es wants to hear it so much."

"Does! Well, I will go over there, and tell you the story, some day. But
I can't walk over there while the weather is so cold; I should get the
rheumatiz."

"I'll drag you over on my sled, if that will do, cousin Betty," said
Robert.

The children laughed so heartily at the picture presented to their
imagination of little old cousin Betty riding on Robert's sled, that
Grace actually rolled out of her chair.

"Why wouldn't it do to tell the story here, Effie?" asked Agnes.

"Oh, because it is a great deal more interesting, told on the spot you
know. Cousin Betty has heard it all over and over again from grandmamma,
and she can point out, from one window of the farm-house, all the places
where all those dreadful things happened."

Some warm dinner was now brought in for cousin Betty, and the children
went off to tie up and label the gifts for Santa Claus.

"What shall we do with the presents we have for papa and mamma?" asked
Grace.

"Oh, we cannot hand those in to the study," said Effie; "we must
contrive some way to give them afterwards."

And now the children, one after the other, with their arms laden with
packages, were making their way to their father's study; Emily and
Agnes, too, had several contributions to make to the heap of bundles
which was piled up on the study table; and before six o'clock, Mr.
Wharton said he had taken in enough articles to stock a very
respectable country store. At six o'clock the study door was locked, and
there was no more admittance.

An hour or two after this, the whole family were assembled in the two
large parlors, which were brilliantly lighted for the occasion, and all
were on the tiptoe of expectation.

"I should like to know how he is coming," said Albert; "he'll be likely
to get well scorched, if he comes down either chimney."

At this moment there was a slight tap at one of the windows opening on
to the piazza, which Mr. Wharton immediately proceeded to open, and in
walked St. Nicholas.

He was a jolly, merry-looking, little old gentleman, with beard and
whiskers as white as snow, and enveloped in furs from head to foot.
Around his neck, around his waist, over his shoulders, down his back,
and even on the top of his head, were presents and toys of every
description. Behind him he dragged a beautiful sled, which was loaded
with some articles too bulky to be carried around his person. Every
pocket was full; and as he passed through