d Abel, with the coffee-pot and the
warming oven, were hurrying back to Mary's. They went down the deserted
street where Abel's candle burned and Simeon's saint stood mute.

"When I was a little shaver," Abel said, "they used to have me stand in
the open doorway Christmas Eve, and hold a candle and say a verse. I
forget the verse. But I've always liked the candle in doors or windows,
like to-night. Look at mine over there now--ain't it like somebody
saying something?"

"Well," said Simeon, not to be outdone, "when we come by my window just
now, the light hit down on it and I could of swore I see the saint
smile."

"Like enough," said Abel, placidly, "like enough. You can't put
Christmas out. I see that two weeks ago." He looked back at his own
window. "If the little kid that come in the store last Christmas Eve
tries to come in again to-night," he said, "he won't find it all pitch
dark, anyway. I'd like to know who he was...."

Near the corner that turned down to the Rule Factory, they saw Ebenezer
Rule coming toward them on the Old Trail Road. They called to him.

"Hello, Ebenezer," said Abel, "ain't you coming in to Mary Chavah's
to-night?"

"I think not," Ebenezer answered.

"Come ahead," encouraged Simeon.

As they met, Abel spoke hesitatingly.

"Ebenezer," he said, "I was just figuring on proposing to Simeon here,
that we stop in to your house--I was thinking," he broke off, "how would
it be for you and him and me, that sort of stand for the merchandise end
of this town, to show up at Mary's house to-night--well, it's the women
have done all the work so far--and I was wondering how it would be for
us three to get there with some little thing for that little kid that's
coming to her--we could find something that wouldn't cost much--it
hadn't _ought_ to cost much, 'count of our set principles. And take it
to him...." Abel ended doubtfully.

Ebenezer simply laughed his curious succession of gutturals.

"Crazy to Christmas after all, ain't you?" he said.

But Simeon wheeled and stared at Abel. For defection in their own camp
he had never looked.

"I knew you'd miss it--I knew you'd miss it!" Simeon said excitedly,
"cut paper and fancy tassels and--"

"No such thing," said Abel, shortly. "I was thinking of that boy getting
here, that's all. And I couldn't see why we shouldn't do our
share--which totin' coffee-pots and warming ovens _ain't_, as I see
it."

"Well, but my heavens, man!" said Simeon, "it