
the nameless something in the air, for her cheeks were faintly pink and
the hand that smoothed her snowy apron trembled ever so little.
Christmas had not come so this many a year.

But Specks departed this time with a furtive air of triumph.

"Mr. Middleton ain't no stiff," he announced. "_He's_ goin' out on the
hill coastin' with me this afternoon--"

"S-s-s-s-h!" whispered Jimsy fiercely. "D'ye want Aunt Judith to hear
ye? I git awful sick o' wallopin' you, Specks, but lemme hear ye say
that again an' I'll baste ye good."

The kitchen door swung back. Specks paled, as well he might. The first
citizen stood in the doorway, his mouth set.

"Jimsy," he said, clearing his throat. "Get your sled, my boy. We'd
better try it out before dinner."

It was a challenge to the Middletons, of course, but afterwards, in a
wild