On Christmas Day In The Evening

"Cut it out--cut out the steam calliope!--unless you want a burlesque. That organ hasn't been tuned since the deluge--and they didn't get all the water out then."

"I won't hit that key again," called Carolyn. "Listen, you people."

"Listen! You can't help listening when a cat yowls on the back fence," retorted Guy. "Go it alone; Margaret, girl."

But the next instant nobody was jeering, for Margaret's voice had never seemed sweeter than from the old choir-loft.

"Over the hills of Bethlehem, Lighted by a star, Wise men came with offerings, From the East afar...."

[Illustration: "Cut it out--cut out the steam calliope!"]

It took them all, working until late on Christmas Eve, to do all that needed to be done. Once their interest was aroused, nothing short of the best possible would content them. But when, at last, Nan and Sam, lingering behind the others, promising to see that the fires were safe, stood together at the back of the church fo