rton said:

"I have received certain information that Santa Claus himself is to
visit us to-night, and bring his gifts in person. He desires me to
inform the children, that all packages to be entrusted to his care must
be handed into my study, labelled and directed, before six o'clock this
evening."

Many were the wonders and speculations as to the nature and appearance
of the expected Santa Claus; but they were suddenly interrupted by
Robert, who exclaimed:

"Why, who comes here up the lane? It's old cousin Betty, I do declare,
in her old green gig set on runners."

"I thought cousin Betty would hardly let Christmas go by without making
her appearance," said Mrs. Wharton; "I have thought two or three times
to-day that she might come along before night."

"Cousin Betty" was a distant relation of Mrs. Wharton's, a lonely old
body, who lodged with a relative in a village about ten miles distant
from Brook Farm. She was very eccentric--so much so, that she was by
some thought crazy; but Mrs. Wharton was of opinion that cousin Betty
had never possessed sufficient _mind_ to subject her to such a
calamity. She was more silly than crazy, very good-natured, very
inquisitive as to the affairs of others, and very communicative as to
her own.

In a few minutes cousin Betty had received a hearty welcome, and was
seated by the bright fire, asking and answering questions with the
utmost rapidity.

"I've been looking for you, cousin Betty," said Mrs. Wharton.

"Have! What made you?"

"Oh, I thought you could hardly let Christmas go by without coming to
see the fun."

"Did! Well, I never thought nothing about comin' till yesterday, when I
sat in my little room, and I got feelin' pretty dull; and thinks I to
myself, I'll just borrow Mr. White's old horse, and take my old gig, and
drive up to the farm, and see the folks."

"Cousin Betty, who do you think is coming to see us to-night?" asked
little Grace.

"I'm sure I can't tell, child. Who is it?"

"Why, Santa Claus himself, with all his presents around him."

"Is, hey?" said cousin Betty; "well, I shall be mighty glad to see him,
I can tell you; for, old as I am, I've never seen him yet."

"I'm so glad you've come, cousin Betty!" said Effie; "we want you to go
with us some day over to the farm-house, and tell us about our
great-grandfather, whose house stood where the farm-house stands now;
and how his house was burnt down by the Indians, and he was carried off.
Agn