been tied up in paper and
marked with the name of the one for whom it was intended.

When everything was ready, there was a moment of quiet while the
candles were being lighted. Then Bertha's father began to give out
the presents, and there was a great deal of laughing and joking as
the bundles were opened.

There was a new red skirt for Bertha. Her mother had made it, for
she knew the child was fond of pretty dresses. Besides this, she had
a pair of warm woollen mittens which Gretchen had knit for her. Hans
had made and carved a doll's cradle for each of the girls.

Everybody was happy and contented. They sang songs and cracked nuts
and ate the Christmas cakes to their hearts' content.

"I think I like the ones shaped like gnomes the best," said Hans.
"They have such comical little faces. Do you know, every time I go
out in the forest, it seems as though I might meet a party of gnomes
hunting for gold."

"I like the animal cakes best," said Bertha. "The deer are such
graceful creatures, and I like to bite off the horns and legs, one at
a time."

"A long time ago," said their father, "they used to celebrate
Christmas a little different from the way we now do. The presents
were all carried to a man in the village who dressed himself in a
white robe, and a big wig made of flax. He covered his face with a
mask, and then went from house to house. The grown people received
him with great honours. He called for the children and gave them the
presents their parents had brought to him.

"But these presents were all given according to the way the children
had behaved during the year. If they had been good and tried hard,
they had the gifts they deserved. But if they had been naughty and
disobedient, it was not a happy time for them."

"I don't believe the children were very fond of him," cried Hans.
"They must have been too much afraid of him."

"That is true," said his father. "But now, let us play some games.
Christmas comes but once a year, and you have all been good children."

The room soon rang with the shouts of Hans and his sisters. They
played "Blind Man's Buff" and other games. Their father took part in
all of them as though he were a boy again. The good mother looked on
with pleasant smiles.

Bedtime came only too soon. But just before the children said good
night, the father took Hans one side and talked seriously yet
lovingly with him. He told the boy of the faults he must still fig