inned her
child's stocking to the foot of the bed and slyly tucked in the new
suit she had made. Her own stockings lay flat upon the floor. Her breath
caught a little bit as she noticed them. "But it doesn't matter," she
said, "parents never care for themselves if they can give their children
pleasure."

She crept into bed and took her child on her arm. The night was very
cold. The frost made mysterious noises on the roof in the nail-holes and
on the glass. She went to bed early because the kitchen was so cold. She
thought "we can talk in bed." The lock of her door was broken, and she
could not shut it tight. Through this the air came chilly.

* * * * *

Miss Amanda put on her flannel wrapper and her bed-slippers and sat down
before the open fire in her sleeping-room. Some way she couldn't keep
her thoughts from that little back attic room. She went into the hall,
silently up the stairs, and stood outside the door. Elsie was talking
softly, but Miss Amanda could hear every word, thanks to the broken
lock.

"I have much to tell you to-night, dear child," she heard the waif say,
"the whole story of the Christmas Child. It was years ago. His mother
was very young, I guess about twice as old as I am. They hadn't any
house; they were in a barn. I think there were no houses to rent in that
town. But she fixed a little cradle for Him in the feed-box, and wrapped
Him in long clothes, as I do you, my darling. The angels sang a new song
for Him. A new star shone in the East for Him. Some men with sheep came
to visit Him, and some rich men brought Him lovely presents. My mother
told me all these things, and I mustn't forget them; it helps me to
remember to tell it to you. So now, this lovely Christmas Child was born
in a little bit of a town, the town of--oh, my child"--with a mournful
cry--"I've forgotten the name of the town! I used to say it to my
mother--it's the town of, the town of--I can't remember."

Miss Amanda could hear her crying a little softly.

"Never mind," she said presently. "I am very sorry; I have not told
the story often enough. I wish I had some one to teach me a little, but
perhaps it don't make so much difference if I have forgotten the name of
the town. He came to teach us. Sure I won't forget that. Love can never
die. That's the present He gave to everybody. So if nobody else gives us
a Christmas present, we always have the one He gave us."

Silence for a little.

"I am very sorry for Miss Amand