per, "Santa Claus is smart; he'll know yours
is in the left-hand corner."

"Will he?" asked Joel, still a little fearful.

"Oh, yes, indeed," said Mrs. Pepper, confidently. "I never knew him to
make a mistake."

"Now," said Ben, when they had all made a pretence of eating supper,
for there was such an excitement prevailing that no one sat still long
enough to eat much, "you must every one fly off to bed as quick as ever
can be."

"Will Santa Claus come faster then?" asked Joel.

"Yes," said Ben, "just twice as fast."

"I'm going, then," said Joel; "but I ain't going to sleep, 'cause I mean
to hear him come over the roof; then I'm going to get up, for I do so
want a squint at the reindeer!"

"I am, too," cried Davie, excitedly. "Oh, do come, Joe!" and he began to
mount the stairs.

"Good night," said Phronsie, going up to the centre of the
chimney-piece, where the little red stocking dangled limpsily, "lift me
up, Polly, do."

"What you want to do?" asked Polly, running and giving her a jump. "What
you goin' to do, Phronsie?"

"I want to kiss it good night," said the child, with eyes big with
anticipation and happiness, hugging the well worn toe of the little old
stocking affectionately. "I wish I had something to give Santa, Polly, I
do!" she cried, as she held her fast in her arms.

"Never mind, Pet," said Polly, nearly smothering her with kisses; "if
you're a good girl, Phronsie, that pleases Santa the most of anything."

"Does it?" cried Phronsie, delighted beyond measure, as Polly carried
her into the bedroom, "then I'll be good always, I will!"

CHRISTMAS BELLS!

In the middle of the night Polly woke up with a start.

"What in the world!" said she, and she bobbed up her head and looked
over at her mother, who was still peacefully sleeping, and was just
going to lie down again, when a second noise out in the kitchen made her
pause and lean on her elbow to listen. At this moment she thought she
heard a faint whisper, and springing out of bed she ran to Phronsie's
crib--it was empty! As quick as a flash she sped out into the kitchen.
There, in front of the chimney, were two figures. One was Joel, and the
other, unmistakably, was Phronsie!

"What are you doing?" gasped Polly, holding on to a chair.

The two little night-gowns turned around at this.

"Why, I thought it was morning," said Joel, "and I wanted my stocking.
Oh!" as he felt the toe, which was generously stuffed, "give it to me,