g lawn-tennis. And the princesses and the
fairies put on their own suitable dresses, and went about their useful
employments. There was great rejoicing in every home. Violetta thought
she had never been so happy, now that her dear little sister was no
longer a goose-girl, but her own dainty little lady-self.

The resolution to provide every poor child in the city with a stocking
full of gifts on Christmas was solemnly filed, and deposited in the city
archives, and was never broken.

Violetta was married to the Cherry-man, and all the children came to the
wedding, and strewed flowers in her path till her feet were quite hidden
in them. The Costumer had mysteriously disappeared from the cherry-tree
the night before, but he left at the foot some beautiful wedding
presents for the bride--a silver service with a pattern of cherries
engraved on it, and a set of china with cherries on it, in hand
painting, and a white satin robe, embroidered with cherries down the
front.

IV. THE SHEPHERDS AND THE ANGELS

ADAPTED FROM THE BIBLE

And there were shepherds in the same country abiding in the field, and
keeping watch by night over their flock. And an angel of the Lord stood
by them and the glory of the Lord shone round about them: and they were
sore afraid. And the angel said unto them, Be not afraid; for, behold,
I bring you good tidings of great joy which shall be to all the people:
for there is born to you this day in the city of David a Saviour, which
is Christ the Lord. And this is the sign unto you; ye shall find a babe
wrapped in swaddling clothes, and lying in a manger. And suddenly there
was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and
saying:

Glory to God in the highest,
And on earth peace,
Good will toward men.

And it came to pass, when the angels went away from them into heaven,
the shepherds said one to another, Let us now go even unto Bethlehem,
and see this thing that is come to pass, which the Lord hath made known
unto us. And they came with haste, and found Mary and Joseph and
the babe lying in the manger. And when they saw it, they made known
concerning the saying which was spoken to them about this child. And all
that heard it wondered at the things which were spoken unto them by the
shepherds. But Mary kept all these sayings, pondering them in her heart.
And the shepherds returned glorifying and praising God for all the
things that they had heard and seen, eve