ur gifts?"

"Oh, yes, indeed! Why, just think, father, the little girls all had
dolls, but if I hadn't taken the gifts for the boys, they would only have
had candy or an orange. Next Christmas I'm going to do more for them."

"I'm glad to see your charitable spirit waking up, Patty-girl. I don't
want you to be a mere social butterfly. But, you know, you needn't wait
for Christmas to make the poor babies happy."

"No; I know it, daddy, dear; and after Christmas is over, I'm going to
try to do some good in the world."

"Now, Patty," said Nan, "don't you go in for settlement work, and that
sort of thing. I won't let you. You're not strong enough for it."

"I don't know exactly what settlement work is," said Patty, "but I do
know I'm not going to be a mere butterfly. I'm going to accomplish
something worth while."

"Well, wait till the holiday season is over," advised Mr. Fairfield.
"You've made forty boys happy, now turn your attention to making your
family and friends happy. What are you going to give your poor old father
for a Christmas gift, I should like to know."

"I haven't any such relative as you describe," returned Patty, smiling at
him affectionately. "I have a young and handsome father, and I think he
seems to be rather a rich gentleman. Also I have a gift awaiting him at
home, and I think we'd better be going there."

"I do, too," said Nan. "We've none too much time to get our luncheon and
go to the train. Oh! what a comfort it will be to go to the train in our
own motor-car."

"Yes," said Patty, "and then Miller can come back and take me over to
Elise's."

So home they went, and had their own little Christmas celebration, before
they went their separate ways.

"This is a make-believe Christmas feast," said Patty, as they sat at
their own luncheon table.

She had placed a sprig of holly at each plate, and a vase of poinsettia
blossoms graced the centre of the table.

"This ox-tail soup is in place of the boar's head," she went on, gaily;
"and I know we are going to have chicken croquettes, which we will
pretend are the roast turkey. And then we'll have our presents, as I know
you two will fly for your train as soon as you leave the table."

So Patty gave Nan her present, which was a lovely white couch pillow of
lace and embroidery. And Nan gave Patty a picture to hang in her own
room. It was a beautiful water-colour, a Venetian scene, and Patty was
delighted with it.

Then Patty gave her fath